With Pakistan at a low ebb and England at the start of semi-reset, the series at Headingly looks to be an interesting one
The history of Test cricket between England and Pakistan stretches back to 1954 and has been a vibrant one over the years. Yet, for all the memorable battles, plus the cultural ties between the two countries and a fair bit of scandal along the way, a trophy that denotes the rivalry is still to be created.
England lost the Crowe-Thorpe trophy to New Zealand this summer, will look to retain the Basil D’Oliveira trophy in South Africa this winter, and hope they can win back the Ashes next year. Trophies for encounters with India and West Indies go back so far they have been retired and replaced by new ones in recent times.
The $12.5 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers has unleashed a family feud.
The Buss children are at it again.
Jeanie Buss, 64, took over as the team’s governor and controlling owner in 2013 after the death of her father, Jerry, the team's longtime and celebrated owner. She sued in 2017, alleging that two other brothers tried to oust her. Now Jeanie Buss is fighting to hold on to that power.
She is one of six siblings and apparently is outnumbered. Her five siblings issued a statement saying they plan to sell the family’s remaining 17.8% in the Lakers to the incoming owners -- venture capitalist Josh Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger.
The 17.8% is how much the Buss children retained after selling the team to Mark Walter in June 2025 on a valuation of about $10 billion. The terms of that sale stipulated that Jeanie Buss was to remain the team's governor for at least five years following the sale.
But that plan looks to be in jeopardy after Walter sold the team to Kusher, brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared, and Iger. NBA rules require a team’s governor have at least 15% ownership. If her siblings are allowed to sell their shares, Jeanie Buss won’t meet the threshold needed to oversee the team.
When Jerry Buss died in 2013, he owned 66% of the Lakers, and he left 11% to each of his six children. But Jeanie Buss, through Adam Streisand, contends her siblings need her approval to sell their remaining shares.
In a copy of a letter obtained by ESPN, Streisand wrote that any family vote for a sale "would be and is void" because Jeanie’s approval is needed.
"Co-trustees are bound to vote to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain controlling owner," Streisand wrote, via ESPN.
"Any attempt by the co-trustees to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court.
"On behalf of Jeanie Buss, I demand that your clients make clear publicly that Jeanie Buss is the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and that your clients shall take no action on this supposed 'vote' to sell the 17.8% stake."
The siblings see things differently.
“We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction,” the Buss family said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles, but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
Lakers in limbo off, on court
Under Jerry Buss, the Lakers became one of the most iconic teams in sports.
The team won 10 NBA titles between Jerry Buss’ purchase of the Lakers in 1979 for $67.5 million and his death in 2013.
Since then, the Lakers have won just one more title, giving the franchise 17 -- second behind only the Boston Celtics' 18 titles.
Jeanie Buss' biggest move since firing her brother Jim in 2017 was to sign LeBron James the following year. James led the Lakers to an NBA title in 2020 during a COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season. The Lakers have not returned to the Finals since. This offseason, James left the Lakers and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers have retooled their roster around star Luka Doncic, and for the moment, the Lakers look to be in limbo on and off the court.
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
Kucharcik is a lanky forward who played for Slavia Praha in the Czech junior system, and played for his country at the Under-18’s before being selected by the Sabres in the fourth round (103rd overall) at the 2025 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old forward was born in Italy, as his father (a 1991 Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick) played throughout Europe during his career.
Who will pick up the offensive slack for the Sabres next season?
The youngster is described by Elite Prospects 2025 Draft Guide as “a smart two-way center who excels at facilitating others through his strongly ingrained supporting habits. He backtracks to intercept passes in the neutral zone, pickpockets opposing defencemen on the forecheck and takes the right routes to provide his teammates with passing options. There’s also a clear defensive upside with Kucharčík. His motor is solid, but it’s how he angles and positions that really drives his defensive value.”
Instead of remaining in Czechia, Kucharcik played for the Sabres favorite USHL club. the Youngstown Phantoms last season, and scored 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists) in 35 games. He is moving on to the NCAA to Miami (OH) University, where he will play with Sabres 2026 first rounder Ilya Morozov.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 6: Dylan Cease #84 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 6, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
So far this month, the Jays are 10-6 with a 2.87 ERA, easily the best month our pitchers have had this year.
Hot
Dylan Cease: 3 starts, 0-0, 2.45 ERA. In 18.1 innings, batters hit .158/.236/.274, with 2 home runs, 8 walks and 27 strikeouts.
