The dog days of summer. Always liked that expression. Life is probably pretty good as a dog.
The word takes a different meaning when it comes to the Houston Rockets. You’re not in the rotation if you don’t “have that dog in you”. Dogs are anthropomorphized as both lazy and hardworking. English is funny? Dogs are funny?
Basketball. It’s rumor season. Yet, Houston Rockets rumors are few and far between. At this juncture, it seems clear that we’re “running it back”. Marcus Smart is the blockbuster acquisition. Bogdan Bogdanovic is a reasonable flyer.
Earlier in the summer (before the dog days?), there were rumors. Both Fred VanVleet and Kevin Durant were the main subjects.
Would Rafael Stone really have the audacity to move either?
Rockets must keep an open mind
Frankly, I think there are several worlds in which trading Durant is beneficial.
The only suitor who seems marginally serious is the Pistons. The deal would presumably be Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, Ron Holland, and a first-rounder.
There’s an awkwardness here. Holland is a recent lottery pick, and he has the prerequisite Ime Udoka Canis lupus familiaris (dog) qualities. He’s the centerpiece of this deal in theory, but he’s probably the least useful piece from the Rockets’ perspective. He’s a defense-first wing who can’t shoot:
So Udoka will probably start him at the two and call it a day.
Jokes aside (and let me be clear that, contrary to the entire comments section, I like our identity and Udoka while recognizing his flaws), Robinson would be a great addition to this roster. The first-round pick is necessary for the Rockets to get fair value. Yet, I’m advocating for this deal for a broader reason:
The Rockets can’t be afraid to reset.
The Rockets can afford a step back
There was a comment during Rafael Stone’s end-of-season presser where he alluded to “a strategic step back”.
Stone, of course, is beholden to the stakeholders. Owners do not like temporary regression. Ime Udoka signed up for a gradual but steady progression to championship viability.
Yet, linear upward progression cannot be this organization’s impetus. If the right superstar trade presents itself, yes, you take the deal. Anthony Edwards. Jayson Tatum (however unlikely).
Not Jaylen Brown (thankfully) or an aging Kawhi “Aspiration” Leonard. Being hasty to stimulate the rate of improvement would be a potential disaster.
Losing five extra games in service of the future would be perfectly fine.
That could mean trading Durant. It could even mean trading one of the “young core” for assets if fit issues result in another first-round exit next year. Whatever it means, winning 45 games in 2027-28 shouldn’t be viewed as an unacceptable outcome if the team has more future picks, and more potential via their 2027 draft selections.
Got to close this one by return. Something about dogs, or summer, or rumors. Or maybe not. We don’t have to progress linearly to our objective:
While the Penguins acquired him at the beginning of the month as an RFA, he signed a new contract with Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The 24-year-old inked a two-year contract at $3.25 million per season. This is the longest contract Robertson has had in his NHL career since his entry-level deal.
As a guest on TSN's OverDrive, Robertson revealed how important it was for him to get some term on this latest deal.
"For my full time playing in the NHL, I've yet to have another season under contract," he said. "That was a really big focus for me, was to get some term and to settle in and give me time to get some runway in Pittsburgh. I'm happy the way it turned out. I'm really excited."
Across 234 appearances for Toronto, he averaged 11:52 of ice time during his tenure and logged a career-high average of 12:40 this past year. Despite his limited ice time, he's shown great promise, particularly in the department of scoring goals, including 16 tallies and 32 points in 2025-26.
Even with the lack of playing time and a true opportunity to play in the team's top six, Robertson took away a positive learning experience from his time with the Leafs.
"Always be ready," Robertson said of what he learned. "Toronto had such a talented team… and I had to be on my game all the time, whether that was with (Craig Berube) or (Sheldon Keefe).
"But I think it's always a blessing in disguise because you can't get complacent. Whether you're up and down the lineup, you got to work your way to either get up in the lineup or to stay there," he added.
Of course, with signing his new deal recently and avoiding arbitration, he's met with Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, whom he knew from his days with the Leafs, and drafted him with the 53rd pick in the 2019 draft.
Robertson shared what his first interactions were like with Dubas, meeting his new coach, Dan Muse, and the message they portrayed to him about joining the team.
"I had a great conversation with Muse and Kyle, and basically the message was, it's a new opportunity, a change of scenery," he said.
He also pointed out that recently there have been other players who have made a stop in Pittsburgh in a move that was a change of scenery and were able to have some success.
A recent example of that would be Anthony Mantha. Mantha signed a one-year contract with the Penguins ahead of this past season, and he went from a player who missed plenty of time the year prior with injury but also didn't produce strong production.
But after his one season in Pittsburgh, he marked the best campaign of his 11-year NHL career. Mantha scored 33 goals and 64 points in 81 games in 2025-26. That campaign earned the veteran right winger a two-year contract with the New Jersey Devilsat $4.75 million per year.
Ultimately, Robertson is looking to replicate that type of success with his new team.
"My job is to go in and be ready, so I look forward to that," he said.
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
On Thursday afternoon, the NHL announced schedules for all 32 teams, giving Calgary Flames fans a chance to look ahead to the 2026-27 season, which will feature 84 games and, of course, the final year of professional hockey at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Earlier on Wednesday, the NHL announced that the Seattle Kraken would be the opponent for the final home opener. With the latest schedule revelation, barring a playoff run, the Vancouver Canucks will be the last visiting team to skate on Saddledome ice.
Of course, those are just two of many games the Flames will battle through between October and April, so today we wanted to give fans a handful of games to circle on their calendars in the coming weeks and months.
5 Biggest Games on the Flames' 2026-27 Schedule
5. October 22, 2026 vs Minnesota Wild
Former Flames forward and alternate captain Blake Coleman will not have long to wait before returning to the Saddledome, as his new team, the Minnesota Wild, visits on October 22. During his five seasons in red, Coleman, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, scored 99 goals and 199 points, serving as a veteran voice for the young prospects now in the lineup. At just 34, he's got another year left on his current deal and will be part of a contender in Minnesota.
4. December 5, 2026 vs Washington Capitals
At first glance, no one would notice or care much that the Washington Capitals were visiting the Saddledome. But with the NHL's all-time goal scorer, Alex Ovechkin, playing another season, his 22nd, this could be one last hurrah for fans to see one of the game's greatest. Surprisingly, only nine of Ovechkin's 929 career goals have come in The Dome, with his first occurring in 2010 and his latest on January 23, 2026.
