Latest on Panthers pending free agents, ripple effect from Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad

We are less than a week away from the start of NHL Free Agency.

When July 1st arrives, we’ll find out where many of the league’s top unrestricted free agents will sign their next contracts.

That group of UFAs include a trio of Florida Panthers, each who have played key roles in the team’s recent Stanley Cup success.

They are forwards Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand and defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

Bennett is fresh off his amazing run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping Florida win the historic trophy while earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

During Florida’s first days after winning the Cup, Bennett made a few public statements indicting his intention to stay with the Panthers, and it sounds like both sides are making progress toward making that happen.

Look for Bennett to take a deal in the range of $8 million per season, give or take, over an eight-year deal.

Marchand is also reportedly looking for some term on his next deal.

He was very happy in South Florida after being traded to the Panthers at the Trade Deadline and proved to be one of their best contributors during the playoffs.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, Marchand may be working to obtain a multi-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) in the range of $5-$6 million.

What does that mean for Ekblad?

Well, Florida only has $19 million in cap space for next season.

If both Bennett and Marchand take the lower end of those figures, it would still leave less money for Ekblad than what he was paid on his last contract.

Would the 29-year-old former first overall selection be willing to take a pay cut on what could be the last big deal of his career?

In addition to the three aforementioned players, Florida has several others who played key roles in their Stanley Cup win who are also set to be UFAs next week.

They are Nate Schmidt, Tomas Nosek, Nico Sturm and Vitek Vanecek, and rookie Mackie Samoskevich will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Point being, the Panthers have more than a few holes to fill ahead of next season and they need to have enough money to do so.

One final thing to keep in mind is that Florida doesn’t have to be under the cap until Opening Night.

We’ll see how things play out over the coming days.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: Jun 4, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) reacts after scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game one of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. (Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images)

What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more

What time is the 2025 NBA Draft? First-round order, top prospects and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Dallas Mavericks are on the clock.

A new group of young prospects is set to enter the league when the 2025 NBA Draft gets underway. Dallas won the lottery in May with just 1.8% odds, landing first dibs at star Duke prospect Cooper Flagg.

Flagg has been the consensus top prospect of this class for several years, and Dallas getting the first pick right after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers generated plenty of mixed reactions.

But unlike last year’s class, the pool of talent beyond Flagg is much more tantalizing. Flagg also isn’t the only possible top-five Duke pick, while Rutgers may see two top-five picks of its own.

Here’s everything to know as the first round of the draft gets underway:

What time does the NBA Draft start?

The draft will begin at 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday, June 25. It is the second straight year of the event being held over two days. The second round is set for Thursday, June 26, also at 5 p.m. PT.

Where is the NBA Draft?

The Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, is once again the venue for both days.

Where to watch and stream the NBA Draft online, on TV

The first round on Wednesday will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN. ESPN will air the second round on Thursday.

Both rounds will be available to stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN mobile app.

What is the NBA Draft order?

Here is the order of the draft entering the first round, via NBA.com:

First round:

1. Dallas Mavericks

2. San Antonio Spurs

3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Charlotte Hornets

5. Utah Jazz

6. Washington Wizards

7. New Orleans Pelicans

8. Brooklyn Nets

9. Toronto Raptors

10. Phoenix Suns

11. Portland Trail Blazers

12. Chicago Bulls

13. Atlanta Hawks 

14. San Antonio Spurs

15. Oklahoma City

16. Memphis Grizzlies

17. Minnesota Timberwolves

18. Washington Wizards

19. Brooklyn Nets

20. Miami Heat

21. Utah Jazz

22. Brooklyn Nets

23. New Orleans Pelicans

24. Oklahoma City Thunder

25. Orlando Magic

26. Brooklyn Nets

27. Brooklyn Nets

28. Boston Celtics

29. Phoenix Suns

30. LA Clippers

The second-round order can be viewed here.

There are usually 60 picks, but the New York Knicks had a second-round pick taken away after an investigation found the team violated the league’s tampering rules when signing Jalen Brunson in 2022.

Who are the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft?

The top prospect is Cooper Flagg of Duke given his frame, skills and potential. He’s a rare blend of ready-now, well-rounded and possible future No. 1 option on a contender.

Beyond Flagg, Rutgers has both Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey in the mix. Harper has the potential to be an elite combo guard given his 6-foot-10 wingspan, though his 33% 3-point shooting will need to improve at the next level. Bailey has the chops to be a star shotmaking forward, but he’ll need to improve defensively while there has been some red flags in regards to canceling pre-draft workouts with teams.

Fellow Duke prospect Kon Knueppel is a plug-and-play 3-point shooter. His versatility will allow him to play in multiple positions, with a sweet shot from deep. There are athleticism concerns defensively, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles that end.

Other possible top-five picks include Baylor G V.J. Edgecombe, Texas G/F Tre Jackson and Illinois G Kasparas Jakucionis.

Outside of the top five, potential steals include Duke C Khaman Maluach, Michigan State G Jase Richardson, Duke G/F Tyrese Proctor, Colorado State G/F Nique Clifford, Michigan C Danny Wolf and St. John’s F RJ Luis Jr., among others.

Mets calling up RHP Jonathan Pintaro to bolster bullpen: report

With the Mets in need of bullpen help, the team is calling up one of their young right-handers.