Also opponents stole 14 bases in those 18.1, with 2 caught. He doesn’t hold runners at all. Three starts, he had two Quality Starts, and one that would have been a Quality Start if he had thrown one more inning. It is very impressive that he has a .274 slugging average against. He’s been amazing and we couldn’t get a W for him. He went 7 innings of 2 hit ball with 1 walk and 10 strikeouts and we couldn’t get him a win. Before the DH, you’d say, well he should have diving in a run himself. In all three starts, he had more strikeouts than innings.
Shane Bieber: 3 starts, 2-0, 3.63 ERA. In 17.1 innings batters hit .271/.329/.414 with 3 home runs, 6 walks and 15 strikeouts.
Two really good starts, going 5.2 and 6 innings allowing just a run in each and one blowup, 5 earned in 5.2 innings, that we lost in 12 innings. He’s not been Ace level, but we have Cease for that, but he’s been pretty good, with the odd really bad start just to keep you guessing. Having that one off the charts terrible one, just before the trade deadline, showed me how much he wanted to stay will the team. It will be interesting to see how free agency goes.
Max Scherzer: 3 starts, 0-1, 2.20 ERA. In 16.1 innings, batters hit .197/.234/.328, 2 home runs, 3 walks and 13 strikeouts.
One was a Quality start, but the other two would have been if he had pitched 6 innings instead of 5. I’ve been thinking that we should change the definition of QS to 5 innings. Anyway, all three of his starts were good, giving up 1, 2 and 1 runs. I was pretty sure this would be his last year (and it really should be) but he is getting the outs.
José Soriano: 2 starts, 0-0, 1.69. In 10.2 innings, batters hit .216/.310/.351 with 1 home run, 5 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Two starts, one where he only went 4.2 innings, but gave up just 1 earned. The other he did 6 innings, giving up just 1 earned again. He seems to be a good pick up (he says knowing you shouldn’t judge anyone on 10 innings).
Braydon Fisher: 10 games, 1 as opener, 0-1, 0.82 ERA. In 11 innings, batters hit .156/.325/.250 with 1 home runs, 8 walks and 5 strikeouts.
He had 4 holds. He continues to be great. Too many walks, but then guys slugged .250. He gave up two runs, just the other day, and took the lose, but those were the only runs he allowed. When your ERA starts with a 0 you know it is going well
Tyler Rogers: 9 games, 1-0, 2 saves, 0.96 ERA. In 9.1innings, batters hit .182/.308/.182, with 6 walks and 2 strikeouts.
Tyler had 3 holds. 6 walks and 2 strikeouts looks bad, but he’s been terrific all season long. I do have some worries that he won’t do as well next year. Most submarine pitchers seem to have a very good year, a good and a poor year, if they stay with the same team for few years. But Rogers seems a lot better than most.
Mason Fluharty: 9 games, 0-0, 0.00 ERA. In 6.2 innings, batters hit .000/.091/.000 with 0 home runs, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts.
He had 2 holds. That’s a terrific 6.2 inning. He’s very good vs LHH .453 OPS, but not good against RHH (.918). John has been excellent at picking his spots. If your ERA only contains zeros, things are great.
Brendon Little: 7 games, 0-1, 1.59 ERA. In 5.2 innings, batters hit .235/.500/.294, with 0 earned runs, 9 walks and 9 strikeouts.
He had 3 holds. 9 walks in 5.2 inning pretty awful, but he only allowed 1 earned run. And 9 strikeouts in 17 total outs is very good. This is the pitcher he is. He’s brought his ERA under 10. I’m not sure I’d bet that he’ll finish the season with an ERA under 10. He’s now arbitration eligible until after next year, so they will likely keep him around next year. And he has an option left for next year.
Cold
I didn’t put anyone in this slot. Weird.
Inbetween
Louis Varland: 8 games, 2-1, 4 saves, 1 blown save, 3.24 ERA. In 8.1 innings, batters hit .235/.294/.296 with 1 home run, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts.
He allowed 3 earned runs, but there was also 4 unearned run. He hasn’t been quite as lights out as he had been earlier in the season. And John seems to be trying to be more careful with him, which seems like a good idea, although, since they traded Hoffman they are short of guys you want to see pitching the late innings of close games. I mean, Lázaro Estrada got a save and they DFAed him later.
Spencer Miles: 7 games, 1-0, 1 save, 2.25 ERA. In 8 innings, batters hit .313/.324/.469 with 0 homers, 1 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Batters are hitting him pretty good, but he’s kept them from scoring. After pitching just 8.2 innings in the Arizona Fall League, and nothing before that, last year, He’s up to 78 innings now. They are going to be careful with him the rest of the season. I’d bet, unless they lose a few more pitchers to injury, that he won’t get above 90.
