For the second straight NBA offseason, the Warriors have yet to add any new players and seem intent on running it back with their current roster. But Golden State could have some players on its radar, including former Chicago Bulls draft pick Dalen Terry, who was spotted at a Valkyries game with Steph Curry and Gary Payton II.
Bay Area hoops family in the building đ«¶
Steph Curry and his son Canon are in Ballhalla alongside the @warriors showing love!
Terry, the 18th overall pick in the 2022 draft, played the first three and a half seasons of his career in Chicago, and while he was known for his tenacity on defense, he did not reach his full potential and was dealt by the Bulls at the trade deadline and eventually ended up with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Despite signing a two-year deal with the team in April and showing signs of promise, he was waived in July to make room for LeBron James. But only 24-years-old and someone who has the tools to be a star, the Warriors could look to add him to their training camp roster and see what he can do, with NBA insider Jake Fischer believing Golden State is doing its due diligence.
âI did hear that Dalen Terry is someone on the Warriorsâ radar for a training camp invite. Dalen Terry was on a non-guaranteed deal with Philadelphia,â Fischer said. âHe did not make the roster crunch with the Sixers after they had to make some space for LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.â
Once an NBA powerhouse, making it to five straight Finals from 2015-19 and winning four titlesâ most recently in 2022â recent seasons have not been kind to Golden State. Missing the playoffs entirely last season, the franchise fields one of the leagueâs oldest rosters, with their main core of Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler all over the age of 35.
By adding Terry, the Warriors would get younger while also giving them pieces that they can build around for the future and keep them competitive even after the Curry era. Finishing middle of the pack in defense last season, adding Terry would give the Warriors a massive boost in that category while also giving them a player who can contribute some points offensively.
The Warriors open training camp at the end of September, where the focus will be on bouncing back and returning to the playoffs, starting with their first regular-season game on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 21.
Basketball: ABA Playoffs: Virginia Squires Julius Erving (32) in action vs New York Nets. Game 4. Uniondale, NY 4/27/1982 CREDIT: John D. Hanlon (Photo by John D. Hanlon /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X16772 TK1 )
Julius Erving had a bit of a rough start to his professional career. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, but signed contracts with the Atlanta Hawks and the ABAâs Virginia Squires.
The first dispute was settled by the NBA: his draft rights belonged to Milwaukee, and the Hawks were out of luck. The second dispute was settled by the courts: he had to play for the Squires.
This was really too bad, because if he had played for Milwaukee, he would have suited up with Oscar Robertson and a young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, while in Atlanta, he would have teamed up with an equally young Pistol Pete Maravich.
Itâs rather mind-boggling either way you look at it, but the idea of Maravich having Erving to pass to in the open court is simply incredible.
He did just fine in the ABA, of course, revolutionizing the game to the point where he was the main factor behind the 1976 ABA-NBA merger.
Well, other than money, of course, which the ABA greatly lacked. Nonetheless, the greatest show in basketball was in the upstart league, and the NBA could not abide that.
When he arrived as a Squires rookie, Erving â thereâs no other way to put this â freaked people out. It was like young Elvis Presley in the 1950s: no one had ever seen anything like that before, and that includes the people who knew Erving at UMass, who were stunned at the transformation.
Erving later said that he felt liberated when he turned pro and could let his talent and imagination run wild.
It didnât last long, at least not for the Squires. Money woes forced them trade Ervng to his hometown New York Nets for $750,000, and with the Nets, he went from being a curiosity in Norfolk to the most glittering star in the Big Apple.
In other words, he was a Net when he truly became a legend.
Basketball: NBA Finals: Milwaukee Bucks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) in action vs Boston Celtics Dave Cowens (18) and Don Chaney (12). Milwaukee, WI 4/28/1974--4/30/1974 CREDIT: Heinz Kluetmeier (Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X18606 )
The Boston Celtics did not glide smoothly down from the Russell years; they fell off a cliff.
They wrapped up the 1969/70 season with a 34-48 record under rookie coach Tommy Heinsohn.
Playoffs? The Celtics missed them for the first time in twenty years.