Jonathan Pintaro is getting the call to the show, according to The Athletics' Will Sammon. The 27-year-old right-hander was just promoted to Triple-A from Binghamton this week, but had not taken the mound for Syracuse before this sudden promotion.

Pintaro has been solid for the Mets' Double-A affiliate this season. In 11 starts (42.1 IP), Pintaro has pitched to a 3.40 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP with 57 strikeouts. In his three starts this month, Pintaro has allowed just two runs over 12 innings pitched. As Sammon notes, although Pintaro has only started games this season, he's expected to offer the Mets bullpen help.

In Tuesday's loss to the Braves, the Mets used five relievers after Frankie Montas pitched five scoreless innings. That comes a day after the team used four relievers in Monday's loss to Atlanta.

Colorado Avalanche Announce Dates for 2025 Rookie Showcase and Prospect Development Camp

2025 Rookie Tournament

Colorado Avalanche PR announced on Monday afternoon that the organization will be hosting the 2025 Rookie Showcase. This is a showcase that cycles around the league, giving the prospects in participating organizations a chance to shine.

The dates and times are as follows:

  • Friday, 9/12 @ 6:00 p.m. MT: Colorado Avalanche vs. Utah Mammoth
  • Saturday, 9/13 @ 3:00 p.m. MT: Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights
  • Sunday, 9/14 @ 1:00 p.m. MT: Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights

All games will take place at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch, Colorado

2025 Prospect Development Camp

On Tuesday, Avalanche PR also announced the official dates and times for this year's prospect development camp. As previously reported, the Family Sports Center schedule had significant time blocked off on their schedule for the week of July 1st.

Avalanche Training Facility Schedule Alludes to Upcoming Prospect Development Camp DatesAvalanche Training Facility Schedule Alludes to Upcoming Prospect Development Camp DatesWhile official dates for the 2025 Colorado Avalanche Prospect Development Camp have yet to be announced, a quick glance at the uploaded schedule for Family Sports Center, the training facility for the Avalanche, tells us that we can perhaps expect to see the prospects hit the ice at the beginning of July.

Official dates and times are as follows:

  • Tuesday, July 1st, 8:10 - 11:45 a.m. MT
  • Wednesday, July 2nd, 8:10 - 11:45 a.m. MT
  • Thursday, July 3rd, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. MT

All on-ice sessions will be held at Family Sports Center, the Avalanche's official practice facility, and will be open and free for the public to spectate.

Locker room media availability will follow every on-ice session.

Rosters and on-ice groups will be announced at a later date.

Free Agency

Speaking of July 1st, Free Agency is set to begin that same day at 10:00 a.m. MT/12:00 p.m. ET. The Avalanche have a 4th round pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft, as well as $1.2 Million left in cap space. 

Jonathan Drouin (F), Jimmy Vesey (F), Joel Kiviranta (F), Erik Johnson (D), Ryan Lindgren (D), and Tucker Poolman (D) are listed as UFAs heading into this free agency period. Sam Malinski (D) is the only listed RFA from last year's roster.

A Closer Look at Sam Malinski's Role in the Avalanche’s Offseason DecisionsA Closer Look at Sam Malinski's Role in the Avalanche’s Offseason DecisionsWith 16 days remaining until the 2025 Free Agency period begins, the Colorado Avalanche have to make some big decisions when it comes to how they want to free up cap space to re-sign their pending unrestricted free agents and their one restricted free agent.

Bookmark THN's Colorado Avalanche site so you never miss the latest news surrounding the burgundy and blue!

Make sure you also bookmark The Hockey News to keep up on all things hockey, from NHL to AHL to PWHL and so much more!

Follow Bailey Curtis on X and stay up to date on live news stories following all things Colorado hockey!

NCAA College Hoops Event Deregulation Plan Raises Alarm

The NCAA’s ongoing effort to streamline and deregulate its extensive bylaws is creating controversy in one specific corner of the college sports world. A new legislative proposal—already approved by the men’s and women’s basketball oversight committees, and currently under review by the Division I council—would dramatically harm the business of basketball multiple-team events (MTEs) and …

Francisco Lindor feels Mets' frustration, 'sense of urgency' to right ship

When things are going right, Francisco Lindor likes to say the thing to do is to “keep riding the good wave.” After the Mets dropped their 10th game out of the last 11 on Tuesday night, letting a 3-0 lead after five frames turn into a 7-4 defeat to the Atlanta Braves, the hope is that this bad wave has finally crashed.

“Keep on grinding, keep on grinding. We gotta find a way to beat the team on the other side,” Lindor said when asked what the club has to do to pull out of the recent wipeout. “We have to stay together, we have to fight for each other, and just put our heads down and find a way.”

Just as quickly as a six-game winning streak can turn into a seven-game losing skid, there is a belief that the next wave is around the corner.

“We’re one week away from looking completely different," Lindor said. "At the end of the day, I believe in what we have here, the guys are gonna continue to stay together, they’re gonna continue to fight, continue to play for each other.

“What do we have to do to get out of something like this? Fight for each other, fight for each other. Turn the page, day in and day out. When we win, turn the page. When we lose, turn the page.”

In Tuesday’s defeat, Lindor went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts, including grounding out weakly to second base for the game’s final out, representing the tying run with two men in scoring position. The shortstop snapped a run of three straight two-hit games, and he now has just six hits in his last 36 at-bats (.167) with nine strikeouts and two walks.