Also Pitched
We seem to have a lot of these guys who pitched a couple of innings for us this month.
Simeon Woods Richardson: Pitched in 2 games, 5.1 innings, allowed a run, 4 hits, 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. The team doesn’t seem to have any confidence in him, but he has been pretty good for us.
Lazaro Estrada: Pitched in 4 games, 3.2 innings, 1-1 with a save. He gave up 4 hits, 3 earned, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts. Also had a hit batter, a balk, and wild pitch. He was DFAed, but he’s still in the system.
Chase Lee: Pitched in 4 games, he had a win. In 4.2 innings, he gave up 5 earned, on 6 hits, a home run, 4 walks and 1 strikeouts.
He’s in Buffalo. He’s been up and down a few times.
Chad Dallas: Pitched in 1 game, gave up a run in 3.2 innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts.
Ricky Tiedemann: They called him up, he pitched in one game. 1.2 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned and 2 strikeouts and then the sent him back to the minors. I didn’t understand why. Why would you bring him up to pitch once? If he had been terrible, I’d understand sending him back, but he was fine.
Matt Waldron: Pitched in 3 games. Two went well, had a hold in one, had clean inning in both. The other game went really badly, gave up 3 runs while getting 1 out. He’s still on the roster, so we’ll see him again.
IL
Spencer Arrighetti: Has Morton’s Neuroma in his right foot, which I haven’t heard of before. It doesn’t sound good, but apparently he might pitch for us this season. The description includes the words sharp pain and burning.
Trey Yesavage: 1 start, 2 inning. They think he might be back this year, I don’t. Had left meniscus surgery
Patrick Corbin: He won’t be back soon.
Joe Mantiply: He’s been throwing bullpen sessions.
Yimi García: Thoracic outlet syndrome. He may have an operation, which would likely end any chance of him pitching this year.
Cody Ponce: Will miss the season.
Jameson Taillon: Pitched in 2 games, 8 innings, 7 hits, 3 earned (3.38), 1 home run, 5 walks and 7 strikeouts.
It is possible he’ll be back before the end of the season.
José Berríos: Had Tommy John. Might be back by the end of next season, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 07: Terry Francona ( center), the new Manager of the Cincinnati Reds talks to the media at Great American Ball Park on October 07, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Nick Krall ,President of Baseball Operations sits to his left and Brad Meador , Senior Vice President & General Manager sits to his right. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Reds fans and fans across the country.
The Cincinnati Reds salvaged what would have otherwise been a completely daft Monday yesterday, with Elly De La Cruz smacking the first walk-off hit of his burgeoning career to take down the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 in 10 innings.
The Reds had lost the first game of the doubleheader earlier in the day, however, and that loss marked their third straight home loss after the drubbing given to them over the weekend by the Miami Marlins. They sat at just 59-65 on the season, and even after last night’s victory they sit 17 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers and in last place in the National League Central division.
The season went sideways in so many different directions. The bullpen injuries exposed a severe lack of depth at the upper levels of the minors, and so many of the ‘project’ arms they had hoped would step up simply haven’t been able to find an area code near the strike zone. Losing Hunter Greene for most of the season certainly didn’t help things, nor did watching Eugenio Suarez be lost for a month with a rhythm-sapping oblique strain.
Players haven’t played very well, that’s obvious. But just how much of this latest disaster of a year is on them? How much falls on the future Hall of Fame manager who puts them in these situations? How much falls on a front office that went out and served them a hot plate of Ke’Bryan Hayes? Rece Hinds, Noelvi Marte, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand smashed the ball all over the place at AAA, yet none could make contact in the big leagues – is that a hitting coach problem?
Do the Reds even have their director of pitching anymore?
All of this, obviously, falls under the discretion of the ownership group, who has sat by for decades of losing without making any overhauls of any significance.
This week we ask you – on whom does the blame mostly fall for this failed 2026 season?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mid-Major fans and fans across the country.
Loyola Chicago is honoring Sister Jean with a statue this Friday on what would have been her 107th birthday.
So, that got us thinking: who should be the next mid-major legend to be given a statue?
Pete Carril, Greg Kampe, Bill Russell, Steph Curry, Steve Nash or Buddy the Street Dog?