The following year, Boston improved to 44-38, but still missed the playoffs.
Things were looking up, however.
By the third year of the Post-Russell era, the Celtics were 56 game winners, and they advanced as far as the Eastern Conference Finals on the back of second year players Dave Cowens and JoJo White, third year player Don Chaney, and veteran players John Havlicek and Don Nelson.
The Celtics lost the Eastern Conference Finals to the Knicks in a gentlemanâs sweep of five games in 1972.
In 1973, the Celtics won a franchise record 68 games and added another veteran contributor in Paul Silas, but lost to the Knicks in a seven game affair that saw the green and white claw their way back from a 3-1 deficit, only to fall, at home, to the eventual champs.
Regular Season
BOSTON â UNDATED: Dave Cowens #18 and John Havlicek #17 of the Boston Celtics chat during an NBA game circa 1970's at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1970 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
1974 saw the Celtics win 56 games again, but, tellingly, their longest losing streak during the regular season was just two games. They started the season hot, running out to a 16-3 record, and were on pace for 60+ wins at the All-Star break. Things slowed down a bit in the second half of the season, but Bostonâs record was still good enough for first place in the Atlantic Division and the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Looking at the season-long tallies, the Celtics were good, but not eliteâthey didnât lead the league in points per game, points per 100 possessions, or, on the opposite end of the court, points allowed per game or per 100 possessions. Despite having a reputation for running the court under Heinsohn, the Celtics were only 5th of 17 in terms of pace. Their net rating was only the third best in the league; they were behind the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks, who were playing in the absolutely stacked Midwestern Divisionâthe NBA had four 50 game winning teams in the 1973/74 season, and three of them were in the four team Midwestern division.
Any prognosticator with a decent head on his shoulders wouldâve given the title to the Milwaukee Bucks, who came out of the leagueâs toughest division, bar none, and were led a young center who was already an absolute force to be reckoned with: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Eastern Playoffs
Bostonâs first round opponent was the Buffalo Braves, a recent expansion franchise led by Bob McAdoo, whose 30.6 points per game average was the best in the league. The team also had Ernie DiGregorio, who would win Rookie of the Year honors and a future Hall-of-Famer in Jack Ramsey calling shots from the bench. All of which suggested that, despite their 42-40 record, the Braves were going to be a âtough outâ
At this time, playoffs within the conference alternated home and road, and through the first five games, home court held sway. Buffalo was playing to a packed house in the cavernous Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, where they won game two by ten points and game four by two.
Buffalo outscored Boston by three in the second quarter of game four to take a 51-48 halftime lead. Boston won the third by five points, setting up a barn-burner of a fourth quarter, with each team recording game-high point totals.
Buffalo was clinging to a two point lead with just 15 seconds to go when Jim McMillan lost the ball to Havlicek and Cowens; Cowens converted the steal into a game-tying basket with just nine seconds left. In a dogâs breakfast of a play that was drawn up by Ramsey and blown up by Hondo attempting to draw a charge, the ball bounced out to Bob McAdoo who had scored 15 of the Braves 30 points thus far in the quarter. His fifteen footer missed, but Jim McMillan was there to tip it in as time expired. The game was a classic with 28 ties and nine lead changes, but it went the wrong way for the Celtics and their fans. Bob McAdooâs 44 points was almost as high as the 46 points notched by Bostonâs two leading scorers, Havlicek and Don Nelson (22 and 24 respectively).
BOSTON â 1974: John Havlicek #17 of the Boston Celtics passes against Bob McAdoo #11 of the Buffalo Braves during a game played in 1974 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1974 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game five saw Boston hold on for a three point win, giving them a 3-2 advantage that they brought home with a game six win. That game six win was a nailbiter that probably shouldnât have been. Legendary Globe reporter and columnist Bob Ryan called it âanother one of those Celtics down-the-stretch specials,â explaining, âthe Bostonians build up a lead in the fourth quarter and try to protect it by giving the other team 437 chances to get back in the game.â
The Celtics nearly squandered a nine point lead in the closeout game. With a 104-100 lead and twenty seconds on the clock the Celtics had two clumsy turnovers turn into four points by Bob McAdoo, tying the game. Unfortunately for McAdoo on the final possession of the game, he blocked a Havlicek shot, but fell victim to a pump fake by JoJo White that sent him to the line where he calmly delivered the winning margin with two free throws.
