SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 11: An exterior view of the stadium with Pride colors before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park on June 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
As most of you know, multiple members of the San Francisco Giants decided to deface their uniforms on Friday in protest of the team’s Pride Night. I wrote my initial thoughts for Sunday’s BP post, but now it’s time for us to move forward and take action.
I’ve seen accounts from many fans who have decided to not renew their season tickets. And that’s an extremely powerful statement! But that’s not something that’s feasible for everyone, so I wanted to share an additional action item for those in the community who are upset.
This was inspired by a post on Bluesky from ToasterPosey. Fans can reach out to the team’s Chief Diversity Officer Roscoe Mapps via email at RMapps@sfgiants.com to express their disappointment with how the team is handling this issue.
And if you feel comfortable doing so, please share your messages down below in the comments to help folks who might not have the words, but still want to help.
I’m going to be doing some research for additional ways we can take action as well. So keep an eye out for that in the coming days.
What time do the Giants play today?
They do not. They are headed east to begin a series against the Atlanta Braves tomorrow.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 20, 2026: Joseph Dzierwa #67 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the seventh inning of a Spring Breakout game against the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
We are into the middle of June and the Orioles are still playing a confusing season where they seem to be teetering on the edge of making it a lost season where there’s no consolation but what is happening on the farm. They also are managing to avoid falling over the edge, at least so far. That’s a good thing because there hasn’t been much consolation from the farm.
These weekly updates focus on the team’s top prospects, particularly those on Camden Chat’s composite top 20 Orioles prospect list from before the season. They also include other guys who interest me who might develop into prospects over time. I do not tend to spend much time on non-prospect journeymen.
Here’s how things went this week:
Triple-A Norfolk Tides
Last week’s record: 1-5 vs. Memphis (Cardinals)
This week’s opponent: at Syracuse (Mets)
Season record: 26-43, last place (17 GB) in International League East
Veteran major leaguer Tommy Pham opted out of his minor league deal this week. My standard advice is: Don’t freak out about minor league deals until they become major league deals.
Enrique Bradfield is back with Norfolk after about six weeks on the injured list. Did he play well? No, he had four hitless games before getting two hits in his last game of the week. Okay, what about Creed Willems? Just 3-15, all singles, though he did walk five times, so that’s something. Then there’s Heston Kjerstad, not a prospect but still someone we want to see playing well. 7-20, all singles, with no walks for a “OBP lower than both BA and SLG” line that you don’t see every day. Jud Fabian managed just one hit in 12 at-bats.
Two guys who did hit well for Norfolk over the past week are 40-man players who are retreads from other organizations. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had six hits, including a pair of homers, and outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez had a 5-14 week with two doubles. I suspect that I do not want to experience the set of circumstances resulting in these guys getting an extended MLB look by the O’s.
Not much excitement among the pitching prospects either. With Trey Gibson in MLB and Levi Wells on the injured list due to core surgery, the only guy here is Nestor German. He was blitzed for five runs in only 1.2 innings this week. This team has earned its record.
Others of interest
LHP Andrew Magno – Not sure if this 28-year-old lefty is anything but he’s added three more scoreless innings and now has a 0.64 ERA in 24 relief outings
RHP Yaqui Rivera – Notched a three-inning save. He’s walked too many guys across six outings (10 BB in 17 IP) but for now the 0.53 ERA looks pretty good
Season record: 25-37, last place (16 GB) in Eastern League Southwest
It’s all about Joseph Dzierwa until such time as he pitches well enough that the team deems it’s time to get him up to Triple-A. Two outings for Dzierwa this week, totaling ten innings, with ten strikeouts across those innings. That’s not going to dampen the enthusiasm. Batters did hit him a bit, with 11 hits, and between two walks and three hit batters that’s a lot of traffic. Have to like that 2.70 ERA and 1.050 WHIP through five games.
Even better than Dzierwa this week, though, was fellow lefty Luis De León, whose one start this week saw him throw five hitless innings with seven strikeouts. That’ll do! Command problems remain evident with a hit batter and two walks. He’s struggled at this level, with a 6.09 ERA on the year after this outing. It would be nice to see progress from him through the summer.
Some less than optimal batting lines this week from a number of the players I’ve been following here. My guy Aron Estrada was 5-22 at the plate with a double and a homer, but with only one walk, the OBP is rough. Still, he’s OPSing .779 for the season and for an age 21 guy here, that’s interesting. Catcher/first baseman/whatever Ethan Anderson scuffled to the tune of just two hits in 18 tries.
One guy who didn’t struggle is infielder Griff O’Ferrall. He’s not beating the “this guy can’t hit for power” charges with all singles. Still, 7-21 is 7-21, and he stole two bases. O’Ferrall remains under the Mendoza Line for the season, so he needs more good weeks. And maybe he could get some extra-base hits too? That’s what outfielder Douglas Hodo did. Hodo is 25 at this point, old for the level, but if he can play well here he could still earn a promotion and be at least sort of vaguely interesting. Hodo had a pair of homers and two doubles this week and may tempt me to put him on the player of the week poll even though I don’t usually mention non-prospects.
Also of interest
RHP Juaron Watts-Brown – My honorary hyphenated cousin had another rough one, with five runs (four earned) in three innings. 8.78 ERA in eight starts.