3. October 1, 2026 vs Seattle Kraken
Obviously, the Flames organization will go out of its way to ensure the ceremonies surrounding the team's final home opener at the Saddledome are special. Although many on social media disagree that the Seattle Kraken will be the visiting team on opening night, the NHL's newest team gets to be a part of history as Calgary ushers in the final season of its 43-year-old building. Surprisingly, Seattle boasts a 5-3-1 record at the Saddledome.
2. March 23, 2027 vs Edmonton Oilers
Of course, any Flames matchup against their provincial rival, the Edmonton Oilers, will be special in 2026-27. Despite each franchise going in opposite directions in the standings, these two have hosted legendary battles on Saddledome ice over the decades. This year, the Oilers, along with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, will make their final appearances at The Dome on March 3 and March 23, 2027, marking the end of an era in the Battle of Alberta until the teams relocate to Scotia Place across the street.
1. April 10, 2027 vs Vancouver Canucks
Besides the longtime rivalry with the Oilers, there's one other Western Canadian team that the Flames have gone to war with for decades, the Canucks. Whether in the regular season or the playoffs, the rivalry runs deep, making Vancouver a fitting opponent for the Saddledome's final game. Historically, the Canucks have struggled in Calgary, posting a 44-68-10-2 record in 124 games. The Flames welcome Vancouver to town for a Boxing Day matchup before the season finale on April 10, 2027.
Which Flames games are you most looking forward to this season, let us know in the comments.
Preparation finally synced up with opportunity for Dillon Brooks in his 9th season in the NBA, as he shot his way to the brink of an All-Star bid, but the naysayers in the Suns content sphere are tugging on his jersey, trying to pull the Villain back down to earth. They want to give away his shots to Miles Bridges and relegate his shine to the corner three, but nobody puts Dillon in the corner.
For the duration of his career, prior to his arrival in Phoenix, the turnaround jumper has been violently shaking the bars of its cage screaming to be unleashed, and now that it’s out in the world along with the rest of Dillon’s bag, good luck getting it back in the cage
Last season Dillon averaged a career high 20.2 points a game on 17.1 shots and finished second on the team behind Booker in both points and attempts. His 17.1 shots were the most field goals he’s ever attempted in a season, and considerably more than the 13.0 FGAs he’s averaged over his career. Comparing the stats from his career year to his career averages, that’s the biggest difference that stands out. Opportunity.
Dillon took more two-point attempts than he has in any season since he was at the height of his powers in Memphis, navigating in the space made by Booker’s gravity to convert on 49.2% of his 10.5 attempts. This ties a career high he had set in his first year under Ime Udoka in Houston. He paired that with 6.6 three-point attempts a game, a new feature of his game he picked up his last season in Memphis and carried over to Houston. Last year for the Suns, Dillon shot 34.4% from three, which is a little down from his career average of 35.3% and significantly down from his career high his last season on the Rockets of 39.5%.
None of the numbers in Dillon’s career year are significant outliers compared to his past performances except for the number of attempts. So why is there a widely held assumption that Dillon Brooks needs to take the back seat when Miles Bridges arrives? Last year was Robin to Booker’s Batman, and this season the talking heads think he’s not even going to be Alfred? Is he going to be some kinda prop on the three-point line and defensive agitator? Whatever the Suns’ intentions for Dillon Brooks next year, I don’t see that happening. Not after he’s gotten a taste. Not in his age 30 season. How many more opportunities like he had last season will he get? He’s not going to let any more slip by. Nor should he.
In the course of getting swept by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, the Suns found some things out about themselves and about Dillon Brooks. The Thunder forced the ball out of Devin Booker’s hands and into the hands of Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. Dillon took 21.3 shots per game during the series in which the Thunder dogwalked the Suns 4 straight games. Dillon responded by putting up 26 points a game, improving on his regular season field goal percentage and falling just a few percentage points under his regular season three-point average on a whopping 8.0 attempts. Dillon had two 30-point games that series, and finished game four with an efficient 23 pts on 10-of-19 shooting in what ended up being the Suns’ best showing.
Jalen Green finished the Oklahoma series averaging 20.6 points a game on 38.6% shooting and shot 20.9% from three.
Miles Bridges has never played in a playoff game.
Dillon Brooks doesn’t need to prove he can Robin for Book. Jalen Green does. Miles Bridges does. I expect the Suns to Robin by committee depending on which way the ball flows. I also expect Brooks to continue to see open space operating underneath Booker’s shadow. I fail to see the reasoning in removing shots from Dillon Brooks to give to other similarly flawed players. The Suns’ efficiency will need to improve from Booker down the roster. Dillon Brooks seems to have already gotten a jump on it, playing for Team Canada.
In Team Canada’s game against Puerto Rico, Dillon went 7-of-12 from the field for 15 points. Against the Jamaican team, he went 8-of-12 for 22 points. Those are the kind of nights I’m sure the Suns would love to see from Dillon Brooks next season, but he can give them more.
Dillon stepped up in big moments throughout the season. In the play-in loss that would have spared the Suns having to play the Thunder, Brooks went 6-of-10, 2-of-4 from three, for 20 points in a game where the ball went to Jalen to the tune of 35 points on 29 shots. Booker and the bench fell short that night, but Dillon did everything the Suns needed him to do. As he had done all season.
Dillon’s 2025-26 was no fluke. He’s not going to take a back seat to anybody on the offense, and as far as I’m concerned, he’s entitled to the shotgun seat to open this upcoming year. Nobody has ever gotten ahead by doubting Dillon Brooks.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: Kasparas Jakučionis #25 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Make a short list of what matters for success in the NBA. Go on, do it. What did you muster? Chances are, you came up with some combination of shot creation, shooting, size, versatility, and defence. What if I told you that point guard Kasparas Jakučionis, acquired as part of the trade that sent Giannis to the Miami Heat, has them all?
Rise and fall
Born in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital and largest city, Jakučionis made his professional debut for FC Barcelona as a 17-year-old, where he played until he moved to Illinois to play under coach Brad Underwood. It wouldn’t last long. Jakučionis excelled as a freshman, putting up 15.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 4.7 APG in 31.8 MPG across 33 contests, earning a place on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and receiving second-team All-Big Ten honours.