“I gotta get better,” Lindor said, adding, “I have felt good the past couple games, probably the past four or five days. Today’s just one of those nights. I gotta get good pitches to hit and when I get ‘em drive ‘em. And today I didn’t do that. “I felt like I got a couple of pitches to hit in that last at-bat and I didn’t come through.

"The bottom of the lineup today did a fantastic job of working together to get some runs. The top of the lineup, the leadoff guy, it came down to me, and I didn't execute. That's [the] bottom line.”

With the team scuffling in all phases of the game – pitching, hitting, defense, baserunning – Lindor said there is some frustration in the clubhouse, they are professionals who “understand the task” at hand. 

“There’s definitely some frustration, of course, as competitors and professional athletes, yeah, you don’t want to lose,” he said. “But the guys understand that, to get out of where we are today, we gotta do it together. We have a really good group of guys.”

“...I do feel a sense of urgency of like, ‘Alright guys, we gotta do this and we’re gonna have to do this together.’”

Of course, in the results industry of big league baseball, Lindor knows that, “It’s all about winning. Nothing else matters but winning. And we’re not doing that right now.”

Last season, the Mets stumbled out of the gate and struggled for the season’s early goings and looked lost at sea after a 22-33 start. Lindor said that experience gives them some measure of perspective, but this clubhouse is inhabited by a different team.

“We have a lot of guys that were here last year, but at the end of the day, we don’t really care what happened last year,” he said. “Yes, we all understand in this room that we’re gonna go through things like this. We gotta learn from it, we gotta play better, ultimately that’s what it comes down to. We have to play better, I have to play better.”

Lindor added that in understanding this is a tough moment, the players must “rely on each other and put our heads down and just work.”

Whit Merrifield retires after twice leading MLB in hits over his 9 seasons

Whit Merrifield is retiring after a nine-season career that included twice leading the MLB in hits and three trips to the All-Star Game.

The 36-year-old posted on social media that the birth of his daughter last year played a role in the decision. Merrifield, a utilityman whose career began with Kansas City, was granted free agency after finishing last season with Atlanta. He didn't play in 2025.

“At this point in my life, I'd much rather chase around a toddler than chase sliders,” wrote Merrifield, who had 192 hits for the Royals in 2018 and led the majors again a year later with 206.

Merrifield played his last game with the Braves on Sept. 30, 2024, when they had to play a Monday doubleheader against the New York Mets to settle the National League wild-card race. Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene had rained out both games in Atlanta a week earlier.

The Mets clinched a wild card with a victory in Game 1, which Merrifield played. He sat for the second game, which the Braves won to move on to the postseason as well.

Merrifield was a ninth-round pick by Kansas City in the 2010 amateur draft and made his debut with the Royals six years later, the season after the club won its first World Series in 30 years.

Merrifield played in every game from 2019-21, which included the 2020 season shortened to 60 games by the pandemic.

The Royals didn't make the playoffs in any of Merrifield's six full seasons, and he was traded to Toronto in 2022. He went to the postseason twice with the Blue Jays, but wasn't a regular in the lineup.

Merrifield led the majors in stolen bases three times, including a career-high 45 in 2018. He hit .280 with 94 homers, 485 RBIs, 29 triples and 218 steals in 1,147 games.

The last All-Star trip for Merrifield came in 2023 with Toronto, and he signed as a free agent with Philadelphia that next offseason. The Phillies released Merrifield last July, and the South Carolina native signed with the Braves.

Indiana Pacers 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: What the Hali

Now that the NBA season is over, we’ll recap the fantasy basketball season for the 2024-25 runners-up.

Over the last two months, we’ve provided a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the Eastern and Western Conference champions.

Today, we’re looking at a team that went on one of the greatest playoff runs ever seen.

Indiana Pacers 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 50-32 (4th, East)

Offensive Rating: 115.4 (9th)

Defensive Rating: 113.3 (14th)

Net Rating: 2.1 (T-13th)

Pace: 100.76 (7th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: 54th pick

The 2024-25 campaign was perhaps the most exciting in Pacers history, and I’m including the 1999-00 championship run and the 2005 Malice at the Palace season.

For the second straight year, the Pacers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but this year, they got over the hump. Indiana lost a heartbreaker in Game 7 of the Finals to the Thunder, but Indiana’s improbable run to the last game of the season was one of the most entertaining and unexpected in recent memory.

Superstar Tyrese Haliburton took the next step with a dazzling postseason run, but a devastating injury in Game 7 of the Finals will have a major ripple effect across the roster next season.

Let’s recap last season’s fantasy performances and look ahead to 2025-26.

Fantasy Standout: Tyrese Haliburton

Haliburton delivered a monster season for fantasy managers, averaging 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.7 blocks and 3.0 triples in 33.6 minutes across 73 games. He shot 47.3% from the floor and 85.1% from the charity stripe as he finished fifth in per-game fantasy value.

For as great of a regular season as Hali had, his postseason run was the stuff of legends. The fourth-seeded Pacers took down the Bucks in five games, and Haliburton delivered the knockout blow with a game-winning layup in Game 5.