Season record: 38-22, second place (0.5 GB) in South Atlantic League North
This has been the most exciting team on the Orioles farm all season long, a trend that continued over this past week thanks to the 2025 draft duo of Ike Irish and Wehiwa Aloy. Although Irish only had five hits in 24 at-bats, all went for extra bases: three doubles and two homers. He also drew three walks. Aloy’s 6-24 included two doubles, a triple, and a homer. Aloy’s season OPS is .835; Irish’s is .801. These guys just keep on doing the thing. It’s fun to see.
On the topic of high Orioles draft picks last year, although he’s no longer in the organization, catcher Caden Bodine has a combined .967 OPS between Low-A and High-A this year. This draft class is like the opposite of the cursed 2024 one.
One of the other standouts for Frederick this year has been the big man, Victor Figueroa, from last year’s Padres swap. His season OPS remains .945, which is great, but this wasn’t a good week overall. Though he did hit two homers, he was just 4-23 at the plate and struck out 13 times.
Keys pitching prospects could not match the excitement, as they generally have not been able to ever since Dzierwa was quickly promoted up from this level. One guy who did do well is Twine Palmer, from last year’s Urías trade with the Astros. In two relief outings that totaled eight innings, Palmer did not allow an earned run and he allowed just eight runners in total. The 21-year-old Palmer has a 3.28 ERA and 1.136 WHIP through 12 games. Something might have clicked here over the offseason.
Also of interest
OF Vance Honeycutt – Five strikeouts in eight at-bats this week. I feel mean to continue this bit and may abandon it.
LHP Boston Bateman – Excellent May has not continued into June; he went just 7.2 innings across two starts and gave up five runs.
Season record: 23-40, last place (21 GB) in Carolina League North
Although it’s not showing up in the win-loss column yet, this roster has gotten a lot more interesting with the recent arrival of 19-year-old infielder Jaiden Lo Re, the Orioles fifth round pick a year ago. Lo Re got promoted out of the Florida Complex League after just 20 games and has been on fire in his first couple of handfuls of Low-A games. In five games for the Shorebirds this week, Lo Re went 7-17 with three doubles, drew six walks, and stole six bases. That’s good.
Other prospects here had a good several games, including fellow 19-year-old infielder DJ Layton, the Orioles sixth round pick from 2024. Layton’s been with Delmarva all year long and keeps hitting well. He added a 5-21 week with a double and a homer, plus four walks and three stolen bases. This could be a dynamic pair of guys. Let’s see whether the Orioles decide they want to try to develop these guys or trade one of them. Not that they’re looking like trade deadline buyers right now.
When this season began, the one real pitching prospect of note on this team was 19-year-old Esteban Mejia. The notable thing about him at this point is that he just keeps walking dudes. Mejia made two starts this week and walked seven guys in 6.2 innings, of a piece with his 11.3 BB/9 for the season. The Mike Elias international effort still waits for its first pitching success story.
Also of interest
OF Braylon Whitaker – 19th rounder from 2024 is still just 20 and he batted 9-23 this past week. .395 OBP for the season, though only slugging .316.
The FCL Orioles team is 15-15. The guy I’m keeping an eye on down here is 18-year-old infielder Wilfri De La Cruz, who arrived from the Cubs when the Orioles traded Andrew Kittredge last year – only to reacquire Kittredge after the season for cash. Not a bad bit of pilfering. In 26 games, De La Cruz is hitting .232/.411/.391. We may need to see him face pitchers who actually throw him strikes to get a better sense of who he is.
Your choice in the minor league player of the week poll for last week was Victor Figueroa, who had about a 60/40 edge over his competition. Margins continue to be slim, so if you have feelings about them, vote in the poll below.
Figueroa joins the following other winners: Payton Eeles, Braylin Tavera, Caden Hunter, Ike Irish, and Wehiwa Aloy. We haven’t had a repeat winner yet. Will that change this week? The choice is yours.
The Royals traded for Toronto Blue Jays reliever Connor Seabold.
Seabold, 30, was designated for assignment on June 10. The Royals will offer him a fresh start and chance to carve out a role in the bullpen.
This season, Seabold owns a 4.26 ERA in 16 relief appearances. He appeared in five games with the Blue Jays after beginning the 2026 campaign with the Detroit Tigers.
“Another guy with some experience to be able to fit in the middle of the game,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Give us some length at times. He’s been pretty much one inning lately, but we’re not going to designate a role for him.”
Anne Rogers writes about Mitch Spence’s spot start amid the injuries to the rotation.
The Royals’ depth is stretched thin with three starters sidelined right now. Despite Lugo’s placement on the 7-day concussion IL due to the line drive that hit him last week, the hope is that he’ll be able to slot back in by this weekend as long as his health stays on track over the next few days. But Cole Ragans (left elbow impingement) and Kris Bubic (left elbow soreness) have both suffered setbacks in their recoveries, extending their time on the IL.
Ragans was awaiting MRI results Monday to see what is going on with the latest soreness that crept in over the weekend, so his timeline has yet to be determined. Bubic pressed pause on his rehab assignment with shoulder discomfort, although an MRI showed that nothing was structurally wrong, so his throwing progression has continued. It’s unclear when he’ll get back on the mound.
Bobby Witt Jr leads AL shortstops in All-Star voting.