From this point, it might have been expected that the Celtics would face an extreme test in the next round, as they faced off against the defending champs and the team which had eliminated them in the conference finals each of the past two years.
As it turned out, the Knicks were no match for the Celtics. Boston outscored the Knicks by 50 in a five game matchup where their closest margin of victory was seven points.
That set up a Finals contest against, to no oneâs surprise, the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA Finals
Basketball: NBA Finals: Milwaukee Bucks Bob Dandridge (10) in action, shot vs Boston Celtics John Havlicek (17). Game 2. Milwaukee, WI 4/30/1974 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X18605 TK1 )
The Bucks had cruised to the Finals with an 8-1 record over the first two rounds, and an average margin of victory of 14.67 points.
The Celtics were not the odds-on favorite to win this matchup. Heck, even Bill Russell, by then the head coach of the Seattle Supersonics, picked the Bucks to win.
But Bob Ryan saw things a bit differently. Before the series started, Ryan noted that the Bucks were pretty much a one-man show, and predicted that the Celtics would win in six.
Ryan noted that the Celtics were excellent at applying full-court pressure to the other teamâs ballhandler, and with the Bucks relying on an aging Oscar Robertson, the Celtics figured to take him out of the picture, leaving everything on the shoulders of Kareem.
And Kareem was so good at this point in his career, that they dang near pulled it off.
Game one was a cakewalk, as the Celtics cruised to a 16 point first quarter lead and spent the rest of the game playing keep away from the Bucks, with the final score coming to 98-83. Kareem scored 35 points, which was almost as much as the Bucksâ next four highest scoring players combined (12, 12, 6, 6), as the Celtics strategy of putting everything on Kareemâs shoulders paid off in the opener.
Game two was an overtime classic. Boston came into the fourth quarter with an eleven point deficit. They closed it and had two chances to steal two games from the Bucks in their home arena, only to have a shot by Cowens blocked by Jabbar with eleven seconds to go. Hondoâs shot with three seconds to go off the rebound of Kareemâs block, missed the mark as well.
In overtime, the Celtics, exhausted by the effort required to come back, were outscored 15-6 as the Bucks ran away with it.
(Original Caption) 5/3/1974-Boston, MA-As if spellbound by the ball, players appear to be frozen in their tracks during second period action of the third game, NBA Championship Playoffs, Boston Garden. The Celtics went on to win the game 95-83 and take a 2-1 lead in the series. Left to right Celtics' Hank Finkel, Bucks' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Dandridge, Celtics' Don Nelson, Bucks' Oscar Robertson, and Mickey Davis.
Game three went to Boston, as the Celtics once again notched a double-digit victory with a 95-83 final score. Cowens stopped trying to challenge Kareem in the paint and used his skills as an outside shooter to tally 30 points. Bostonâs full court press, as predicted by the Globeâs Bob Ryan, was crucial, with the Celtics forcing eleven turnovers in the first quarter alone and 27 for the game.
Game four went Milwaukeeâs way as Kareem scored 34 points and the Bucks tied the series 2-2 off an 89-97 final score.
While the Bucks may have been dismayed that they were tied with the Celtics, they at least held home court advantage for the remainder of the series.
That advantage lasted right up until the tipoff of game five. Kareem scored 37 points in the contest, which was a series high for both teams, but Boston held a 20-15 advantage after the first quarter, and they won every succeeding quarter except the second, on their way to a 96-87 victory. The Celtics now had a chance to close out the heavily favored Bucks at home in game six.
Things didnât quite work out that way, but the game was an instant classic just the same.
As had happened earlier in the series, Cowens got into foul trouble, picking up three early in the game, and the Bucks built a lead that was as high as twelve points in the first half. The Câs entered the fourth quarter down six, but Boston fought their way back, with Hondo hitting a jumper from the right side that tied the game at 86 with less than a minute to go. When Boston forced a 24 second violation on the following possession, the game headed into overtime.