Next up were the Cavs, who Indiana dispatched in another gentlemen’s sweep. Down two in Game 2, Hali missed a free throw with 12 seconds remaining, gathered his own rebound, dribbled out beyond the arc and coldly sank the go-ahead trey with just over a second to play.

In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, Haliburton wasted no time making his mark on the series. Down two with 10 seconds to play, he drove into the lane, dribbled back and launched a shot that took a long bounce off the rim before finding daylight. Thinking he had won the game, Haliburton imitated Reggie Miller’s iconic choking gesture to the crowd at Madison Square Garden. Review showed that his foot was on the line, but Indiana wrapped the game up in OT and never looked back in the series.

In the Finals, Haliburton hit another game-winner in Game 1 to give Indiana its first and only lead of the contest.

The Pacers were massive underdogs to win the Finals against the Thunder, and they were dogs in each of the seven games of the series. Somehow, Haliburton and Co. forced a Game 7, but tragedy struck just minutes into the contest.

Haliburton sank three early triples to put the Pacers up, but as he made a move on the wing, his right Achilles visibly tore, and he went to the ground. Haliburton was immediately emotional, and he was helped off the court. Later reports confirmed the Achilles tear, and Hali

Fantasy Revelation: T.J. McConnell

McConnell finished the regular season ranked 218 in per-game fantasy value, but the revolutionary nature of his performance came in the postseason, where he became a Pacers legend.

McConnell averaged 9.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks in 17.9 minutes across 79 games in the regular season. He shot respectably at 51.9% from the field and 74% from the charity stripe in his sixth season with Indiana, operating as a change-of-pace guard specializing as a high-energy defender and facilitator.

He came to play in the Finals, averaging 12 points, 3.6 boards, 4.3 dimes and 2.1 steals across seven games. With Tyrese Haliburton hobbled in Games 5-6 and out for most of Game 7, he stepped up in a big way.

Over the final three games of the championship series, McConnell posted 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals. He routinely made huge plays on offense, including key rebounds and microwave scoring when his team couldn’t hit shots.

With Haliburton set to miss significant time next season, McConnell has surely earned a larger role for the 2025-26 campaign, making him an intriguing late-round option in fantasy drafts.

Fantasy Disappointment: None

Indiana operated as a well-oiled machine throughout the regular season and playoffs, leaning on Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam to do the heavy lifting, with Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Benn Mathurin filling in the gaps. The stars shined, and the role players did what they were asked to do. There were no major surprises from a fantasy standpoint.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Myles Turner:

Turner finished his 10th season in Indiana with averages of 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.0 swats and 2.2 triples. The big man appeared in 72 games and logged 30.2 minutes per night, shooting 48.1% from the floor and 77.3% from the charity stripe.

Turner finished inside the top 50 in per-game fantasy value thanks to his ability to block shots, grab rebounds and hit triples. His strong regular season was soured by a dismal Finals run. Across seven games against the Thunder, he averaged just 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 triples.

Indiana’s longest-tenured player has been included in many trade rumors throughout his career, but there’s no confidence that he will actually be dealt this offseason.

Set to be an unrestricted free agent, Turner could choose to test the free agent market and join a center-needy team like the Lakers. Perhaps the Pacers reconsider bringing him back after his lackluster showing on the biggest stage?

If he returns to the Pacers, expect similar numbers to the ones he posted this season, with a potential bump in scoring due to Haliburton’s absence.

Pascal Siakam:

Siakam was masterful in his first full season with Indiana, averaging 20.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.6 triples in 32.7 minutes across 78 appearances. The star forward shot efficiently from the floor (51.9) and knocked down 73.4% of his tries from the charity stripe.

Unsurprisingly, Siakam’s playing time and counting stats took a dip coming from Toronto to Indiana. He finished with his fewest points, rebounds and minutes in six seasons and his fewest assists in five seasons. He knocked down the second-most three-pointers of his career and recorded his sixth consecutive season averaging 20+ points.

Spicy P enjoyed a productive playoff run, leading his team in points and rebounds while making a strong impact as a facilitator and defender. He had some huge moments, including a pair of 30-balls against the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semis.

Siakam could be a prime beneficiary of Haliburton’s extended absence. Expect big numbers in 2025-26.

Aaron Nesmith:

Nesmith enjoyed the most productive season of his career, finishing the 2024-25 campaign with averages of 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocked shots and 1.9 triples across 25 minutes per game.

Injuries limited him to just 45 games, but he made the most of his time on the court. His 43/51/91 shooting splits represent a new career-best in efficiency, and Nesmith finished just outside the top 120 in per-game fantasy hoops value in his third season with the Pacers.

Nesmith played well in the postseason, and he had a memorable performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. He knocked down eight triples and finished with 30 points as the Pacers stormed back to defeat the Knicks 138-135 in overtime.

Nesmith isn’t going to wow in any category, but he doesn’t turn the ball over, he can provide respectable defensive numbers, and he can hit triples. He should take on a heftier load on offense next season with Haliburton set to miss time. A finish near the top 120 wouldn’t be surprising.

Andrew Nembhard:

Indiana will employ a platoon approach to pick up the slack for Haliburton in 2025-26, but Nembhard could perhaps see the biggest boost to his playing time, production and fantasy value.