SHORTSTOP
1. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals: 890,575 2. Andrés Giménez, Blue Jays: 354,651 3. Kevin McGonigle, Tigers: 266,239 4. Colson Montgomery, White Sox: 176,673 5. Jeremy Peña, Astros: 162,537
One of the best all-around players in MLB, Witt advanced to Phase 2 in each of the past two years but lost out both times, with Gunnar Henderson earning the AL’s starting shortstop spot in 2024 and Jacob Wilson prevailing last season. Witt is still searching for his first All-Star starting nod. McGonigle is the AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner, but he has some ground to make up if he’s going to usurp Giménez as one of the AL shortstop finalists.
David Lesky believes it’s time for all of us to shift our priorities for the rest of the season.
So now the successes shift to evaluation, which nobody likes, and with the injuries they now have, they’ll get that chance. I mentioned in the newsletter about priorities shifting that I’d like to see them get a look at Kameron Misner and maybe get John Rave one more shot. Well, now it’s happening because of the injuries to Kyle Isbel and Vinnie Pasquantino. We’ll see Jac Caglianone at first base a lot and probably hitting in a more prominent spot in the lineup. We’ll see much more of Luinder Avila starting, which has produced a couple of fun starts and one that wasn’t quite so fun. I hope they get Matthew Lugo to the big leagues and ship off Starling Marte soon. I’ve heard there’s a market for Marte, so let’s see that happen, too. We’ve watched a team make the playoffs two years ago and contend in September last year, so we have to re-learn how to watch a bad team, but it’s in our blood. It shouldn’t be too hard to remember.
There is a petition regarding the new Royals stadium ($). It looks like a low-wage worker group is trying to force a vote on the matter.
If at least 2,068 petition signatures are certified, Kansas City voters could see two ballot measures over the next 10 months. The first would ask whether stadium subsidies should require a public vote. If that’s approved, a second ballot question will appear at the next election asking whether the city should contribute public dollars to the proposed Royals stadium.
But timing is everything, and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas believes the petition may be too late.
“I think the deal is likely to get done before we even have some of these discussions,” Lucas said, “if we ever get to the point of a public vote.”
Royals top prospect Kendry Chourio was promoted to High-A Quad Cities.
Andrew Banks at Kings of Kauffman talks about Jac Caglianone’s recent hot streak.
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit the first cycle of the 2026 season.
There are good reasons to be down about the Cubs’ 3-3 road trip against a pair of weak opponents, but one needs to look at the positives. PCA and Michael Busch extending their on-base game streaks. PCA finally, consistently, pairing his power and speed. Seiya Suzuki finding his power bat, and has raised his defensive game (hopefully that will continue when he’s 100%). Javier Assad continuing his strong pitching of late.
Yes, a 6-0 trip out west would have been spectacular. But a three-game win streak and increased contributions on offense have the Cubs going in the right direction. At least for now.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs’ bid for SF sweep disrupted by Giants ace Webb. “Stretching a brief hot streak into the weekend — a run of wins that felt more like the baseball displayed early in the season — was important for the Cubs.”
Matt Ostrowski (North Side Baseball): Anatomy of an At-Bat: Revisiting Alex Bregman’s Bizarre Home Run Against the Rockies. “Alex Bregman isn’t known for his ability to handle pitches low in the zone, though he successfully pulled the nine iron out of his bag against the Rockies last week. Is that feat repeatable for the Cubs’ slugger?”
Mighty Mo Rodgers (real name Maurice Rodgers) was born in Indiana in 1942 where his father owned a club that featured blues performers. When Rodgers wasn’t studying classical piano he was checking out the blues artists that played there. Growing up, Rodgers was deeply affected by the mid-’60s soul music from the Memphis-based Stax label. He finally decided to quit college, move to L.A., and give music his full-time attention. There he played gigs and recorded with many blues and R&B legends.“
After growing tired of tedious session work, he continued to write songs and became a house songwriter for Motown and Chappel Publishing. Rodgers also continued to produce sessions for other artists and decided to go back to school where he received a degree in philosophy. In 1999 he released his first solo effort, Blues Is My Wailin’ Wall, on Blue Thumb. The recording contained all original material, mixing his philosophical views with blues/soul musical roots.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Karl-Anthony Towns #32, OG Anunoby #8 and Ariel Hukporti #55 of the New York Knicks pose with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Shocker: The New York Knicks are your NBA champions.
Proper: The New York Knicks are being disrespected as they always have been.
Not even five seconds after the final buzzer sounded inside that random arena in San Antonio, with the Knicks—organization and fans alike—still in disbelief of what had just happened, haters and doubters were already at it.
In the economy we live in, however, that was to be expected. Ask Terry. Anyway, early projections for the 2026-27 NBA season are already available, and nobody outside of NYC and its surroundings seems to remember a damn thing about the historic moment they just witnessed.
And obviously, the Knicks are not viewed as the favorites to repeat next season, even if their oldest players will be 31 next season, their core of the team has been together for four years, and well, they won the freaking championship going on an imposing 16-3 run.
Sportsbooks such as FanDuel have placed the Knicks fourth in early odds for the 2027 championship, trailing three teams: the losing San Antonio Spurs, the double-loser Oklahoma City Thunder—both atop the board as co-favorites at +250—and the don’t-know-how-they-will-look-in-a-week Boston Celtics, at +600.
New York checks in behind them at +750, a hellaciouslly good distance ahead of joint-fifth-favorites Denver and Detroit, both at +2500.