Overtime was tight, with both teams scoring just four points apiece. Milwaukee was up two, 88-90, when a Don Chaney steal led to Havlicek missing a shot and then making another after he snagged his own rebound.
The second overtime was as loose as the first overtime was tight. Over just four minutes of play, the two teams combined for 23 points. Havlicek, who had been instrumental in getting the Celtics this far, scored nine of the teamâs eleven points in this period.
It was almost enough.
Dave Cowens fouled out and the Bucks pushed to a 100-99 lead. With less than 24 seconds left and Heinsohn desperately trying to get a time out called, Havlicek came through again, arcing a jump shot through the net for a 101-100 lead. But there was still a little bit of game leftâjust enough for Kareem to turn a skyhook into a 102-101 advantage. It was good enough, and the Celtics were headed back to Milwaukee and a do-or-die game seven.
In the decisive game of the series, Tommy Heinsohn made a major adjustment to his defensive strategy.
This was no longer a seven game series in which it would be difficult for Kareem to carry the Bucks to victory.
This was a single 48 minute contest, and one which could hinge on the play of just one man.
Heinsohnâs solution was to throw the kitchen sink at him.
With Cowens getting into foul trouble twice in the series already, Heinsohn wanted anyone and everyone within hooting distance of Kareemâs height to cover himâand Kareem found himself double and even triple-teamed during the course of the game.
The result was a 26 point outing from Kareem, which was more than offset by Cowensâ 28 points, as the Boston center, relieved of some of his defensive duties by the heavy Celtics coverage of his counterpart, was able to play with more energy on offense.
The Celtics were never challenged in game seven, as they cruised to a 15 point victory on Milwaukeeâs home court.
Turning Point
The turning point was Heinsohnâs strategy of concentrating nearly all the teamâs defensive effort on Kareem in game seven. Kareem was held to a series low with 26 points, and looked, if not exactly human, closer to human than heâd looked up to that point. Bob Ryanâs take on the Bucks as a one-man team was more or less justified, as the rest of the Bucks struggled to score. The next leading scorers after Kareem were Mickey Davis with 15 and Bob Dandridge with 14. In fact, the difference between the two teams basically came down to the Celtics putting one more player in double figures than Milwaukee.
It Wasnât Over UntilâŠ
The Celtics continued their tradition of winning game sevens. Russell was, famously, 10-0 in these games, and the Celtics proudly carried on the tradition of playing up to the moment in these winner-take-all contests.
When the dust settled, the Celtics had won their first championship since Russell had hung up his sneakers, and the first of Tommy Heinsohnâs career as a coach.
Banner Years continues tomorrow with the Greatest Game and the Celticsâ path to Banner 13.
A herd of white yaks grazes at a snowy pasture 3,000 metres high in the remote Kyrgyz mountains on February 2, 2026. (Photo by Vyacheslav OSELEDKO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
This is a stretch to say, but is the offseason melting into the preseason quicker than we expected? If weâre to base our judgement exclusively on having two of these posts published in a span of just three days, not so much! On to some links and notes!
In case you missed it, now we know the Knicksâ five-game preseason schedule, which includes a trip out of the US of A.
The Knicksâ repeat bid would put them in increasingly rare company, and Michael Zeno has the breakdown covered. Per Zeno, New York already broke one historical pattern last season by becoming only the second champion since 1978 to win without receiving a single MVP vote. So⊠do you believe?
Mike DâAntoni and Amarâe Stoudemire were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, a little more than two months after the Knicks won their first championship in 53 years.
Stoudemire reflected on becoming the star who helped make New York relevant again when few players wanted to come.
âNew York, the Garden, thereâs nothing like it⊠before I got there, no one else wanted to go to New York. So thatâs why I was like, âThe Knicks are back, and weâre gonna do this.ââ
DâAntoni, meanwhile, used his speech to remember another famous Knicks chapter: Linsanity.