Pete Carril
Carril was the architect of the Princeton offense. His Tiger teams were rock solid on defense and led the nation in scoring defense 14 times. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall-of-Famer won 13 Ivy League championships and retired as the only coach to win 500 games without scholarship players. Carril led Princeton to the 1975 NIT championship.
Greg Kampe
Kampe is gearing up for his 43rd season with Oakland and is the longest-tenured active Division I men’s basketball coach, ranking third all-time in DI behind Jim Phelan (49 seasons), Phog Allen (49 seasons), and Jim Boeheim (47 seasons). The 2026-27 season moves Kampe ahead of Mike Krzyzewski. Kampe oversaw the Golden Grizzlies’ transition to Division I and pioneered one of the best March Madness upsets in recent memory as Oakland and hot-shooting Jack Gohlke took down Kentucky.
One of the greatest players in basketball history, Russell suited up for San Francisco before winning 11 titles with the Boston Celtics. He played with the Dons in the 1950s and guided them to back-to-back national championships in 1955 and 1956. USF won 55 consecutive games, and Russell is the career leader in rebounds for the program with 1,606. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Russell was a staunch advocate for social justice. The WCC adopted the “Russell Rule,” which ensures that all schools in the conference consider candidates from underrepresented groups when interviewing for athletic administrator and coaching vacancies.
Steph Curry
We all remember Curry nearly shooting No. 10-seed Davidson into the Final Four. The guard’s run in the 2008 NCAA Tournament was nothing short of miraculous. It put his name in the national lexicon of basketball before he became the NBA career 3-point leader and changed the game with his approach to shooting. Curry led the nation in scoring in 2009 and broke the single-season 3-point record in 2008. Four NBA titles and a couple of MVPs later, Curry and his legacy live on.
Steve Nash
Nash put together one of the best college careers with Santa Clara and led the Broncos to three WCC championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. He ranks among the top 10 in program history in points, steals, assists, and free-throw percentage. The two-time NBA MVP led both the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals and had his number retired by both Santa Clara and the Suns. He went on to become a consultant and helped guide the Warriors to back-to-back titles with Curry as one of the star players.
Buddy the Street Dog
OK, let’s have a little fun with this one. Buddy the Street Dog is the “spirit animal” for the Queens men’s basketball team. The two-foot replica of a German Shepard joined the Royals this season as they reached the NCAA Tournament in their first season of eligibility after transitioning to Division I. Buddy is awarded postgame to the player whose contributions to the team’s success may not show up in the box score (taking charges or diving for loose ball).
“We want [the players] to embody the street dog mentality of fighting for everything you can get,” Queens head coach Grant Leonard said.
Both Queens and Buddy are a perfect 1-for-1 when eligible to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Editor note: Damian Lillard and Artis Gilmore were also discussed.
Lillard is painted on a horse statue in Ogden, Utah, where he starred for Weber State.
Why a horse and not an actual statue depicting Lillard? Lillard has a fear of statues.
“I’ve always been scared of historic stuff like that. If I see statues of Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. — all that stuff kind of gives me a funny feeling,” Lillard said back in 2012 on a trip to Washington, D.C. during his rookie season with the Portland Trailblazers.
Gilmore will have his statue at Jacksonville University unveiled next May. Nicknamed “The A-Train,” Gilmore led the 1970 national championship game, where the Dolphins fell to UCLA.
Gilmore went on to have a hall-of-fame career in the ABA and NBA. He began his college career at Garner-Webb before playing his final two seasons at Jacksonville.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and his wife Rochelle "Ro" Ledesma at the beach in Porto Cervo, Italy, on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Knicks coach Mike Brown is enjoying the post-championship life.
The coach and his wife Rochelle “Ro” Ledesma enjoyed some R&R in Porto Cervo, an Italian seaside resort in Northern Sardinia on Sunday in new beach photos obtained by The Post.
The couple, mostly private regarding their personal life, were seen canoodling in the ocean and laughing together while lounging under an umbrella.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and his wife Rochelle “Ro” Ledesma at the beach in Porto Cervo, Italy, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. FREZZA LAFATA / BACKGRID
Brown sported white swim shorts and sunglasses while Ledesma donned a blue bikini.
The pair’s European vacation came after a whirlwind summer for Brown.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and his wife Rochelle “Ro” Ledesma in the ocean in Porto Cervo, Italy, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. FREZZA LAFATA / BACKGRIDRochelle “Ro” Ledesma, wife of New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown, in Porto Cervo, Italy, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. FREZZA LAFATA / BACKGRID
In his first year at the helm, Brown coached the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years against the Spurs in June.