Has any franchise repeated as champion since the 2017-18 Dubs? Nope. Has any team even won two titles in the last eight seasons? No.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 24: AJ Dybansta #3 of the Brigham Young Cougars warms up before their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Delta Center on October 24, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are a little under a week away from the 2026 NBA Draft and that means we are getting a little closer to seeing the Washington Wizards make one of the most important picks in their franchise history, with the #1 overall pick in the draft. This draft is littered with some amazing talent, but there are certain players who fit this roster better than others. Let’s break down the top draft prospects’ fit on this roster as well as what FanDuel has as their odds being picked by the Wizards at #1.
1. AJ Dybansta
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 12: AJ Dybantsa looks on during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Why does AJ Dybansta fit in so well with the Wizards core? Let’s start with his positional length. The Wizards have built a team that has the ability to play multiple positions on both sides of the floor. Having a 6’9” athletic wing fits into the archetype that this front office has sought after in each of the past few drafts. Dybansta also has the offensive potential to be a #1 option. The Wizards just don’t have anyone with the combination of size and scoring prowess on the roster currently, which makes Dybansta a great fit for this team.
His ceiling as an offensive player is much higher than anyone on the current roster. Adding AJ could also create a positional mismatch on most nights that the team lacks at times. At his best, Dybansta could make the Wizards an elite offensive team, with the potential of being a strong contributor on defense as well.
FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: -450
2. Darryn Peterson
Is Darryn Peterson more like Kyrie Irving or Devin Booker? | Getty Images
There is a lot of controversy about Peterson’s time at Kansas, but make no mistake about it, the talent is there. Even with the athleticism already on the roster, Peterson would be arguably the most athletic of the bunch. Combine that with his ability to attack off the dribble, you would be adding a player that can go get his own shot at a moment’s notice.
Peterson does not possess the positional size that Dybantsa has, but because of wing span (6’9”), he still has the ability to guard multiple positions and allows the Wizards to mix and match him in match ups that would allow the team to throw multiple defenders at the other team’s best ball handlers. Peterson has the best all-around game of the top prospects and is a tough choice to turn down.
FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: +320
3. Caleb Wilson
CHAPEL HILL, NC – FEBRUARY 07: Caleb Wilson #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbles around Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils on February 07, 2026 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 71-68. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Are you surprised to see Caleb here? Although Cameron Boozer is the more polished player coming out of college, Wilson fits the current Wizards roster better, in my opinion. Can you imagine a front court rotation of Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis and Caleb Wilson? You would have three bigs who are athletic enough to guard on defensive switches on perimeter players. This would help them hide some of their weaker defenders, like Trae Young, by having two rim protectors on the court at a time.
Additionally on offense, Wilson’s rim-running style compliments Alex Sarr quite well. This combination allows Wilson to play to his strength offensively, while allowing Sarr to keep the spacing on the floor, playing more as an offensive “stretch 4”. If this team does not see Anthony Davis on the team beyond the next year or so, Wilson provides a strong replacement and maintains strong depth in the front court.
FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: +8000
4. Keaton Wagler
Like many teams, the Wizards current roster is not built around the idea of having a traditional point guard. Having the ability to have multiple ball handlers, who can also play off the ball, helps the team find continuity on the offensive end. That’s where Illinois guard Keaton Wagler could fit in. Wagler had a strong showing in the NCAA tournament, while helping the Illini get to the Final Four. While he does not possess the athleticism the previous three options has, his ability to fit next to players like Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Trae Young, etc. would greatly enhance the depth at the guard position.
Perhaps not likely an option if the Wizards stay at the #1 pick, but if the Wizards ever did decide to trade down, Wagler would be a good option that has a mature enough game to be an instant contributor.
FanDuel Odds for Being the #1 Pick: N/A
5. Cameron Boozer
I have Boozer lower on this list just strictly off of his ceiling. Boozer was an excellent college player with high basketball IQ, capable of doing a little bit of everything, but the reality is the NBA is largely about how well you can guard your position and possible other positions when you are forced to switch on defense. He does not possess the athleticism to project to be a good defensive player at the NBA-level. Offensively, Boozer has a strong lower base that will allow him to be an effective post player. He also possess high basketball IQ and is a great shooter.
On the Wizards, Boozer has the ability to compliment Alex Sarr. His overall skill set offensively makes him a great fit in the front court on this team. Boozer has a mature post game that gives him a unique skill set that this team simply does not have a lot of.
With all of this in mind, Boozer is a safe pick. He is not likely to be a superstar, but he has the ability to be a contributor right away. He is not likely to be the #1 pick, but if the Wizards decide to choose him, they would have a player who is a sure thing.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 17: Owner, Glen Taylor of the Minnesota Timberwolves presents Karl-Anthony Towns #32 with the NBA Cares Community Assist award on December 17, 2021 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2021 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This isn’t just another puff piece by a Minnesota Timberwolves fan celebrating Karl-Anthony Towns.
As much as I would love to flood the internet with more positivity and reveling in Towns’ most recent accomplishment, I’ve actually been thinking about why I’ve been rooting for Towns to win the championship this postseason.
When watching an NBA game, my flowchart of “Who am I rooting for?” has usually gone something like this:
Are they the Timberwolves?
If they aren’t, which team’s victory/loss would benefit the Timberwolves more?
Which team’s victory/loss would lead to the Timberwolves catching fewer straws?