The Gonzaga product finished the season ranked 175th in per-game fantasy hoops value behind averages of 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks and 0.8 triples with 46/79 shooting splits. He averaged nearly 29 minutes across 65 contests and set new career highs in minutes, points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Nembhard established himself as a capable playmaker and strong defender, leading the Pacers as a floor general during the regular season when Haliburton was sidelined and spending plenty of time defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Finals.

He’s worth a look in the later rounds of 2025-26 fantasy drats.

Obi Toppin:

“Ain’t no stoppin…” In his second season with Indiana, Toppin posted averages of 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.4 triples while shooting 53.9% from the field and 78.1% from the charity stripe. He appeared in 79 games and played 19.6 minutes per contest.

Toppin set new career highs in points, rebounds, assists and triples, though his performances were hot and cold throughout the regular season and playoffs. He dropped 20 points in Game 6 of the Finals only to follow it up with a goose egg in the scoring column in Game 7.

Toppin finished just inside the top 200 in per-game fantasy hoops value. Even iif he takes on an increased role for the Pacers in 2025-26, he’ll be tough to trust as a late-round flyer in fantasy drafts.

Bennedict Mathurin:

Mathurin finished 181st in per-game fantasy value with averages of 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.4 triples. He shot 45.8% from the floor and 83.1% from the charity stripe and logged 29.9 minutes per game across 72 contests.

His rebounds, three-pointers, FG% and FT% represent career highs, though much like Toppin, his production was up and down.

Mathurin scored 27 points in Game 3 of the Finals and finished with 17 total points across Games 4-6 before going 24/13/3/2 with a pair of triples in Game 7.

Heading into Year 4, Mathurin could take the next step forward and push to score 20 points per night. With Haliburton out, he’s the next man up after Pascal Siakam as a reliable nightly bucket-getter.

Ben Sheppard:

The man with the best moustache in the NBA finished his second professional season with averages of 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.2 blocks and 1.1 triples while shooting 41.8% from the floor and 88.9% from the charity stripe. He appeared in 63 games and logged 19.5 minutes per tilt.

Sheppard logged just under 14 minutes per game in the playoffs as Indiana’s rotation tightened up, but he averaged nearly 19 minutes per game in Game 6 and 7 of the Finals with Haliburton limited and out.

Sheppard could see more run in Haliburton’s absence, though he’s not yet someone to pick up in 2025-26 fantasy drafts outside deeper leagues.

Restricted Free Agents: Quenton Jackson, Isaiah Jackson

Unrestricted Free Agents: Thomas Bryant, James Johnson, Myles Turner

Club Option: Tony Bradley

Player Option: None

Michael Conforto shows signs of life in Dodgers' win over Rockies

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy, left, congratulates Michael Conforto as he crosses home plate after hitting a three-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Germán Márquez in the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Max Muncy greets Michael Conforto after Conforto's three-run home run in the fourth inning Tuesday. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

When Major League Baseball’s trade deadline arrives next month, the Dodgers will almost certainly be on the lookout for help in the bullpen.

If their injury-plagued rotation takes any more hits, they might reluctantly have to explore the starting pitching market, as well.

But, when discussing the team’s deadline plans recently with The Times’ Bill Shaikin, the one potential area of offensive need that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman seemed unlikely to address was left field.

Michael Conforto might be struggling mightily this season after signing for $17 million this winter. But the Dodgers have remained bullish on his ability to eventually help.

“Never say never,” Friedman said when asked about the possibility of trading for a left fielder in the next month, “but I think we would hold a very high bar and find it very unlikely.”

Read more:Shaikin: What Mark Walter's ownership might mean for local fans watching the Dodgers and Lakers

On Tuesday night at Coors Field, Conforto gave such optimism some badly needed life.

In the Dodgers’ 9-7 win against the woeful Colorado Rockies, the veteran slugger went two for five with an early double and a go-ahead home run, keying the team’s six-run rally in the fourth with a three-run blast launched deep to right.

The performance marked Conforto’s first multi-hit effort since May 27, and his first with multiple extra-base hits since collecting three doubles on May 13.

It was his first game all season with more than one RBI.

The question now is whether Tuesday was a temporary blip, or a legitimate turning point for Conforto?

The answer could have important implications on the Dodgers’ roster construction for the second half of the season.

Conforto’s overall numbers are still not easy on the eyes. His .171 batting average is easily the worst among qualified big-league hitters. His negative-0.7 mark in wins above replacement (an all-encompassing stat not helped by his limited defensive range in left field) entering the day ranked 158th out of 161 such players.

Read more:Shaikin: Walker Buehler struggling to rediscover his Dodgers World Series magic with Red Sox

His playing time has also begun to decrease recently, with Conforto twice getting benched against right-handed pitchers last week in favor of fellow lefty hitter Hyeseong Kim in the outfield.

“I see [Conforto] playing a lot still,” manager Dave Roberts said then. “But I do think that in a meritocracy, in that vein, Hyeseong has earned opportunities.”

And yet, to this point, the Dodgers have sounded wary of shopping for a potential replacement ahead of the deadline.

“To date, obviously, Michael hasn’t performed up to what he expected or we expected,” Friedman said. “But, watching the way he is working, watching the progress being made, I would bet that his next two months are way better than his last two months.”

On Tuesday, the 32-year-old provided a blueprint for how.

One of Conforto’s primary weaknesses this season has been hitting the fastball. Entering Tuesday, he was batting just .174 against heaters, compared to a .283 average against them last year with the San Francisco Giants.