The Knicks won four of five against San Antonio, and clinched the NBA title in a 94-90 win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and his wife Rochelle “Ro” Ledesma at the beach in Porto Cervo, Italy, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. FREZZA LAFATA / BACKGRIDNew York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and his wife Rochelle “Ro” Ledesma at the beach in Porto Cervo, Italy, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. FREZZA LAFATA / BACKGRID
After that, Brown’s media tour included stops at “The Tonight Show” and “Good Morning America.”
He also received a standing ovation and applause — as well as “let’s go Knicks” chants — when he hit up the Polo Bar in mid-June.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and his wife Rochelle “Ro” Ledesma at the beach in Porto Cervo, Italy, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. FREZZA LAFATA / BACKGRIDNew York Knicks head coach Mike Brown and his wife Rochelle “Ro” Ledesma at the beach in Porto Cervo, Italy, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. FREZZA LAFATA / BACKGRID
Brown and his first wife Carolyn, who divorced in January 2015, share two sons together, Elijah and Cameron.
Both played collegiate sports and Elijah began his basketball career at Butler before transferring to New Mexico and then finishing his college career at Oregon.
Brown has yet to be seen in photo from the wedding of Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and model Jordyn Woods, which took place Aug. 15 in Malibu.
Towns’ Knicks teammates, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby were all in attendance.
EA Sports' NHL 27 player ratings are out - and there is a member of the 99 Club for the first time.
That belongs to Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, a three-time Hart Trophy winner who was runner-up for the NHL's MVP award last season.
McDavid was the highest-rated player in NHL 26, at a 97. He then finished the 2025-26 season with a league-best 90 assists and 138 points, the sixth time he has led the league in scoring.
EA Sports released only forward ratings on Tuesday, Aug. 18. It will unveil defenseman ratings and overall ratings later.
McDavid is followed by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, the 2025-26 MVP, and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon at 97 each.
Arkansas forward Nick Pringle (23) celebrates after the SEC tournament championship win against Vanderbilt at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 15, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
NetsDaily has confirmed that the Brooklyn Nets are signing Nick Pringle, a 6’10”, 230-pound 24-year-old power forward out of Arkansas, to an Exhibit 10 deal. Pringle, who went undrafted in June, played last season at Arkansas with Darius Acuff and Trevon Brazile, drafted at No. 7 and 35th.
An Exhibit 1o can be a training camp contract, but the Nets and other teams have also used it to fill out G League rosters. The plan for Pringle will become evident shortly after he’s signed. Last couple of seasons, the Nets have signed players to Exhibit 10s then quickly waived them often within 24 hours. The players’ G League rights go directly to Long Island without a stop at Brooklyn’s training camp. Each player signed to an Exhibit 10 can receive up to an $85,000 bonus if they stick with the G League club for 60 days. While some organizations will negotiate the amount of the bonus, the Nets generally provide each signee the full $85,000. G League players also receive a standard $46,350 salary plus housing expenses.
Pringle had previously played at both Alabama and South Carolina in his six-year long collegiate career. At Alabama, he teamed up with Grant Nelson who played for both Brooklyn and Long Island last season and was on the Nets summer league rosters in Sacramento and Las Vegas last month.
A native of Seabrook, S.C., Pringle played at Wofford College in 2020-21, Dodge City Community College in 2021-22, then two seasons at Alabama in 2022-23 and 2023-24, a season at South Carolina in 2024-25 before winding up at Arkansas last year. He was part of Alabama’s 2024 NCAA Final Four team, averaging 6.2 rebounds per game throughout the Crimson Tide’s run in the NCAA Tournament.
Here’s some highlights from his season with John Calipari and the Razorbacks, primarily focused on his athlaticism.
Rebounding and defense have been his forte. For his collegiate career, played in 152 games with 81 starts, averaging 16.1 minutes a game. For his career, he scored 853 points and shot 64.9% from the field, twice hitting before than 70.0% for the season. He also grabbed 654 career rebounds and recorded 125 stocks — combination of steals and blocks.
He also played three games for the Celtics Summer League team in Las Vegas, but only one where he topped 20 minutes, a loss to the Magic. In that that game, Pringle scored four points, grabbed five rebounds, handed out four assists, blocked three shots and recorded two steals in 20.3 minutes.
Seros Partners, his agent, first reported on the Nets agreement Monday. Seros also represents Mikel Brown Jr.