*Just as important, everything would be inverse if you replace Timberwolves with Lakers
During the 2026 NBA Finals, all indications should’ve pointed towards me rooting for the San Antonio Spurs. If the Spurs won it all, it would likely mean they would keep the team together. A team that the injury-riddled Wolves took to six games (astronomical point differential aside). A San Antonio loss would likely prompt them to add more firepower in the offseason, rebalancing their roster along the way. Additionally, Minnesota losing to the eventual champs sounds a lot better than losing to the eventual runner-up.
Additionally, a New York Knicks victory should be to the Wolves’ demise. Fans and talking heads would be champing at the bit to ridicule Minnesota for giftwrapping banner number two to New York in the form of Towns. In fact, Towns would be just the latest top-10 draft pick that the Wolves failed to build around, then traded, and then won the Larry O’Brien Trophy in just two seasons with their new team. Meanwhile, the bulk of the Timberwolves’ offseason content is about how they can try to trade one of the players they received in that very same trade.
By this logic, rooting against the Knicks should have been a no-brainer.
However, I still found myself pulling for New York. I was willing to ignore my aforementioned flowchart even if it came at the expense of my favorite team. Why was watching Towns claw his way towards a title with the Knicks so much different than, say, Andrew Wiggins with the Golden State Warriors four years ago? I’ve met both players face-to-face multiple times, and they were always nothing but pleasant to me. They both tried, to the best of their own respective abilities, to win in Minnesota without ever the peep of a trade request.
It was because of how I personally viewed these individuals as humans.
My admiration for Towns has already been detailed here on Canis Hoopus. He’s someone who, by multiple accounts, is a grade A person off the court. Whether it’s been within the local Minnesota community or as someone who regularly uses his platform to uplift the disenfranchised, Towns is someone that I’ve always been proud to root for. It’s always been about more than basketball with him.
Conversely, I wrote a whole piece about players I love rooting against four years ago. So much angst, Leo! So, have I just become soft now? Has the birth of my first child turned me into a “snowflake” who just wants everyone to get along? I doubt that very much.
What I’ve grown to realize over the years is that everything shouldn’t have to be in binaries. Just because I was rooting for Towns didn’t mean I was rooting against the Wolves. That didn’t even mean I was rooting against Victor Wembanyama, who was openly critical of ICE activity in Minnesota, nor the Spurs franchise, who are one of the NBA organizations most openly critical of our current government.
On the flip side, rooting for Towns didn’t mean I was rooting for former Wolves assistant coach Eric Daniel “Rick” Brunson, given the previous sexual assault allegation raised against him. It didn’t mean I was rooting for James Dolan and his laundry list of transgressions (including an eerily similar SA allegation). There are often both good and bad people on both sides. And there are usually more than just two sides.
Can I root for an athlete even if they play on a team with a rotten owner, or have rotten teammates?
Can I root for a musical artist even if they’re signed to a rotten label?
That’s perhaps a different discussion for another day, but in this particular case, I find it easier to cheer for and follow athletes who are simply good people and not overanalyze the rest.
People like Ricky Rubio, who has had huge success the last couple of years playing with his first professional team, Joventut Badalona (sadly, they just got eliminated in the semi-finals of the Spanish Liga ACB playoffs), while continuing to do great work in the cancer research arena with his foundation.
People like Gorgui Dieng, who has continued to pour into his home country of Senegal, uplifting the youth and sports communities along the way. This is why Canis Hoopus writes stories about these former players, all three of whom were recipients of NBA Cares Community Assist awards.
There will always be people who root for players for different reasons. Some may root for players that have an aesthetically pleasing style of hooping (Curry, Kyrie). Some may root for players of the high school jock ilk (Kobe, or the ringless Jimmy Butler). Some may not even care about the players themselves, as long as they help bring a championship to your favorite team.
People will try to change you or ridicule you for your choice.
But this is a reminder that it is always okay to root for good people.
With the Knicks still basking in the glow of their first NBA Championship in 53 years and final preparations being made for the parade through the Canyon of Heroes, the rest of the NBA is pointing towards next season…and we should do the same with a look at the Futures market.
Lets take a quick look at the NBA Futures Market at DraftKings and the favorites, the contenders, and an intriguing long shot to consider in 2027.
2027 NBA Favorites
San Antonio Spurs (+250)
That is a long time to lock up your money for such short odds. There is no denying the talented core of the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper are young but look like a force that should be even better in 2027. As an aside, not sure if a year will be long enough for Wemby to grow up and grasp the concept of sportsmanship. The face of the global NBA needs to be better than what he showed this past month.
Oklahoma City Thunder (+260)
We again must acknowledge it’s a long time to lock up your money for such short odds amidst so many question marks. Top of that heap of unknowns: Was a lack of healthy bodies what cost Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and co.? Even if it was, will Jalen Williams’ hamstring be able to withstand a full season of wear and tear (pun intended) in 2027? In addition, does this team have a Chet Holmgren problem?
Boston Celtics (+550)
What will a full season of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum look like? If they do not trade for Giannis, where will Jaylen Brown end up? It is obvious he and the Celtics are getting divorced. After overachieving during the regular season without Tatum (Achilles), the Celtics struggled to fit the pieces together once Tatum returned. Will Brown departing be addition by subtraction or merely help with the management of Boston’s salary cap?
New York Knicks (+650)
No doubt Jalen Brunson will have this likable bunch ready to defend their title and they will have players wanting to join the fun, but the last eight NBA champs have failed to repeat. That said, the Finals MVP has proven doubters wrong time and again, who's to say he won’t do it again in 2027.