In March Madness, Jakučionis posted a near triple-double in the Fighting Illini’s first-round defeat of the 11th-seeded Xavier Musketeers, going for 16 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists (albeit on 3/11 shooting and with six turnovers). However, in their second round 84-75 loss to the third-seeded Kentucky Wildcats, Jakučionis struggled, posting six more turnovers to go along with 13 points (5/13 FGA), five rebounds, and two assists.
Still, Jakučionis’ prospects were high—The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie had him seventh in his pre-draft rankings, ESPN’s Jonathon Givony ranked him 10th, and No Ceilings placed him 10th—and so he entered the 2025 NBA draft full of hope, only to slide all the way down to the Miami Heat with the 20th overall selection.
Not so raw rookie
Jakučionis’ rookie season was delayed before it even started. A lingering groin injury kept him out of early-season action and then he had to bide his time and earn the trust of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra before seeing meaningful minutes. It took until Game 27 for that to happen, and even then Jakučionis logged less than eight minutes of playing time, hitting his only shot attempt—a three-pointer—and adding an assist (and a turnover) in a 106-95 win over the Brooklyn Nets. The very next night, however, he would start, logging 38 minutes in a 129-116 loss to the Boston Celtics. Despite the loss, Jakučionis broke out: 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists, knocking down 5/8 shots from deep. It would prove a harbinger of things to come.
Jakučionis played in 50 of the Heat’s final 54 games, finishing the season with averages of 6.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 2.6 APG in 17.8 MPG, shooting .429/.423/.879. Shooting splits aside, the numbers don’t jump off the page—that will happen when you’re largely relegated to an off-ball spacer and have the third-lowest usage on the entire roster—but Jakučionis certainly had his moments. In February, he dropped a career-high nine assists in a blowout win against the Chicago Bulls. A week later, he had back-to-back 20-point outings, shooting a blistering 12/16 from three. He also finished the campaign with the fourth-best net plus/minus for Heat players who played regular minutes. So, while Jakučionis might’ve slipped in the draft and gone under the radar in his rookie season, there was certainly something there. Thankfully for Bucks fans, Jon Horst noticed.
Point of the future
While a Giannis trade might have lingered for years, the Miami Heat iteration of the saga certainly went back and forth for months. And with good reason. One, you don’t trade your franchise’s best-ever player without exhausting every possible avenue. Two, you don’t pull the trigger until you get your guy. For Horst and the Bucks, this was Jakučionis, whom the Heat reportedly withheld until the final moments.
Positionally, make no mistake, Jakučionis is a point guard. Despite his low usage and role as an off-ball spacer with the Heat, Jakučionis is at his best with the ball in his hands. According to Cleaning the Glass (CTG), his 1.21 assist to usage ratio (measuring how often players get an assist given how much they had the ball) places him on the 85th percentile—tying Kevin Porter Jr. (1.21) and ranking better than the Bucks’ other primary creators last year, Ryan Rollins (1.00) and Giannis (0.93). More specifically, he’s dynamic in the pick and roll, able to hit rollers with either hand, and uses his height—he’s a legitimate 6’5”—to see over smaller defenders and create passing angles that others can’t.
However, like any great passer, Jakučionis can be overly ambitious at times, leading to inconsistent results and the accumulation of turnovers. This has quickly become apparent in Summer League play, where he’s struggled under ball pressure. It also reared its head in the two most recent games of Lithuania’s FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers, where he got off to a blazing start, dishing out eight assists to just two turnovers against Great Britain, but then struggled against Italy, coughing up six turnovers while being limited to just one assist.
Of course, as his rookie season proved, Jakučionis’ impact isn’t limited to his passing. In a league that puts a premium on spacing, Jakučionis’ value as a shooter cannot be overstated. Last year, his 60.5% effective field goal percentage placed him in the 96th percentile for combo guards (per CTG), higher than all-timers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (59.7%) and Stephen Curry (58.6%). Truthfully, this percentage is likely inflated due to his off-ball role with the Heat, where he was assisted on 78% of all of his made shots and threes made up 60% of his shot diet. He also has some work to do at the rim (57%, 31st percentile) and in the mid-range (29%, 6th percentile), but with only 47 and 24 shots from these locations it would be unwise to put too much stock in the numbers. In all, Jakučionis’ ability to play off the ball is a testament to his offensive versatility, making him even more valuable as a potential long-term piece next to Ryan Rollins and Brayden Burries, who can both similarly create and space. He’s also a knockdown free throw shooter, hitting 85% of his free throws at Illinois and 88% of them for the Heat, so he’s a guy you trust with the ball in his hands late in games.
On the other side of the ball, Jakučionis has ideal size for a modern backcourt player. At 6’5” and 200 lbs, he has the length and bulk to switch defensively and can also help out on the boards, where his 7.6% total rebounding percentage is similar to Milwaukee’s strong rebounding guards in Porter (8.9%) and Rollins (8.0%). Last season, he was particularly handy as an offensive rebounder, with an offensive rebounding percentage of 4.7%, better than Bucks bigs Kyle Kuzma (3.6%), Pete Nance (4.2%), and Myles Turner (4.5%), per Basketball-Reference. This isn’t new, either, with NBADraft.net’s Isaiah Maldonado stating that Jakučionis “makes good use of his frame to snag boards and extend plays” in his pre-draft scouting report.
All things considered, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Horst was adamant about receiving Jakučionis as part of the Giannis trade. With premier playmaking, elite shooting, positional versatility and size, and the ability to help out on defence, Jakučionis is an ideal prospect for a rebuilding Milwaukee Bucks team looking to find its identity. And if he puts it all together, he just might be the Bucks’ long-term answer at the point.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls is guarded by Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NBA Summer League is never going to make or break the career of an incoming rookie. A year ago, Cooper Flagg shot 5-of-21 from the floor in his Las Vegas debut, and failed to make my annual list of the most impressive rookies in summer league. It’s important to tell yourself not to overreact to everything you see.
The good news for this year’s rookie class is that most of the top picks absolutely delivered on the hype. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson each had flashes of brilliance that showed why the 2026 draft class was so highly regarded. Read my story on six rookies who looked underwhelming in summer league this year, but remember there’s plenty of time for them to turn things around. Jalen Brunson wasn’t very good in summer league, either.