Although the were unconfirmed reports during Summer League that Deon Brown, a 6’4” combo guard out of St. Louis, and Ben Humrichaus, a 6’9” small forward out of Illinois, would also join the Nets on Exhibit 10 deals. Both Tyler Bilodeau, taken at No. 43 out of UCLA, and Chaney Johnson, who’s returning, have signed two-way deals, leaving one open. Nelson is seen as a strong candidate for the third if he recovers from a “shooter’s knee” issue that sidelined him last season.
Women’s peloton returns after death of Finlay Tarling, who died during the Volta a Portugal last week
The 2026 Tour of Britain Women starts in Cumbria on Wednesday under a cloud after the death of the Welsh rider Finlay Tarling in the Volta a Portugal last Friday.
Tarling was in a collision with a non-race vehicle during the race’s eighth stage and, while police investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the incident continue, the professional cycling community remains in shock.
Nine years after their last Game of Thrones-esque power struggle, the Los Angeles Lakers have somehow wandered back into Westeros, only this time the drama is more scintillating and vicious than ever before.
Paddy Considine stars as King Viserys I Targaryen in HBO’s “House of the Dragon.” Ollie Upton / HBO
And Jeanie Buss is Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen.
The similarities between the Buss family and the hit HBO show have become almost absurd.
Both stories begin with an aging patriarch presiding over a powerful dynasty and making his succession wishes unmistakably clear.
In Season One, King Viserys chose his daughter Rhaenyra to inherit the throne, just as Dr. Jerry Buss chose his daughter Jeanie to become controlling owner of the Lakers. Those instructions were later reinforced by language in the family trust requiring the trustees to take reasonable steps to keep her in control.
But then the patriarch died and everybody started reaching for the Iron Throne.
Dr. Buss purchased the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979. Under his family’s leadership, the Lakers have more wins than any franchise in history over that span and 11 NBA championships, more than any other team during their tenure.
Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss poses with the NBA Championship trophy after Game 6 of the NBA Finals at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 16, 1980. The Lakers defeated the 76ers 123-107. (NBAE) NBAE via Getty Images
When Dr. Buss died in 2013, the family harmony he envisioned didn’t survive him very long. The Lakers become their own version of the Dance of the Dragons, except instead of Vhagar and Caraxes scorching the Red Keep, it was Jeanie and Jim’s lawyers scorching each other with court filings.
Jim first tried to usurp Jeanie in 2017 after Jeanie fired her brother as head of basketball operations. Together, Jim and Johnny Buss pushed for a new Lakers board that conspicuously did not include their sister. Without a board seat, Jeanie could not remain the controlling owner. She got a restraining order, took them to court, stopped the maneuver and ultimately emerged with her authority strengthened.
Pick whichever Buss brother you want to cast as Aegon II or Aemond or even Daemon Targaryen. The analogy doesn’t need to be anatomically perfect. The important part is the recurring theme of a family fighting for the throne after their patriarch has died.
We’ve seen this show before.
Only now the Targaryens all have private-equity portfolios and billions of dollars to play with instead of dragons.
Last year, Jeanie agreed to sell the majority share of the Lakers to Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation while working out a deal to remain governor of the team until 2030. Then immediately after Walter took over, Joey and Jesse Buss were dismissed from their basketball operations positions as the new regime began reshaping the organization.
Jeanie instantly took on the role of villain within her own family.
Jeanie Buss and Jerry Buss attend a ceremony honoring Jerry Buss with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, on Monday, Oct. 30, 2006. (FilmMagic) FilmMagic
Queen Rhaenyra spent Season Two of House of the Dragon learning the uncomfortable truth about inherited power: that having a king proclaim you as the rightful heir doesn’t mean everybody around you will happily kneel.
A coup was contrived by the Hightowers (House Green) and King Viserys younger sons Aegon II and Aemond. Aegon was crowned in Rhaneyra’s place and she was exiled to Dragonstone before a war between the family broke out for the throne.
Because if that 17.8% disappears or dips below 15%, then Jeanie would fall below the ownership threshold necessary to remain Lakers governor.
The latest coup by the Buss brothers is so wonderfully House of the Dragon that it might as well have been ripped out of the script itself. Years ago, it was Jim and Johnny trying to usurp Jeanie’s power. Joey and Jesse were perceived as part of her side of the family power structure. Now the alliances have shifted again.
And that’s the point of George R.R. Martin’s novel A Dance With Dragons that the show is based on. There are no permanent teams when a throne is involved. Allies become enemies. Enemies become useful. Family loyalty lasts right up until somebody believes they have the opportunity to sit on the Iron Throne.