“That's probably the genesis of the whole deal,” Roberts said of Conforto’s struggles. “When you don't hit the fastball, that starts to lend to a little cheating, chasing on spin. And so we got to get him back on the heater.”

In his first at-bat against right-handed Rockies starter Germán Márquez, Conforto finally did, turning on an inside four-seamer for a double down the right-field line; just his third extra-base hit of June.

Power has been another missing piece of Conforto’s game. A four-time 20-home run hitter in his 10-year career, he entered Tuesday with only four long balls this season; all of them solo shots.

Read more:Dodgers Dugout: It's time for Kiké Hernández to retire ... as a pitcher

But in the fourth inning, he came up with two aboard — after two misplays by Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia led to a pair of Dodgers runs that erased an early 2-0 deficit. Then, when Márquez flipped a 1-and-1 curveball low in the zone, Conforto found the barrel for his three-run blast, putting the Dodgers (49-31) in front 5-2.

Left-hander Justin Wrobleski made the lead stand up, yielding just two runs over five innings of bulk relief to lower his ERA to 3.54 in four outings this month. Shohei Ohtani added some insurance in the sixth with his National League-leading 27th home run, muscling a two-run drive the other way. And though the Rockies (18-61) scored four unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings to make it close late, Tanner Scott shut the door with a four-out save to seal the team’s 11th win in its last 15 games.

Conforto didn’t have another hit, grounding out with two aboard in the fifth, flying out with a runner at second in the seventh and grounding out again with a runner at second in the ninth.

His season-long woes are far from being rectified. His long-term role with the team, even in a best-case scenario, might be as more of a part-time player (especially if Kim continues to command more playing time).

But, if the Dodgers are truly hoping to avoid having to replace Conforto at the deadline, Tuesday at least represented a potential start.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Report: Erik Karlsson Willing To Depart Penguins For Contending Team

Apr 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) warms up before a game against the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

There is a lot on the table for the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer, as it's widely been reported that they're going to be the only "true sellers" on the market.

And, according to a new report, there is an update on one of their stars on the trade block.

Per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson - who is actively being shopped by the Penguins - is willing to waive his full no-movement clause to be dealt to a contender. The Penguins are also, apparently, willing to retain some of the $10 million salary they owe him. 

Karlsson, 34, was dealt to Pittsburgh in a massive three-team blockbuster during the summer of 2023. Expectations were high for the three-time Norris Trophy-winning blueliner, who - in addition to coming off of an historic 28-goal, 101-point campaign with the San Jose Sharks - had the pressure of helping return the Penguins to the playoffs after their first miss in 17 years.

Unfortunately, not a whole lot has gone right for the Penguins since, and Karlsson's tenure has been a mixed bag. He is owed $10 million by the Penguins for two more years, as San Jose retained $1.5 million as part of the initial trade. 

Should The Penguins Deal Erik Karlsson? It May Not Be As Simple As It Seems.Should The Penguins Deal Erik Karlsson? It May Not Be As Simple As It Seems.With the 2025 NHL Draft just two weeks away and free agency to follow directly after, the trade market is beginning to heat up.

If Pittsburgh is able to move Karlsson, it would also present a challenge in terms of roster-building, as they are currently already thin on their blue line and would require a contingency plan to replace Karlsson's role. Matt Grzelcyk is likely to hit the unrestricted free agent market, Kris Letang is due for his role to be a bit more diminished, and top defensive prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke aren't quite ready for top-four roles yet. 

Karlsson is one of three Penguins' players - the others being top-six scoring forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust - generating some buzz on the trade market ahead of the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday as well as free agency on Jul. 1.

NHL Rumors: 3 Penguins Off-Season Trade CandidatesNHL Rumors: 3 Penguins Off-Season Trade CandidatesThe off-season is now officially here, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will certainly be a team to watch closely during it. With the Penguins retooling their roster, there is a good chance that they will be active this summer.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

Feature image credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Yankees' extra-inning woes continue in 5-4 loss to Reds

The Yankees' bullpen wasted Carlos Rodon's efforts, and the team's extra-inning woes continued, as New York fell 5-4 in the 11th inning.

New York entered the 11th batting .770 with a .270 OPS while driving in one run in extras all year. So, of course, the Yankees would push across a run, but it happened without a hit. After Cody Bellinger moved Aaron Judge -- the ghost runner -- to third on a sharp groundout, Judge scampered home on a wild pitch.

But it wasn't enough as the Yankees allowed two runs as the Reds clinched the three-game series.

Here are the takeaways...

-Tuesday saw the major league debut of Chase Burns, the Reds' flamethrowing righty, and No. 1 prospect, and he didn't disappoint. Burns struck out the first five batters he faced before Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s single in the second inning. Burns bounced back by getting Anthony Volpe to strike out swinging. Burns' fastball averaged around 96 mph and the combination of his heater and breaking pitches that ranged from 88-93 mph kept Yankees hitters off balance.

Burns would get through the order the first time with no problems, but Ben Rice led off the fourth inning by launching a 427-foot bomb on the first-pitch slider to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. The Yankees would get a couple of singles to put a runner in scoring position with two outs for Volpe. The Yankee shortstop hit a liner toward TJ Friedl, but the Reds center fielder made an ill-advised dive and let the ball get past him for a two-run triple.