2027 NBA Contenders
Los Angeles Lakers (+2800)
Any team with Luka Doncic will have a distinct opportunity to win an NBA Championship. In addition, gotta believe Year 1 of Team Luka (minus LeBron?) will look and play a bit different than they did this past season. In the end, can Doncic finish the season healthy enough to make a run in the postseason?
Indiana Pacers (+2800)
This team is intriguing. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) expects to be ready to start the season. Their Big 3 - Halliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac - should be able to compete with any Big 3 in at least the East. The lineup that reached Game 7 of the Finals in 2026 was not as good as the 2026-27 roster. But will that be enough? Rick Carlisle is one of the Association’s best coaches. He’ll need to work his magic to get the most out of the supporting cast if they hope to get over the top.
Denver Nuggets (+2800)
Nikola Jokic is still arguably the Association’s best player, but his supporting cast is truly lacking. The roster as is can’t compete with the best teams. It is a fragile bunch that combines to offer missed time due to injury and salary cap issues. The front office will have to get creative to give Jokic a realistic chance to truly compete for another title.
Minnesota Timberwolves (+3000)
Anthony Edwards is elite, and this team plays hard in the playoffs. Full stop. That is where this conversation ends as the talent is just not there to win a title. If they get Giannis without having to give up Jaden McDaniels or Naz Reid, we will revisit this.
Detroit Pistons (+3000)
How much did Cade Cunningham and co. learn from their late season struggles and early expulsion from the playoffs? Does Jalen Duren rebound from just a brutal postseason? What do they add to a group that gave the Knicks more trouble than any other team this past season?
Cleveland Cavaliers (+3500)
Not sure why or maybe if the Cavs are considered contenders as currently constructed. Physically talented but not mentally strong enough to win in the playoffs. However, if LeBron James heads home for the final year(s) of his career? Not sure how that would work in terms of the cap if James Harden returns, but without an addition like James, the Cavs can’t make a deep playoff run.
Miami Heat (+4000)
These odds shorten substantially if Giannis heads to South Beach. IF the biggest name Pat Riley ships out is Tyler Herro, there will be enough talent in Miami for Erik Spoelstra. Bam Adebayo and the Freak will need to learn to play together but Spoelstra is one of the best in the business and will get the most out of the suddenly longer and more athletic Heat. But will there be enough there to win a Title?
Golden State Warriors (+4500)
Do Steve Kerr and Steph Curry want LeBron? Would that addition put them into contention? Maybe. Lots of big names and strong resumes on that roster, but lots of old legs as well.
Philadelphia 76ers (+5500)
This is Tyrese Maxey’s team BUT his team needs Joel Embiid to contribute…especially in the playoffs. The one-time MVP was frankly immobile in that Knicks’ series. His contract and his talent combine to keep him tied to Philly, but they need more from him if they are to compete for a title.
2027 NBA Long Shot
Utah Jazz (+20000)
This team is intriguing especially at this number. Their talent will be undeniable. They will at worst put Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, Ace Bailey, and one of Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, or AJ Dybantsa on the court next season. That is a long and highly skilled group that checks a lot of boxes. Even more boxes checked if Jaylen Brown lands in Salt Lake City. If the thought of making that leap is too great for you no matter who puts on a Jazz uniform, maybe a little sprinkle on the Jazz to win the West (+12000) is worth a sweat.
The NBA offseason promises address changes along with curious and intriguing personnel decisions. Those moves will undoubtedly alter these odds, but will there be greater clarity before training camps open? The Knicks were among the favorites entering the season and made a few tweaks at the deadline but heading into the postseason were not deemed the favorites to win the NBA Finals.
The Athletic's Chris Johnston recently ranked the top 75 pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) in the NHL with July 1 rapidly approaching. Two Chicago Blackhawks were among the players ranked, as Ilya Mikheyev and Matt Grzelcyk made the cut.
Mikheyev was given the No. 31 spot on Johnston's pending UFA rankings. It is not difficult to understand why Mikheyev has made the cut, as he put together back-to-back strong seasons for the Blackhawks. The 31-year-old's solid secondary scoring ability and strong defensive play should make him a popular target if he decides to test the market this off-season. In 77 games this season, he had 18 goals and a career-high 36 points.
As for Grzelcyk, he landed the No. 67 spot on Johnston's list. The 32-year-old blueliner recorded zero goals, 12 assists, and a minus-9 rating in 69 games this season for the Blackhawks. This was after he scored one goal and set career highs with 39 assists and 40 points in 2024-25 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Teams looking for more defensive depth could consider taking a flier on the veteran defenseman if he reaches the market on July 1.
It will be interesting to see what kind of deals these two Blackhawks end up landing from here.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox looks on before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 05, 2026 in New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 5-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday, OTM! While the Red Sox are only five games out of the third Wild Card in the American League, I think we’re all in agreement that this team probably isn’t going anywhere. It’s America’s pastime, though, and you need to find reasons to watch the games. Aside from just killing time on a summer night, individual performances are one reason to watch. Payton Tolle is in the running for Rookie of the Year, while Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu will be in the mix for Gold Gloves once again. Do you care about that stuff when you’re watching? I, for one, make sure to watch Tolle pitch, but don’t really care if he gets award recognition. It’d be cool if he did, because he rocks, but it doesn’t really move me either way. Maybe this isn’t the most relevant question today, but I like using this spot to ask questions I’m curious about, so let me know what you think.