âJeremy, he was on a 10-day contract and close to being released. But my assistants, Kenny Atkinson, Dan DâAntoni and Phil Weber, kept telling me, just give him a chance. Boy, were they right.â
Mitchell Robinson sounds pretty happy about his move to Boston, and lobster is a reason why.
Losing Ariel Hukporti to Philadelphia continues to look more significant as the Knicks search for a third center, SIâs Isaiah De Los Santos believes.
Opening Night against Philadelphia is already looking absurdly expensive, with the cheapest tickets ranging from $1,881 to $1,970. No need to mention the game is on pace to become the most expensive opener in NBA history.
Charles Oakley is not treating the latest dismissal of his lawsuit against Madison Square Garden as the end after a federal judge dismissed the case for a third time.
âESPNâs article regarding the LA Clippers investigation â for which the NBA declined to cooperate â contains numerous and significant inaccuracies. The results in this matter will be made clear once the investigation is concluded.â â NBA spokesman Mike Bass.
Enes Kanter Freedom continues his announced attempt to play in the WNBA, has officially declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft, and now heâs also proclaimed himself the next No. 1 overall pick. Not only that, Enes has promised to dunk on Angel Reese, who he says is âthe Paul Georgeâ of the W.
Caitlin Clark LAUGHING at Angel Reese after she missed a layup for the win đđđ pic.twitter.com/5Js8RijGUi
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 05: Cody Bellinger #35 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees talk during the game against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium on May 5, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Itâs been a consistent refrain for weeks now as the Yankee offense has limped through the summer: the lineup will soon improve (NARRATOR: It has not improved). Aaron Boone and the Yankees have maintained their belief that things will turn around for the sputtering unit despite watching the bats flail night after night, every run scored feeling like a precious, nonrenewable resource.
Ultimately, though the offense has not improved of its own volition over the last two months, the impending returns of Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge, will all but force the lineup to get better. So letâs dare to dream a little bit today; how good do you think the Yankee offense will be if it gets back to full strength by the end of the season?
First, we can look at what that trio of veteran bats themselves are likely to add to the lineup. At the moment, the ZiPS projection system at FanGraphs pegs Stanton for a 111 wRC+ the rest of the way, Bellinger for a 121 mark, and the incomparable Judge at 175. Anything close to that level of production would be miles better than what most of the offense has done since Judge went down.
Then, there are the plausible multiplicative effects that getting legitimate bats back into the lineup could have. Adding Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton onto the card could add some protection for the hitters that have struggled in their absence, though the effects of lineup protection are often overstated. However, to lean on a separate baseball adage, hitting is contagious. Better players in the lineup means more runners on base, and more runners on base means more advantageous spots for hitters; the league OPS with runners on is more than 40 points this year than the league OPS with no on one base. Hitting begets hitting, something that we may have forgotten after two months of futility.
As hard as it can be to imagine when watching a recent Yankee game, with the scoreline inevitably heading into the eighth inning tied at 1-1, the ceiling here is high. On May 31st, the day Judge was at last sidelined with a rib fracture that had bothered him for over a month, the Yankees had a 117 wRC+ and .342 expected wOBA, both marks tops in the AL and second in MLB, while their position player unit as a whole led baseball in fWAR. This was a team that had already seen Stanton go down, and had not received anything resembling the best version of Judge, the three-time MVP suffering through a slump in the five weeks he played post-injury. In spite of all that, the clubâs offense remained elite, thanks to impressive contributions from the likes of Bellinger, Ben Rice, and Paul Goldschmidt.
That looks to me like the fun scenario, the one where getting healthy sparks the Yankee offense to its previous highs. The bear case, of course, isnât too hard to see. So many of the clubâs hitters have floundered in the time since their captain went down, and itâs possible their slumps continue even as the team gets healthier. Itâs also possible that Stanton, at 36, is cooked, that Bellinger needs time to get his rhythm back after missing weeks with a hamstring injury, and most of all, that Judge, who may not be fully healed from his rib fracture when he returns and could also need a few weeks to get his timing up to speed, isnât the Destroyer of Worlds that weâre accustomed to if he comes back in September.