Check out my list of the young veterans already proving to be too good for summer league this year. Now, let’s rank the most impressive rookies in Las Vegas. Apologies to Koa Peat, Labaron Philon, Cam Carr, Chris Cenac, Mikel Brown Jr., Henri Veesar, and Jack Kayil, who were all really good in their own right, but these 11 players stuck out.
11. Hannes Steinbach, F, Charlotte Hornets
Steinbach finally moved into the Hornets’ starting lineup for their fourth summer league game, and immediately showed all the things that made him special. He’s such an effective finisher (67.9% true shooting) in part because he catches everything thrown his way, and can often play through contact on his way to the basket. Steinbach’s elite hands also make him the best rebounder in this draft class, and at this point it’s possible he could be one of the best offensive rebounders in the league as a rookie after posting a comical 18.15% o-board rate in Las Vegas. His defense and three-point shooting remain a work in progress, but Steinbach is great at what he’s good at, and that should give him a foundation for success as he continues to work on his skill set over the years.
10. Bruce Thornton, G, Houston Rockets
Summer league was never going to be a big challenge for an elite college veteran like Thornton, and indeed he looked comfortable and confident from the moment he hit the floor in Vegas. Thornton has a big body for a shorter point guard, and he throws around his weight to open up offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates. He’s become a really good high-volume three-point shooter over the years, and in summer league he made 43 percent from deep on seven attempts per game. He also posted a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is par for the course after a college career where he rarely coughed it up. There will be questions about his defense when it’s time for the real season, but Thornton has so much command over the offense and his own scoring ability that he feels like an obvious bet to be the next second-round draft hit.
9. Morez Johnson, F, Dallas Mavericks
Johnson is an absolute hoss as a 250+ pound forward with a 7’3.5 wingspan, and he’s a truly ridiculous athlete for someone with that size. The Mavs’ No. 9 overall pick hit the ground running in Vegas by doing what he does best: finishing efficiently inside, cleaning the defensive glass, and showing a rare combination of quickness and power on defense to give him premium matchup versatility. Johnson still scored a lot of his points on dump-offs and putbacks in Las Vegas, but there were also flashes of freight train drives to the hoop and short mid-range shotmaking that weren’t as prevalent on the college tape. His 69.1% true shooting in two games is about as good as it gets. Johnson’s simple-yet-effective offense set is complemented by a more wide-ranging defensive skill set, where he can protect the rim on the backline or switch onto quicker wings or guards and stick with them for a few seconds on the perimeter. He’s going to be an enforcer next to Cooper Flagg in Dallas from day one, and if his handle and shooting keeps developing, he has the potential to be a lot more than that.
8. Allen Graves, F, Toronto Raptors
#19 pick Allen Graves FILLED the stat sheet for the @Raptors in his NBA Summer League debut:
Anyone who thought the sixth man from Santa Clara whose draft candidacy was spawned by some young online nerds was going to crash and fail in the league sure looks like they’re going to be proven wrong. Graves did his thing with disruptive defense, impressive rebounding, and a sweet three-point stroke. It seems like Graves couldn’t show the full extent of his offensive game in college, because in Las Vegas he was handling the ball on drives and initiating the pick-and-roll with a level of effectiveness that wasn’t on the Santa Clara tape. Meanwhile, Graves continues to be a monster at forcing takeaways with great hands and an elite nose for the ball. His defense is so aggressive that it’s almost easy to overlook that he shoots such an easy ball from three-point range, knocking down 44% from deep in 16 attempts. I’m already worried I had Graves too low on my board at No. 19, which is exactly where the Raptors picked him. He looks like a steal. Toronto should be feeling really good about this one so far.
7. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Golden State Warriors
Lendeborg should have been really good in summer league considering he’s already almost 24 years old, an age when most players have graduated out of this setting. Still, it was encouraging to see the former Michigan star dominate in all the ways we’ve come to expect, showing bully-ball drives, sharp connective passing, stout defense, and a sweet three-point stroke. The shooting is the headliner from Lendeborg’s five games in summer league: he hit 56.5% of his threes on the way to immaculate 68% true shooting. He also bumped Cameron Boozer to hell on one drive to the rim, and showed his ability to play through contact on both ends. I like his defensive rebounding and his ball movement, but there were some instances where his lack of agility in the middle of the floor hurt his two-point scoring efficiency. I had Yaxel at No. 5 on my board entering the draft, and he seems like he’s going to be a perfect fit in Golden State, especially if the threes keep dropping. .
6. Darryn Peterson, G, Utah Jazz
Peterson gets off his shot so easily. The No. 2 overall pick glides into stepback jumpers, turns the corner on drives to the rim, and sprints off screens to knock down threes so effortlessly that he just looks like an NBA All-Star. Peterson had some spectacular moments with a driving poster dunk against the Clippers, and some flashes of the defensive playmaking that separates him from other elite offensive guards, but he also still has some fat to trim in his game. Peterson made some puzzling decisions with the ball whether he was settling for floaters or giving it away to the defense. He doesn’t really look like a true point guard (he finished with 26 assists to 24 turnovers through five summer league games), but that should be no big deal for a Jazz team that already has Keyonte George in the backcourt. His skill set still needs some fine-tuning, but Peterson’s talent jumps off the screen, and best of all, he wasn’t slowed down by any of the weird cramping issues that plagued him in college. He’s going to be a highly productive rookie, and a major contributor to what should be a pretty good Utah team this season.
5. Meleek Thomas, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cavs rookie Meleek Thomas through 3 games: 28.3 PPG/4.3 APG/4.0 RPG/2.3 SPG on 50% FG, 46% 3P, 100% FT
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) July 14, 2026
The long history of John Calipari guards being better in the NBA than in college might have another addition with Meleek Thomas. Thomas had a solid freshman year at Arkansas, but still slipped to the No. 34 overall pick because of concerns about his frame and defensive projection. The sell was always his bucket-getting, and he basically looked unstoppable in his three games in Las Vegas. Thomas scored 85 points in 90 minutes on excellent 65.7% true shooting through three games in summer league, slicing and dicing through opposing defenses at will and splashing shots all over the court. He hit 45.8% of his threes, all of his free throws, and had no problem breaking free from the ball pressure that frustrated other guards. Thomas avoided tunnel vision despite the incredible scoring numbers, and did a good job finding teammates while avoiding mistakes with 13 assists to five turnovers. With elite quickness, a money jumper, and a pretty good feel for the game, Thomas already looks like a second round steal, and someone who should make Cavs fans very excited for his future.