Ewan Mitchell stars as Aemond Targaryen in HBO’s “House of the Dragon.” Ollie Upton/HBO
Even Jeanie’s sale to Walter now feels like the betrayal of Queen Rhaenyra’s new Targaryen bastard dragon riders from Season Three. The idea was to harness enormous outside financial power while still preserving her place atop the Lakers kingdom. Instead, Walter is already selling the team to Iger and Kushner less than a year after he took control. Now, Jeanie suddenly finds herself fighting to preserve the very authority the original transaction was designed to protect.
And as House of the Dragon reminds us, power is easy to acquire, but much harder to keep.
You won’t find dragons flying above Crypto.com Arena any time soon, but the fight for power of the Lakers now features billionaires, lawyers, trusts, emergency meetings, sibling alliances, and nearly half a century of family history hanging in the balance.
For nearly 50 years, the Buss family has been Lakers royalty. Dr. Buss built the kingdom. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James decorated its walls with championship banners.
But dynasties rarely fear outsiders as much as they should realize the real threat comes from within the household.
King Viserys spent his final years believing his succession plan would preserve the Targaryen dynasty.
Dr. Buss probably believed the same thing.
But both fathers discovered the same truth:
You can name an heir, but you can’t make the family bend the knee.
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Florida point guard Xaivian Lee plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Joe Tipton reports. Lee spent one season with the Gators after transferring in from Princeton.
In 35 games last year, Lee averaged 11.6 points per game, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, shot 42% from the floor and 29.2% from three-point range. He also shot 76.5% from the free-throw line.
Lee spent three years at Princeton before electing to hit the portal and play for the Gators last season. In three seasons with the Tigers, Lee averaged 12.7 points per game. 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and shot 43.1% from the floor.
Lee entered the NBA Draft process earlier this summer and went unselected during the 2026 edition. He agreed to am Exhibit 10 deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers back in June. An Exhibit 10 deal is a one-year, non-guaranteed NBA minimum-salary contract that invites a player to training camp. It is often utilized by franchises to evaluate undrafted rookies along with fringe players and allows them to retain the player’s G League rights if they are waived.
Xaivian Lee hitting NCAA transfer portal again
Earlier this year, Xaivian Lee participated in the NBA G League Combine in Chicago. Lee was not among the six players invited to the NBA Draft Combine that week, but he made his mark in the two games he played and tested well in the various workouts. He led his team in assists on both scrimmages.
Lee ranked No. 1 overall in the pro lane drill at 9.97 seconds and also finished in the top five in the shuttle run (No. 2 overall), 3/4 court spring (No. 3) and vertical jump (No. 5).
NBA scout Cyro Asseo wrote the following on Lee: “Played as a lead guard, prioritizing playmaking for his teammates over his own scoring. He grabbed any loose boards in his path and showed he can use his quickness for more than just scoring, though his defense remains a slight concern.”
GatorsOnline’ Keith Niebhur contributed to this report
If Patrik Laine wants to save his NHL career, he may have no choice but to finally bet on himself.
Reality Has Finally Caught Up
Laine remains unsigned on Aug. 18, nearly seven weeks after NHL free agency opened, and that is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as a simple case of patience.
The former No. 2 overall pick still possesses one of the most dangerous shots in hockey. He has scored 224 goals in 537 career regular-season games, including a 44-goal explosion with the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18.
But NHL teams aren't paying for what Laine used to be.
They're paying for what they believe he can be.
And right now, the league appears increasingly skeptical.
Stefan Rosner, of The Hockey News, reported earlier this summer that the Islanders had conversations with Laine's camp but weren't prepared to offer him an NHL contract, with a professional tryout being the most they were willing to consider.
This is for the same player who signed a four-year, $34.8 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets just a few years ago.
It becomes even more understandable when looking at his recent availability.
Laine played just five games for the Montreal Canadiens last season, recording one assist before undergoing surgery for a core muscle injury. Despite being medically cleared late in the season, he never returned to the lineup.
That continued a troubling pattern.
He played 52 games in 2024-25 and just 18 games the season before that. Over the past three seasons, Laine has appeared in only 75 games. That lack of availability has become impossible for teams to ignore.
Colorado Has A Reason To Listen
This is where the Colorado Avalanche become interesting.
Colorado needs a top-six winger. There is no mystery surrounding that. The Avalanche need more offensive depth, particularly after another disappointing postseason, and they don't have the luxury of throwing significant money at every potential solution.