That was all the runs the Yankees would get on Burns, though. The young phenom threw 81 pitches (53 strikes) across five innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out eight batters.

-Opposite the rookie was veteran Rodon, who had his second consecutive strong start. The southpaw scattered four hits and one walk over six innings (88 pitches/53 strikes) while striking out five, with the only inning where Rodon was in trouble coming in the fourth after a one-out double by Spencer Steer, but the Reds stranded him.

Rodon now has five starts this season of six-plus innings pitched without allowing a run. Tarik Skubal is the only pitcher with more such starts this year. His ERA dropped to 2.92 on the season with Tuesday's performance.

-Unfortunately for the Yanks, their bullpen could not hold the lead. Jonathan Loaisiga walked Tyler Stephenson after the home plate umpire squeezed him on a potential third strike. Then Rece Hinds and Jose Trevino singled to load the bases before Christian Encarnacion-Strand lined a double to left that cleared the bases -- helped by a Cody Bellinger bobble in the corner.

Loaisiga was pulled with what looked like an apparent injury, but the reliever was sitting in the dugout while Fernando Cruz finished the inning without allowing the go-ahead run to score.

The combination of Luke Weaver and Devin Williams pitched scoreless eighth and ninth, and Mark Leiter Jr. pitched a scoreless 10th. But Aaron Boone asked Leiter to pitch a second inning, and the right-hander couldn't do it, giving up a walk and three hits to allow the two runs that won the Reds the game.

-The Yankees' offense could not get going after that three-run fourth inning. While they did get seven hits, they were 1-for-7 with RISP and left four men on base.

Chisholm was the only hitter to have multiple hits (2-for-4) but was ejected between innings in the ninth after he argued balls and strikes after home plate umpire Mark Wegner called a low pitch a strike that would have pushed the count to 3-0. Chisholm would eventually strike out with a runner on first.

Judge went 1-for-5 with a run scored, and his batting average is now .364 on the season. He came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th, but the AL MVP popped out to second base to end the threat.

Game MVP: Reds bullpen

After Burns allowed the three runs, the Cincy bullpen allowed the one unearned run in six innings to allow the comeback.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Reds complete their three-game set on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.

Max Fried (9-2, 2.05 ERA) will take the mound while the Reds will send Brady Singer (7-5, 4.13 ERA) to the bump.

Mets' bullpen implodes to waste Frankie Montas' gem in loss to Braves

The Mets lost to the Braves, 7-4, on Tuesday night at a sweltering Citi Field, blowing a late 3-0 lead.


Here are the takeaways...

- The Mets' offense was quiet again early, failing to get a hit over the first three innings while striking out four times against Spencer Strider. The Mets' only runner across the first three frames was Juan Soto, who drew a two-out walk in the first.

But New York broke through in the fourth inning.

Soto drew a one-out walk and stole second, and Pete Alonso smoked a single to center that was hit too hard for Soto to score. After a Starling Marte walk loaded the bases, Jeff McNeil lofted a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Soto and make it 1-0. Following a Luis Torrens walk that reloaded the bases, Brett Baty stayed back on a flat slider and flicked a two-run single to right field to make it 3-0 Mets.

- The Mets' bullpen gifted the Braves a go-ahead rally in the sixth inning. Huascar Brazoban started things by walking the bases loaded and allowing a sacrifice fly. He was relieved by Jose Castillo, who gave up a run-scoring infield single before drilling Michael Harris II with a pitch and allowing a game-tying single to Nick Allen.

Reed Garrett replaced Castillo and got Ronald Acuña Jr. to strike out for the second out. But with the bases loaded and a 1-2 count to Matt Olson, Garrett threw a fastball that caught too much plate -- with Olson drilling a two-run single to make it 5-3, Braves.

- Richard Lovelady pitched a perfect seventh inning in what was his Mets debut, but allowed two runs in the seventh -- allowing Atlanta to increase the lead to 7-3.

- Down by four in the ninth inning, the Mets got hits from McNeiland Jared Young with one out. Baty struck out looking after getting ahead 3-1 against Raisel Iglesias, but Ronny Mauricio delivered a run-scoring double to make it 7-4 and bring Francisco Lindor up as the tying run. However, Lindor grounded out to second base to end the game.

- Making his season debut (and Mets debut) after missing the first half of the season due to a lat strain, Frankie Montas came out throwing hard -- and kept it that way for the duration of his outing.

The right-hander's fastball sat at 97 mph in the first inning, topping out at 98, in an inning where he froze Acuña.on a fastball to start things. Montas then allowed a one-out walk and bloop hit before escaping by inducing a double play off the bat of Austin Riley.

Following a 1-2-3 second inning, Montas allowed a scratch single to Nick Allen and walked Acuña to find some trouble in the third, but he got Olson to fly out and struck out Marcell Ozuna swinging on a 98 mph fastball off the plate away to get out of the frame unscathed.

Montas was sharp the rest of the way, working around a one-out walk in the fourth and a one-out single in the fifth. He punctuated his outing by striking out Acuña swinging and getting Olson to fly out to end the fifth inning and his night.

Overall, Montas tossed 5.0 scoreless frames, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out five.