Whatâs your feeling? In a monthâs time, will we see a fully revitalized Yankee offense, reinvigorated after the injection of three sluggers? Will the struggles continue even as the team gets healthier? Or will we find a middle ground, where the clubâs offense improves to something better than average, but not to the level it showed at the start of the year? Let us know in the comments below.
Itâll be a busy day on the site as the Yankees get back in action. Itâs a three-game set in Baltimore, which Jeff will preview this morning, before Sam runs down last nightâs action in the Rivalry Roundup. Matt profiles Burleigh Grimes, born on this day 133 years ago and one of the gameâs last spitballers, and Michael recaps the week that was down on the farm, before Peterâs At-bat of the Week, which features, you guessed it, Ben Riceâs game-changing swing in Toronto on Sunday.
Getting ready for one more farewell. | Getty Images
The NHLâs annual summer team-by-team look has now rolled around to the Islanders. Iâm not linking the fantasy outlook, but here are their posts about the non-fantasy team and prospects:
The âinside lookâ includes quotes from Bo Horvat like, âI think Pete [DeBeor]âs going to be very good for us structure-wise and kind of laying the foundation. The buy-in from everybodyâs just got to be there.â [NHL]
Their âthree questionsâ bit addresses the captaincy, Semyon Varlamovâs health and DeBoerâs impact. [NHL]
Some âEDGEâ stats: Matthew Schaefer is fast and dangerous, Ilya Sorokin is good at mitigating the dangerous, and Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman have been successful shooting from areas of less danger. [NHL]
And the Islandersâ top prospect listing now includes single Malte, of course. [NHL]
SoooâŠweâve got a navy lighthouse and a navy arched âISLANDERSâ in the finals for the third-jersey vote. Voting begins Tuesday, Aug. 18. I think in the interest of self-promotion Iâm supposed to vote for the former, but even aside from thatâŠarched letters within a straight horizontal bar is jarring. [Isles]
More on the semifinals vote, with a booster clip from Barzal. [Isles]
Islanders legend and former Senator and Bruin Zdeno Chara will hold a charity farewell game back home in Slovakia, in Pavol Demitra Arena. Ziggy Palffy and Jaroslav Halak will be there. [NHL]
Elsewhere
Brad Marchand wonât be able to play in that testimonial (shame, shame) due to offseason surgery that may delay the start of his season. [TSN]
Brandon Bussi, the first Suffolk County-born Cup champ, brings the Cup back home. [Post]
Five teams facing intriguing salary cap decisions in the near future. [Sportsnet]
Zach Werenski reiterates that Columbus is where he wants to be, making him a welcome outlier. [Sportsnet | NHL]
Drake Batherson would still like an eight-year extension to remain in Ottawa, but the CBA deadline for that length is under a month away. [TSN]
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: Sean Pedulla #00 of the LA Clippers dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 17, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to his agent, George Langberg, guard Sean Pedulla and the Houston Rockets have reached an agreement on a two-way contract.
Pedulla, 23, joins Quadir Copeland and Tristen Newton as Houstonâs final available two-way position. Players can play for both an NBA team and its G League affiliate under two-way contracts.
After four seasons in collegeâthree with Virginia Tech and one with MississippiâPedulla was not selected in the 2025 draft. In February, he signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers after succeeding with Portlandâs G League club, the Rip City Remix. He was named G League Rookie of the Year after finishing the season with an average of 20.3 points and 4.5 assists on effective shooting.
The 6-foot-1 guard doesnât appear to have a clear route to playing in the NBA the following season. Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, and Fred VanVleet are Houstonâs return guards. In addition, the Rockets acquired Bruce Thornton with the 31st pick in the 2026 draft and Marcus Smart in free agency. Houston has made a few attempts at smaller guards (Thornton is listed at six feet), who are mostly known for their scoring prowess, with Thornton and Pedulla.
Pedulla will be the Rocketsâ third two-way slot after Houston signed Quadir Copeland to a new two-way contract last month and carried over Tristen Newton from the 2025â2026 season on a two-year, two-way contract.