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) July 13, 2026
Dybantsa’s elite slashing and tough shot-making were fully on display in his two-game run in Las Vegas. The No. 1 overall pick is an absolute giant for a wing, but unlike most players his size, he already has the ball on a string. Dybantsa can turn the corner on most defenders, but when he’s shut off, he has plenty of counters to continue probing the defense until he can break free. Dybantsa’s mid-range heavy shot-selection is already drawing some consternation, but it’s hard to get too upset when he still posted blistering 63.8% true shooting despite shooting 1-of-11 from three-point range. That’s just what Dybantsa provides, relentless attacking that will keep hammering holes in the defense until he finally makes a crack. With the caveat that it’s only summer league, Dybantsa’s defense also looked much better than it did at BYU with a 26.6% defensive rebound rate, 5% steal rate, and 5.4% block rate. He’s going to need to be able to play off the ball a little bit more next to Trae Young during the regular season, but for now Dybantsa showed the special skills that made him the first pick in a loaded draft.
3. Caleb Wilson, F, Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson answered his biggest question on his very first shot in Las Vegas. Wilson took a pitch from teammate Noa Essengue, drew a switch from the defense, and took one dribble before splashing a three-pointer from the top of the key. Wilson didn’t shoot much in college, which makes sense for a player who used his best-in-class explosiveness to crush 67 dunks in just 24 games. The tape was filled with tough shot-making from mid-range, but those jump shots rarely extended behind the arc. In his summer league debut, Wilson drained seven three-pointers — the same number he made all season at North Carolina. Wilson had five months off since suffering a season-ending broken thumb in his right hand, and he clearly made the most of his time by reportedly getting up 2,000 threes per day. It takes most top prospects years to address the biggest holes in their scouting report, if they ever do it at all. Wilson already proved he’s going to shoot threes as a rookie, and that’s a great sign for his long-term development as a shooter. Read my feature on Wilson’s quest for greatness here.
A study by Owen Phillips showed that three-point rate (percentage of field goal attempts from three) is the “stickiest” stat of summer league — the one that carries over the best to the regular season. Well, Wilson moved his three-point rate from 9.1% at UNC to 47.1% for the Summer Bulls. It feels like a thrilling development for Wilson because so many other aspects of his game are already so strong. Wilson’s defensive playmaking is outstanding, and he amassed an 8.5% block rate in Vegas with a number of impressive stuffs, including a chasedown block for the ages. He hit the offensive glass at a higher rate than Cam Boozer (9.1% offensive rebound rate), and finished well when he was set up by his teammates. His poster thrunk against the Jazz was one of the most athletic plays you will ever see. There were still two big negatives for Wilson: his terrible free throw stroke (6-of-18 from the line) and his bad turnover habit, with his giveaways (21) easily outpacing his assists (7). The assist-to-turnover ratio was a positive on his college stat sheet, but that was mostly on stationary reads, and not live dribbles. Wilson was already a great prospect, but after watching him in Las Vegas, it seems possible he’s leveling up at a terrifying rate.
2. Cameron Boozer, F, Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer’s game has always been defined by steady production that won’t knock your socks off until his team wins and he finishes with monstrous box score numbers. Boozer did it again in this setting despite being one of the youngest players at summer league in his last few days as an 18-year-old. His scoring efficiency was remarkable by shooting 53.7% on two-pointers, 45% on three-pointers, and 80% on free throws for 65.8% true shooting. He continued to clean the defensive glass (18.7% defensive rebound rate), and he looked pretty quick laterally on that end even if he’s not offering much rim protection. Boozer looked a bit thinner in Vegas compared to the bulkier frame he carried at Duke, and it feels like he’s still learning how to use it. He’s not the most nimble player in the middle of the floor, but it doesn’t really matter because his passing vision is excellent and he almost always makes the right decision on time. Boozer’s top-4 contemporaries had flashier highlights, but his team impact was as great as any player in Vegas. I had Boozer as the top player in the 2026 draft in his own tier, and I think summer league only strengthened that argument.
1. Brayden Burries, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Burries’ upside was up for debate as he entered the 2026 NBA Draft, but he looked like an elite connective piece on both ends of the floor during his run in Las Vegas. He shot the hell out of the ball by hitting 44% of his threes, he hit the glass hard and forced takeaways on defense, and made smart decisions every time the ball touched his hands. Burries’ floor spacing and quick trigger from three helps fill in the gaps in the halfcourt in any lineup, but he also showed an ability to use his scoring to find open passing windows to teammates (12 assists) while suppressing turnovers (only one in three games in Vegas). Burries would be a valuable player even if he was just average defensively, but he looks better than that. His 4.2% steal rate and 3.7% block rate in Vegas are excellent numbers for a guard, and the fact that he’s such a good transition player once he yanks the ball away only makes him more effective. I only had Burries at No. 16 on my final board, so he exceeded my expectations more than any player in Las Vegas. The Bucks don’t have to try to shoehorn him into being a lead creator with Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro on the roster; instead, he can be the ultimate backcourt sidekick who allows everyone else to be the best version of themselves while maximizing his own efficiency.
There are a lot of “draft recap” articles and I’m sure if your interested, you know how to find them. But for those with a more limited interest, this draft recap from Kiley McDaniel is pretty concise and informative.
Most international players are signed as free agents and don’t go through the Draft, but Canadians, Puerto Ricans and foreign players who go to US universities are subject to the draft. Michael Clair has the ten most interesting of these “foreign” draftees.
The Nationals traded outfielder Robert Hassell III to the Pirates for cash considerations. Hassell was the top prize the Nats got in the Juan Soto deal a few years ago. Although the Nats also got James Wood and CJ Abrams in the deal, so they came out OK.
Davy Andrews looks at how Giants second baseman Luis Arraez has become a better hitter by making less contact. Arraez has also slightly altered his launch angle, which has also been a net positive.
The Mets looked good in a win over the Phillies in their first game back from the All-Star break, a game that was played amid the ominous wildfire haze that worsened as the evening progressed. Francisco Alvarez hit a pair of home runs in the victory.
Chelsea Janes reports that the Mets’ sale ahead of the August 3 trade deadline is very much on, noting that the team will listen to offers on anyone other than Soto, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Christian Scott, and Nolan McLean.
With Francisco Lindor’s name missing from that list, Jon Heyman reports that it’s a long shot that the Mets would actually trade him.