Laine, however, could represent a fascinating exception.
The talent is still there. His release is still elite, and his power-play ability could give Colorado another legitimate scoring threat. At 28 years old, he isn't some aging veteran hoping to squeeze one final season out of his career.
But Colorado shouldn't be interested in Laine because of what he accomplished in Winnipeg. It should be interested only if it believes he can still become that player again.
That's a significant distinction.
The Avalanche have too much at stake to take a major financial gamble on someone whose biggest question is whether he'll actually be available. But if Laine is willing to accept that his market has changed, the equation becomes considerably more appealing.
Laine May Have To Bet On Himself
A one-year contract with a modest base salary and performance bonuses could give both sides exactly what they need.
Colorado would get an opportunity to add an incredibly talented scorer without making a significant long-term commitment, while Laine would get something perhaps even more valuable: an opportunity.
And there could be another factor working in Colorado's favor: the chance to play alongside some of the best offensive players in hockey.
If Laine were willing to take less money for a season, he wouldn't exactly be walking into an offensive wasteland.
He'd have the opportunity to play alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, giving him the kind of supporting cast that could make it easier to rediscover his scoring touch. Laine wouldn't have to carry an offense in Colorado. He'd have elite playmakers around him, dangerous players commanding defensive attention and potentially more opportunities to do what he does best — shoot the puck.
And if Laine can stay healthy and capitalize on those opportunities, a one-year discount could ultimately become a very profitable decision.
He could sacrifice money now to put himself in position to make significantly more later.
That's the part Laine may have to accept now.
He doesn't need to get paid like the player he once was.
He needs to get paid like the player he is capable of becoming.
A short-term deal could ultimately be the bridge between those two realities.
The gamble could make sense for Colorado, but only if Laine is willing to play ball and gamble on himself first.
Mike Sullivan has high expectations for the New York Rangers going into his second season as the team’s head coach.
Sullivan, who left the Pittsburgh Penguins last year after a decade-long tenure and two Stanley Cups, admitted that he did not expect the Rangers to struggle as much as they did during the 2025-26 season when he originally took the head coaching gig.
After a slow start to the season, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter to fans in January, outlining the team’s plan to “retool” the roster.
The Rangers proceeded to trade multiple veteran players leading up to the trade deadline, including Artemi Panarin, Carson Soucy, and Sam Carrick.
New York finished the year in last place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 34-29-9 record and 77 points.
However, Drury’s recent offseason moves indicate the Rangers’ intentions to fast-track their retool and jump back into the playoff race.
The Rangers opened the offseason with their biggest splash, acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the No. 26 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.
Dorofeyev has scored over 30 goals over each of the past two seasons in Vegas, as he instantly becomes the Rangers’ most lethal offensive threat.
Sullivan is now focused on pairing the 25-year-old forward with a playmaker who can bring the most out of him.
“He’s a scorer and he needs someone to get him the puck,” Sullivan said via NHL.com’s 32 in 32 series.
On top of the Dorofeyev addition, the Rangers beefed up their blueline, acquiring Sean Durzi from the Utah Mammoth as part of the Vincent Trocheck package, while also trading for Marcus Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2030 NHL Draft.
Sullivan is optimistic about the Blueshirts after a busy offseason, and he seems to be satisfied with the direction of the team.
“I’m real excited about the potential of this team and where we can go,” Sullivan said.
Uh oh. The NHL has just shared the new ranking for Connor McDavid in the EA Sports rankings. Becoming the first inaugural member of the EA Sports NHL 99 Club in NHL 27, some fans aren't happy.
Some were quick to point out that there should be no way McDavid could earn a 99 rating. "This year being the year he gets 99 shows how insanely disconnected EA is from hockey." Others said that with no Stanley Cup, this shouldn't even be a conversation.
Others then pointed out that Ray Bourque was given a 99 rating in NHL '94. Mario Lemieux was also once given a 100. They used a different rating structure back then, but you get the point...
“No one tell them about all the 99 and 100 overalls in the games in the 90s," Nick Spence wrote on X.com.
A 99 for No. 97.
Connor McDavid is officially the inaugural member of the EA SPORTS NHL 99 Club in NHL 27 👏
Others seemed to be upset that this might lead to uneven gameplay. “So, he’s basically unstoppable in the game.” – Carlo Colaiacovo wrote.
Is this really a big deal? For game historians and EA Sports gurus, it seems to be. For Oilers fans who know how good McDavid is -- especially those that aren't big into gaming -- some are wondering why all the fuss and why it took so long?