Use this thread to talk about what you want and be good to one another.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 12: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets celebrates with teammates at home plate after hitting a grand slam home run in the second inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, June 12, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mets have played exactly .500 baseball in the month of June so far. Juan Soto continues to be the Mets’ most consistent hitter (no surprise there), but Bo Bichette may be finally heating up, as he spends his second straight week in the green. Meanwhile, Mark Vientos’ stock is way down, as he continues to lose more and more of his at-bats to Jared Young. Carson Benge has been excellent of late and this week also saw the return of Francisco Alvarez from a torn meniscus—many weeks ahead of schedule.
Player
Last week
This week
Francisco Alvarez, C
Brett Baty, UTIL
Carson Benge, OF
Bo Bichette, 3B
Vidal Bruján, INF
A.J. Ewing, OF
MJ Melendez, OF
Marcus Semien, 2B
Hayden Senger, C
Juan Soto, OF
Luis Torrens, C
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B
Eric Wagaman, 1B/DH
Jared Young, 1B/DH
Mark Vientos continues to struggle so badly that manager Carlos Mendoza recently said he will have to compete for at-bats. And Mendoza has been true to his word. Vientos has played in just 7 of the Mets’ last 12 games and has just one hit in the month of June. Vientos has struck out in seven of his 16 plate appearances. Jared Young has been taking most of Vientos’ at-bats and has been much more productive, posting a 114 wRC+ this month thus far over 46 plate appearances. Half of his ten hits have gone for extra bases, including three home runs, and his seven RBIs are the second-most on the team.
Though his struggles are not quite as pronounced as Vientos’, Brett Baty is trending down as well, posting a 44 wRC+ in the month of June thus far. Baty has just eight hits in his last 42 plate appearances, only one of which went for extra bases. Baty walked three times, drove in three runs, and scored two runs. MJ Melendez has been seeing a bit more playing time as a result and he has held his own with an uninspiring but respectable 99 wRC+ in 32 plate appearances. He has shown some pop; three of his five hits were for extra bases, including a home run. He also drew four walks, which is somehow the second-most on the team over this 12-game stretch.
Bo Bichette leads the team in both RBIs (12) and hits (16) in the past 12 games. His 159 wRC+ for the month of June also leads the team. Of course, the highlight of this hot stretch for Bichette was his huge night in the series opener against the Braves, in which he went deep twice, including an opposite field grand slam against Spencer Strider that put the Mets ahead—ultimately for good. It may be too little too late for the Mets, but if the team is going to turn things around, Bo Bichette finally heating up would be a major reason why.
Juan Soto staying productive would be another major reason why. Though not quite as raging hot as he was at the end of May, Soto still put up a solid 121 wRC+ over 51 plate appearances. He racked up 11 hits, including two home runs and two doubles. He scored five runs and drove in five runs. And as usual, he led the team in walks with seven. Heading into Monday’s series opener in Cinncinati, Soto was up to third in the National League in OPS and had gone over 30 plate appearances without a strikeout.
Carson Benge has settled in to being quite the productive everyday player for the Mets, as his run of good play has gone on for almost two months now. In June, he holds an excellent 137 wRC+ in 51 plate appearances. The Mets outfield trio all had a good couple of weeks; A.J. Ewing put up a 130 wRC+ in 46 plate appearances. Both Mets rookie outfielders had 13 hits apiece—second only behind Bichette for the team lead. Benge’s nine runs scored lead the team. He also walked three times and drove in five runs. Ewing also walked three times. He drove in three runs, scored six runs, and stole three bases—the only Met to swipe multiple bags over the past two weeks.
Francisco Alvarez made a borderline miraculous return from a torn meniscus many weeks ahead of schedule and got off to a quick start, but has cooled off since. Overall, he had three hits including a home run in his first 14 plate appearances since being activated. Meanwhile, Luis Torrens had six hits—half of which went for extra bases—in 27 plate appearances, good for an 89 wRC+. Torrens scored five runs and drove in two runs. When Alvarez was activated, Hayden Senger, who went hitless in two plate appearances, was sent back down to Triple-A.
Marcus Semien hasn’t been what I would call raging hot, but he has at least lifted himself out of awful territory, hovering close to league average with the bat for the past month or so. In June so far, he has an 85 wRC+ in 48 plate appearances. He actually leads the team with four home runs, which represent half of his total hits over this 12-game span. They also represent all four of his runs batted in and four of his five runs scored. Semien also walked three times and stole a base.
As the last men off the bench, Vidal Brújan and Eric Wagaman have not seen many at-bats. Wagaman reached once via a hit by pitch and struck out in his other two plate appearances. Brújan did not reach base in either of his two plate appearances.
Now that the NBA Finals are over, the biggest story in basketball is the future of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo has played the first 13 years of his career with the Bucks and led the franchise to a championship in 2021 — its first since 1971.
But it appears his time in Milwaukee could be comingto an end, and with the 2026 NBA Draft set to begin next Tuesday, a deal could potentially happen in the short term.
The two teams most often mentioned in Antetokounmpo trade rumors over the last few weeks have been the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.
The Heat are seemingly always in the mix when a huge star is rumored to be available. The Celtics need an upgrade at center and have the ability to put together a compelling trade package. And unlike several other contenders, the C’s still control a bunch of their future first-round picks.