If you want a good laugh, multiple major league teams were using generative AI to make decisions in the dugout until the league did them a favor and banned it.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 03: Nelson Cruz delivers the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Houston Astros and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Thursday, April 3, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Whether by conscious choice or roster-building happenstance, one of the stanchions of the Rocco Baldelli Minnesota Twins regime was a veteran leader on the offense.
From 2019-2021, Nelson Cruz was cast in that role and about as effective as could have possibly been hoped for—headlining the ‘19 Bomba Squad and presenting a countenance on and off the field that was easy to aspire to.
From 2022-2025, the clubhouse leadership role was passed to surprising free-agent signing Carlos Correa—producing more controversial results. Because of his postseason success with the Houston Astros, C-4 was certainly looked upon as a veteran presence and acted accordingly. While some eventually warmed to his style, valid criticisms remained of his potential sign-stealing past, the way in which he mentored young players, and his willingness to jump ship back to south Texas at the first sign of strife.
However one feels about Correa’s departure, it left the Twins without an established offensive presence. Pablo Lopez—and now perhaps even two-time All-Star Joe Ryan—have the hurlers covered, but their meetings, schedule, and mentality are completely different from those of the batsmen.
Two logical figures to inherit the clubhouse leader tag would be Byron Buxton (for his talent) or Josh Bell (for his experience). While I’m sure Buck is a wonderful teammate and his talent puts him at A-1 on the roster, his countenance seems more Joe Mauer-esque in the sense of being more quiet and laid-back. Bell’s transience on this roster probably prevents too many proclamations from him as well.
There are of course many different ways to lead—and some guys likely need more leadership than others. Off the top of my head, I’d posit that the likes of Kody Clemens (thanks to a famous MLB Papa) & Brooks Lee (son of a notable college coach) need less hands-on role models than the average major leaguer.
But what about Royce Lewis, Matt Wallner, Luke Keaschall, Austin Martin, Tristan Gray, or Ryan Kreidler? I don’t know as much about their “backstories”, but perhaps a “been there, done that” MLB offensive player could model the consistency needed to stick in The Show?
This is to say nothing of the potential value to the “next wave”—Culpepper, Rodriguez, Jenkins, Tait, Houston, etc.—of Twins prospects who have yet to experience the daily grind of MLB.
I know this organization may have “bigger fish to fry” at the moment with some complicated trade deadline scenarios to sort through. But with one wave of prospects seemingly giving way to another, it might be time to at least begin thinking about who can provide the solid leadership to make it all gel together in the bottoms of Target Field innings.
Proof that I wasn't the only White Sox media member who made the trip to Philadelphia. Thanks to Connor McKnight for taking a moment between draft coverage. | Ryan McGuffey
There are moments in life when you have to stop and ask yourself, “How in the world did I get here?”
Walking into the Pennsylvania Convention Center last Saturday morning with an official MLB media credential hanging around my neck was one of those moments.
Four years ago, I wasn’t writing about baseball. I wasn’t interviewing players. I certainly wasn’t traveling across the country to cover one of Major League Baseball’s biggest events.
Yet there I was, representing South Side Sox at the 2026 MLB draft.
Sometimes, dreams really do come true.
When the White Sox secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft back in December, my first thought wasn’t about covering the event. I simply wanted to attend.
For the past several years, I’ve helped our South Side Sox staff prepare for the draft. I’ve spent countless hours researching prospects, helping build our draft coverage, and writing about the White Sox farm system as part of our minor league recap team. Getting the chance to see the first overall selection in person felt like something every baseball fan should experience at least once.
After all, the White Sox hadn’t held the first overall pick in nearly 50 years. The last time it happened, I was only five years old. I don’t remember the draft, and honestly, I don’t remember much about baseball at all from that age.
So why not make the trip?
Then another thought crept into my head.
What if I didn’t go as a fan?
What if I went as a member of the media?
It felt almost ridiculous to even consider. Would MLB approve someone like me? Would SB Nation even want to pursue credentials?
Still, if I’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that the only guaranteed “no” is the one you never ask.
So I asked Brett.
He immediately thought it was worth pursuing, and together we submitted a credential request through SB Nation. A few weeks before the draft, I received the email I’d been hoping for.
Approved.
Suddenly, this wasn’t just a vacation. This was an assignment.
Even better, my son Sage was able to come with me. That made the trip even more special.
I was excited, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.
SoxFest back in January had been my first experience interviewing players and networking with other members of the media. That event suddenly felt very small compared to this.
This was Major League Baseball. The commissioner would be there. Front-office executives would be there. The newest generation of baseball stars would be there … or so I thought.
Preparation became everything.
Knowing that writing a polished breaking story from scratch wasn’t yet one of my strengths, I decided to do as much work as possible before leaving Illinois. Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey had clearly separated themselves as the leading candidates for the White Sox’s first pick, so I spent the week researching all three.
By the time I boarded the plane, most of each story had already been written. My goal was simple: once the pick was announced, I could quickly add the unique details from the draft and publish a complete story.
It felt like the perfect plan.
Sage and I flew a red-eye to Philadelphia Thursday night, arriving early Friday morning.
I wanted an extra day to familiarize myself with the city, pick up my credentials, find the convention center, and simply get comfortable before everything started.
Mission accomplished.
Sleep, however, was in short supply Friday night. Part excitement. Part anticipation. Part anxiety.
Saturday morning finally arrived, and after making our way to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, I had one small panic trying to figure out exactly where the draft was being held.
Eventually, I found the media section and immediately spotted a familiar face.
Ryan McGuffey, senior vice president of content and co-founder of The REKAP, was sitting in the front row with an empty seat beside him.
I introduced myself, sat down, and my nerves disappeared almost instantly.
Ryan couldn’t have been more welcoming. For a while, it didn’t feel like I was attending one of baseball’s biggest events. It simply felt like two White Sox fans talking baseball.
MLB deserves credit for the presentation. The room looked fantastic. Everywhere you looked, there were draft logos, banners, digital displays, rally towels, and energetic music filling the room. It looked every bit like a major professional sporting event.
But as draft time approached, whispers began circulating throughout the media seating: Not a single player projected to go in the first 40 selections was actually there.
As the draft unfolded, commissioner Rob Manfred simply walked to the podium, announced each selection, a pre-recorded highlight package played, and then everyone moved on to the next pick.