Montas' fastball was especially impressive, with 46 of them registering 94.8 mph or faster. It had life and precision all game.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets continue their series against the Braves on Wednesday at Citi Field at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Clay Holmes gets the start for New York against Didier Fuentes for Atlanta.

Former Devils Defenseman Signs With KHL Club

Former New Jersey Devils defenseman Daniil Misyul is heading overseas, as he has signed a one-year contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.

Misyul, 24, was traded by the Devils at the 2025 NHL trade deadline to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Marc McLaughlin. Now, the former Devils blueliner is on the move again after signing this KHL deal.

Before being traded to the Bruins, Misyul made his NHL debut for the Devils this season on Oct. 22 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During it, the 6-foot-3 defenseman recorded one hit, one block, and a minus-1 rating. This would be his lone NHL appearance with the Devils. 

Misyul appeared in 47 games this season with the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, where he recorded eight assists, 33 penalty minutes, and a minus-8 rating. This was after he had four goals, 14 points, and a plus-1 rating in 44 games with the Comets during the 2023-24 season.

Misyul was selected by the Devils with the 70th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. 

Report: Devils Made Push For Jonathan ToewsReport: Devils Made Push For Jonathan ToewsOne of the main areas that the New Jersey Devils are looking to improve this summer is their forward group. It is understandable, as they need more offensive production throughout their lineup. 

Photo Credit:  © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Dylan Harper’s fit with Spurs, NBA comparisons, family history

Two years ago, the Basketball Gods bestowed a once-in-a-generation gift upon the San Antonio Spurs, giving them the top pick in the NBA Draft the year that Victor Wembanyama was going pro. Last season, the Spurs picked fourth and selected Stephon Castle, who went on to be the Rookie of the Year.

The Basketball Gods were not done blessing the Spurs — they landed the No. 2 pick in this year's draft and are widely expected to select Dylan Harper, the 6'6" point guard out of Rutgers. (There is a very slim chance they trade the pick, but it would need to be for an established superstar, and that does not appear close to happening.)

How will Harper fit with the Spurs? Who does his game remind scouts of? Let's break it all down.

Harper’s fit in San Antonio

Outside his camp, there was speculation that Dylan Harper was not thrilled about going to San Antonio because it already has a roster deep with quality guards. This is a team that traded for De'Aaron Fox at the last trade deadline to pair with Wembanyama, and a year ago drafted combo guard Castle to be part of their future backcourt. He went on to average 14.7 points and 4.1 assists per game, winning Rookie of the Year.

When asked about it by ESPN, Harper said he was excited to play with Wembanyama and Castle.

"I mean, that would definitely be great and I would definitely be blessed to have that opportunity just because they're two young players, young stars, and the rest of the team from top to bottom is really good so when you get to play with better players and the best of the best, it just brings out your best game."

Where does Harper fit in with all that talent?

From San Antonio's perspective, this is an easy call — always take the best player on the board, and Harper is the clear second-best player in this draft. Teams that make picks based on positional need end up saying things like "We don't need Luka Doncic, we have Fox" or "We don't need Michael Jordan, we have Clyde Drexler." Take the best player, figure it out, and, if necessary, make a trade later. The Spurs are nothing if not the most patient organization in the league.

Harper is a combo guard in the Castle mold, and a lot of scouts think Harper will be better at it. Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4 assists a game shooting an impressive 48% from the floor last season, and he demonstrated a fantastic feel for the game. Harper is not a classically explosive player, but his ability to get to the rim and finish or dish to the open man should pair beautifully with Wemby, as well as with players on the wing such as Devin Vassell. If Harper and Wembanyama start to show a real chemistry — and they are on the same age timeline — then the Spurs can lean into that and adjust as needed.

One thing to watch: None of Harper, Fox or Castle are great outside shooters. Whichever one of them develops that shot — especially a catch-and-shoot look — is going to have a huge advantage in getting minutes this season and into the future.

Dylan Harper’s NBA Comparison

Ask people around the league about Harper comparisons and two names come up.

Cade Cunningham. The Detroit Pistons' point guard, who made a leap to All-NBA this season, is another tall player for the position who is not an explosive athlete but can get to the rim and get to his spots on the floor, then knock down the shot. Some scouts made note of how Harper struggled at points at Rutgers when teams packed the paint, and think that goes away with the better floor spacing in the NBA (especially compared to Rutgers). Like Cunningham, Harper can play some off the ball and makes tough shots.

James Harden. Harper isn't as strong or quite as athletic as the former MVP, but his ability to get to his spot, make tough shots and bend the defense to his will is similar. The one thing Harper has over Harden? He tries hard defensively. Harper is no elite defender, but the effort is there and he's not an easy target on that end.

Dylan Harper’s father, brother

Dylan Harper enters the NBA with an impressive basketball pedigree. His father is Ron Harper Sr., the No. 8 pick in the 1986 NBA Draft who went on to play 15 seasons in the league and win five championships, four with the Jordan-era Chicago Bulls and one with the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. Don't forget about his mother, Maria, who played college ball at New Orleans and is a basketball coach to this day — she is the one who taught Dylan the game.

Dylan's older brother, Ron Harper Jr., also played at Rutgers and has bounced between the G-League and the NBA the past three years, playing in 11 NBA games (this past season he played a game for the Pistons). Dylan also has a younger sister, Mia, who is still in high school.