So, which team has the edge in the race for Antetokounmpo? What’s the latest on this situation? The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn provided an update on Monday’s edition of NBC Sports Boston’s Boston Sports Tonight.
“I don’t think (Giannis) is going to be a Celtic, and that’s just from what I’m hearing,’ Washburn said. “I think the Celtics are gauging what it would take to get Giannis to Boston and trying to figure out whether they want to move Jaylen Brown.”
Washburn later added: “I do think Miami has the edge on this, but I do think Boston is kinda sniffing around and finding out could you even acquire Giannis without sacrificing Jaylen? That would be a big question. What is exactly Milwaukee looking for? Who is the third team involved? Because it’s gonna have to be a third team involved.”
There’s no question that Antetokounmpo is still an elite player entering his age 32 season. His record speaks for itself: Two league MVPs, 10 All-Star appearances, nine All-NBA appearances (seven first team), a Finals MVP and one championship, among other accolades.
Antetokounmpo is also two years older than Brown and more injury prone. The Bucks star played in only 36 games last season and has appeared in 70-plus games in a single season only once since 2019. Antetokounmpo also has advanced past the first round of the playoffs just once since 2022, and outside of the 2021 title, the Bucks have been perennial playoff underachievers.
We also have plenty of evidence that the duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum is championship-caliber. They have played in five Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals (one title in 2024) together.
Either way, it’ll be fascinating to watch the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes play out. A top-five player being traded always shifts the balance of power in the league.
Jun 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Nick Gonzales (3) runs to first base during a fielding error against the Athletics during the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | Dennis Lee-Imagn Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had an up-and-down season, recently falling under .500 at 36-37, while spending a good chunk of the year so far several games above. But one of the big changes this year was the return of offense to Pittsburgh, and one of the biggest reasons for that is Nick Gonzlaes.
Well, the first group of Major League Baseball All-Star voting has been released, and the 27-year-old Gonzales sits in fifth place for the third baseman voting. The current voting is as follows:
Gonzales is second on the team in batting average, hitting .296 on the season with 2 homers and 31 RBIs. He has an OPS of .711 and a WAR of 1.0. He’s also stolen 4 bases.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez are the leading vote-getters for the National League and American League, though Ohtani leads all players with 1,165,133 votes.If they both still lead when Phase 1 of the voting is complete on Jun 25 at noon, both players will receive automatic starting spots in the All-Star Game. The 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will take place on Tuesda, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Gonzales is the only Pirates player in the top five of any of the position voting, though cases could be made for Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz and Ryan O’Hearn, who are all having good seasons at the plate for the Buccos.
Congrats to Gonzales for his early showing. Though he’s going to have to get some votes in Phase 2 to catch up to the rest of the the third-basemen. Still, the Pirates will likely have a position player in the game, so it very well could be Gonzales.
Warriors superstar Steph Curry is such an elite shooter that, sometimes, even Hall of Fame players can forget how good of an all-around offensive player he is.
That’s the case with Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who, before the 2026 NBA Finals wrapped up on Saturday night, delivered an odd breakdown comparing Curry’s path to success with his and that of New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
“Here’s where it separates. Curry did it at 6-foot-3, more or less, shooting, scoring. Brunson and I, if Brunson becomes a champion, right? We did it scoring and assisting,” Thomas said last Friday on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back.” “That is something totally different and that’s why it’s so unique in terms of what you’re watching because he can assist and then he scores. Curry was more just a scorer, so there are two different ways of doing it.
“Now, with Brunson and I being smaller, we cannot measure ourselves by this analytics category criteria that has been established in the basketball world that only fits and suits the 6-foot-6 and above player. So, if you’re 6-foot-6 and above, these analytics numbers and criteria fits you but if you’re trying to win as a small player, we cannot play to that criteria of statistical analyzation. So we need to figure out how we can win without being measured by the 6-foot-6-and-above guy. And Brunson has settled into that. So, I’ve done it. He’s trying to do it. Curry did it at 6-foot-3.”
Isiah Thomas says small guards like him & Jalen Brunson have to win by transcending analytics 🏆
So, in Thomas’ mind, Curry had to have averaged more points and fewer assists per game during his four championship runs, right?
Unfortunately for Thomas, the stats don’t back up his claim.
During the Warriors’ 2014-15 title run, Curry averaged 28.3 points and 6.4 assists in 21 postseason games. Two years later, with Kevin Durant on board, Curry averaged 28.1 points and 6.7 assists in 17 playoff games.
During the Warriors’ 2017-18 title run, in which Curry missed the first round, he averaged 25.5 points and 5.4 assists in 15 games.
In 2022-23, with Durant long gone and Curry the focal point of the offense, he averaged 27.4 points and 5.9 assists en route to NBA Finals MVP.
Over those four title runs, Curry averaged a cumulative 6.11 assists in 75 games.
As a kicker, Brunson averaged 10.1 made field goals on 21.7 field-goal attempts during the now-completed playoff run. Curry’s highest title-run numbers came in 2015 when he averaged 9.5 made field goals on 20.9 field-goal attempts.
Thomas, if anything, is the outlier. During his two title runs with the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990, he averaged 19.4 points and 8.2 assists. Curry and Brunson are more alike than Thomas is to either of them.
Yes, Curry is known for his scoring and less for the other aspects of his game. But to say he didn’t score and assist on his way to success isn’t accurate.