No emotional walk across the stage.
No jersey presentation.
No hat ceremony.
No interviews with the newest members of each organization.
Nothing.
Compared to the NFL, NBA or NHL drafts, it felt surprisingly impersonal.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the players who were absent. Because the White Sox were playing later that afternoon and hosting their Alumni Home Run Derby in Chicago, no members of the front office were available in Philadelphia, either.
In fact, covering the biggest White Sox draft selection in decades were just three of us: Ryan McGuffey, Connor McKnight of CHSN and me.
As someone hoping to challenge myself as a reporter, that was disappointing.
There were no interviews to conduct. No behind-the-scenes conversations. No opportunity to ask questions that readers watching from home couldn’t hear for themselves.
It felt like a missed opportunity — not just for the media, but for the fans who had traveled from around the country expecting something more interactive than what amounted to a televised announcement with free T-shirts and rally towels.
But sometimes the story you expect isn’t the story you get. And maybe that’s OK.
Because when I look back on the weekend, I won’t remember what the draft lacked.
I’ll remember spending three days talking baseball and spending time with one of my favorite people in the world.
I’ll remember sitting in the media section wearing a credential that, just a few years ago, I never imagined I’d have.
I’ll remember realizing how much my life has changed since Brett asked me about writing about baseball in August 2022, with absolutely no journalism background.
That’s the real story.
Not who the White Sox drafted first overall. Not what MLB could have done better.
The real story is that a fan who simply loved baseball took a chance on herself, worked hard, found an incredible community at South Side Sox, and one day found herself covering an official Major League Baseball event.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last four years, it’s this:
Don’t be afraid to ask.
Don’t be afraid to chase opportunities that seem out of reach.
And don’t let anyone tell you your dreams can’t come true.
Sometimes, if you’re willing to put yourself out there, they actually do.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 06: Kyle Karros #12 of the Colorado Rockies bats during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Monday, July 6, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies are a team in the midst of a rebuild. With this in mind, the staff at Purple Row thought it would be useful to revisit the “State of the Position” series that we ran in March to see where things stand. We’ve asked authors of the spring articles to re-evaluate their earlier remarks with an eye toward the August 3 trade deadline.
What you think about the Rockies third base situation almost entirely depends on what you think of Kyle Karros.
Do you buy into his minor league performance and hot spring? Well, then maybe by next year we’ll all be saying that the Rockies have the position locked down for the foreseeable future.
Do you think the scouting reports and his month of play in the bigs last year are more indicative of the player he’ll be long term? In that case, third base (unless Ryan Ritter happens to break out) is in for a transitional period that may well last a couple full years.
With 93 games under his belt in 2026, has Karros done enough to quell that uncertainty?
Karros’ calling card offensively last season had been his plate discipline. Even when he has struggled to impact the ball, his chase% on pitches outside the zone has maintained around 24%, good for 80th percentile in the league this season. This lack of chase was on full display in March and April when Karros earned a great 16.1 walk percentage.
The discipline is also the reason Karros is able to work deep into counts. The inevitability of another Karros 3-2 count has become a running joke in game threads here at Purple Row. In terms of pitches seen per plate appearance, Karros ranks 24th in all of MLB at 4.08, which is comfortably the highest among Rockies hitters.
Solid defense
In terms of defense, Karros has continued to look like a capable defender at the hot corner. There have been some signs that he is maybe not quite as good with the glove as his limited sample in 2025 indicated — he’s earned fewer defensive runs saved and is committing errors at a higher rate than last season — but his overall defensive value is still calculated by FanGraphs to be among the top ten qualified third baseman in MLB this year.
Poor quality of contact
The league average isolated power this season is .158. Through April, Karros’ ISO was only .065, which was only marginally better than the .051 that he’d managed in 2025 after reaching the majors. Through the start of the 2026 season, this lack of being able to do damage when he made contact had been the persistent downfall of his short big league career.
The lack of quality contact was so severe that it threatened to act as an anchor to Karros’ entire offensive profile. In March and April, his overall wRC+ (a stat that weights total offensive performance with one hundred being league average) was an abysmal 63 despite his great walk percentage.
Changes at the plate have led to impressive results
At the start of the season, his stance was closed off and upright, but is now much more open and tensed. His leg kick timing mechanism has not changed much, but the starting position of the front foot has shifted dramatically further back in the box. This leads to a more crouched stance and a more explosive hip rotation as he unloads his swing.
Corresponding with these mechanical adjustments has been one specific major change in his peripherals: Hard Hit %
Karros adopted his new batting stance in mid-May, roughly when his Hard Hit % was bottoming out. Since then, it has climbed significantly above league average and has, so far, stayed there.
This sudden ability to access more of his power has not just been theoretical but has correlated with an obvious surge in his results at the plate.
March/April: .207/.330/.272 with a 63 wRC+
May: .225/.295/.380 with a 73 wRC+
June: .357/.444/.586 with a 166 wRC+
July: .289/.385/.644 with a 164 wRC+
This version of Karros looks like a genuine force to be reckoned with in a major league lineup. The question is this: Can he sustain it for more than six weeks’ worth of games?
We won’t know until the games are played, but this is a stark increase in production backed up by a noticeable change in his underlying metrics which can be explained by a visible process adjustment. Outside of a larger sample size, this is everything you would want to see to begin to believe a player had made a potentially lasting improvement.
It would be foolhardy to assume that Karros is going to be able to sustain a 160 wRC+ forever, but he never needed to be an all-star-level hitter to become a fixture in this lineup.
His established foundation of good plate discipline and defense meant that he didn’t need to improve his quality of contact that much in order to become a quality major league starter. He has now done that and shown a tantalizing glimpse of what the best-case scenario for him going forward could be.
The organizational depth beyond Karros
As with many positions in this series, the second option at third base has proven to be Willi Castro.
Even if Castro is not dealt at this year’s trade deadline, which is very possible, his time in purple is not expected to extend particularly far into the future, as his current contract expires at the end of 2027.
When Castro departs, the players in the minors that could eventually be looked at to either fill in for Karros (or replace him should he regress) would be:
Ryan Ritter: Having battled injuries, Ritter has only managed to play in 34 games at Triple-A so far this season. In his limited time on the field, he’s hit respectably and produced a 106 wRC+ for the Isotopes.
Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP): The surface level production during his second run at Low-A has looked even better than his initial cup of coffee at the level late last season. His 25.6% strikeout rate remains a cautionary flag considering the level.
Ethan Hedges (No. 29 PuRP): As a 22-year-old in High-A, Hedges’ decent but not great offensive performance this year has not been encouraging. Just like Dalis, his high strikeout rate in the low minors will need to be monitored.
Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP): In 33 games to start the season at Low-A, Holliday was starting to show signs of why he was so highly thought of prior to the 2025 draft. Like Dalis and Hedges, his strikeout rate being in the mid-to-high twenties is concerning, but everything else had been clicking for him before his season ending injury.
Kamuel Villar & Eriel Dihigo: Two recent international amateur signings for the Rockies, both Villar and Dihigo are hitting very well in their first season in the Complex League at ages 18 and 19 respectively. Neither yet has much public scouting hype but are worth keeping an eye on to see how they progress.
Other than Ritter, there aren’t really any third base prospects waiting in the wings in the high minors. It will be a couple of seasons before anyone currently expected to have a real shot at being a starting-caliber third base replacement is ready to hit the majors should Karros’ hot summer turn out to be a mirage.
Closing thoughts
Just like before the season started, the Rockies third base situation comes down to what you think about Karros. The difference now is that he has given much more reason to believe in his offensive upside.
Given his torrid pace post-swing change, Karros has solidified himself as the Rockies starting third baseman through the start of the 2027 season. Even if he were to slump for the rest of this year, the position would still be his to lose going into next spring. Beyond the start of next year, however, nothing is guaranteed. Karros will need to continue to perform to keep his spot but he would need to struggle quite a bit to lose it, given that there are not any in house options banging down the door to take it from him at the moment.
Karros has earned a leash long enough to be, at minimum, a bridge between Ryan McMahon and the next franchise third baseman for the Rockies. It has, however, become a very real possibility that he may be able to simply take up that mantle of franchise third baseman for himself.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Heliot Ramos #17 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park on July 12, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The San Francisco Giants are back from their All-Star break tonight, as they head north for some interleague play against the Seattle Mariners.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at a video that the team’s social media team shared recently featuring outfielder Heliot Ramos. While it is essentially an ad for Peet’s Coffee, I know our audience and I know that they enjoy arguing about the finer things in life, like coffee and food. So Ramos being willing to share opinions on either was a brave choice for our community.
It’s a short watch, about six minutes, so grab your coffee, settle in and enjoy!
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants begin this three-game road series against the Mariners tonight at 7:10 p.m. PT.
The wait continues as the sports world anxiously awaits the next move for LeBron James.
James decided to not return to the Los Angeles Lakers and added his name in the free agency pool, which started a carousel of pitches from around the NBA trying to persuade James to join their organization.
A decision is expected to come, but it's not clear when. James said months ago that his decision would likely come in late-July to early-August. While we sit around in the middle of July, the countdown continues.
James reportedly has all the information he needs from teams and is now weighing his options, according to USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the storylines he'd be most interested in include James going back home to Cleveland or joining Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. But his main focus was James actually making a decision so the league can plan next season's schedule.
"Where LeBron plays will affect the schedule. So I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule," Silver said. "I need him to make a decision."
Well, Mr. Commissioner, you're going to be waiting on that decision just like the rest of us. According to James' timeline, the pick won't be revealed for another week or two. In the meantime, here's what we're hearing on James' latest iteration of "The Decision":
Dave McMenamin: LeBron decision could be early as 'next week'
08:03 AM ET, July 17 2026, Marcus D. Smith
Family is one of the most important aspects in LeBron James' decision. ESPN NBA reporter Dave McMenamin said James' decision is very dependent on his soon-to-be 12-year-old daughter, Zhuri.
"When it comes to his family James said he has certainly weighing the thoughts of his soon-to-be 12-year-old daughter Zhuri," McMenamin wrote on X. "He made sure to tell her before he was leaving the Lakers so she heard it from him first. And he told her that her feelings of the decision would mean a lot to him I'm told that James is nearing that decision and folks around the league are hoping it comes as early as next week."
Dave McMenamin on when Lebron could decide his next team:
"When it comes to his family James said he has certainly weighing the thoughts of his soon to be 12 year old daughter Zhuri. He made sure to tell her before he was leaving the Lakers so she heard it from him first. And he… pic.twitter.com/DoUECN2WOx
Nobody knows what LeBron James will do. Well, maybe he does. However, even if he does, don't expect an answer from James today, or even this weekend.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania alludes to James not making his free agency decision immediately. The reason for the hold up isn't widely unknown, but it's not happening today, Charania said.
"Obviously everyone's waiting on the LeBron James domino. I wouldn't hold my breath on tonight," Charania told USA TODAY Thursday, July 16 on the red carpet for the Time 100 Sports event.
"I honestly wouldn't hold my breath for the weekend either, but we'll see what happens as we get closer to next week," Charania added.
The Chicago Blackhawks have many young forwards who they will be hoping can hit a new level for them next season. Ryan Greene is among them, as the 22-year-old forward has the potential to become a big part of the Blackhawks' roster.
Greene just completed his rookie season in 2025-26 and showed good promise during it. In 81 games on the year, he posted 12 goals, 17 assists, and 29 points. Overall, it was a solid start to his NHL career, and the 2022 second-round pick will now be looking to reach new heights for the Blackhawks during the 2026-27 season.
If Greene can hit the 20-goal and 40-point marks next season, it would be good news for a Blackhawks club that is looking to take that next step and compete for a playoff spot. It would also be significant for the Blackhawks if Greene continues to take steps forward with his solid two-way play.
Ultimately, there is a lot to like about Greene's game. It is going to be interesting to see what kind of season he can put together for the Original Six club in 2026-27 from here.
Captain says promotion would bring ‘the most happiness’
He visited largest shareholder Daniel Křetínský in Prague
Jarrod Bowen has said he intends to remain with West Ham after the club’s relegation to the Championship. The forward has attracted interest from Premier League teams but has spelled out his desire to stay after a summer during which he travelled to Prague for talks with the largest shareholder, Daniel Křetínský.
“I feel like we’re moving in the right direction as a club,” Bowen told West Ham’s media channels. “There’s a lot of thinking time over the summer and a lot of things that go in your head. But I look in years and years to come of when I retire, what’s going to bring me the most happiness. For me now that’s getting this club back into the Premier League.”