With this additon, the Rockets will have 19 players under contract after the signing is finalized, leaving two spots available on their 21-man offseason roster. Twelve players now have fully guaranteed standard contracts, two have non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed salary, two have Exhibit 10 arrangements, and Newton and Copeland have two-way agreements.
With all that said, how do you all feel about the signing? Do you expect Pedulla to see any playing time? Let us know, and make sure to check back at The DreamShake for more Houston Rockets basketball news.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Carlos RodĂłn #55 (L) and Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees pose for a photo before the MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NY Daily News | Gary Phillips: The Yankee rotation has been elite nearly all season, but they just havenât been able to be at full strength at any point during their dominant run. Monday was the closest theyâd come yet, as Carlos RodĂłn was set to return today following a strong outing in his latest rehab start for Double-A Somerset, but then news dropped that Max Fried was returning to the IL with a bone bruise in his elbow. This is the same injury that shelved Fried from mid-May well into July, though itâs unclear at this time if itâs a re-aggravation of the old injury or a new one altogether. Regardless, the Yankees will slot RodĂłn into Friedâs place in the rotation and keep the line moving, ensuring that the long-awaited decision on who would get moved to the bullpen gets punted down the road once again.
Baseball America | Eli-Ben Porat ($): BA took a look at two Yankees prospects having made different but remarkable strides this season. Antonio Gomez has converted into a pitcher after coming up through the system as a catcher, and his 70-grade arm strength behind the plate has transferred over remarkably into a reliever with 80-grade velocity and a pair of plus-pitches. Heâs still got a ways to go in his journey to the majors, but Marco Luciano could be knocking on the door after reviving his prospects with New York this season following a move to second base. The position could be in a state of flux this offseason, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. is scheduled to hit free agency and Anthony Volpe is practicing there as well following his ouster from being the full-time shortstop, but Lucianoâs power tool is enticing and heâs redefined his process of attacking pitches while still keeping his chase rates in line. If youâve got a BA subscription, itâs worth a read at what two under the radar guys have done.
ESPN | Jeff Passan: The world has been saying their goodbyes to an icon of the sport since Saturday when Tommy John passed away at the age of 83, and Passan praises the life of a man whose name may be the most synonymous with modern baseball. As he put it: âEvery day during baseball season, and plenty in the offseason, Tommy John â always his first and last name together â is talked about, written about, bandied about.â Heâs absolutely correct, and the sport would not have had the pitching evolution weâve experienced over the last decade or so without the risk that Tommy John took in agreeing to the procedure heâd become the moniker for. Rest easy to a legend of the sport.
NJ.com | Jerry Izenberg: Baseball is heading to a bitter labor dispute after this season, and that comes as no surprise to anyone. Though the commissioner may have gotten his start in labor relations Rob Manfred now works first and foremost for the good of the owners, which to be clear is by design. The Playersâ Union has a united front on battling against a salary cap but they lack a front-facing leader after the scandalous resignation of Tony Clark, and I think that may be felt in how their message has gotten lost on some fans who see millionaires complaining and a lone team flexing their financial might to long-term success. Izenberg takes us on a journey to remember the advocate for the game that Casey Stengel was, and bemoans that the fans donât have an icon quite like him in the game today.
Amazon Prime captures strain of managerâs final season
Club chair says Spaniard threatened to leave â100 timesâ
Pep Guardiola clashed with his captain and almost broke down in tears as he railed at players during his worst run as Manchester City manager.
Guardiola stood down at the end of last season after winning 20 trophies in a 10-year spell at the Etihad Stadium. One of the lowest points of his glittering reign came during a testing run in the autumn of 2024, when City lost nine times and won only once in 13 games. Guardiola outwardly showed signs of strain, notably when he scratched his face after City surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Former Test opener fined $1,500 after failing a breath-test at Easter
Future work opportunities will be affected, says barrister
Australian cricket great David Warner has lamented global media attention about his drink-driving offence, suggesting it cost him valuable overseas commercial opportunities.
The 39-year-old was convicted and fined $1,500 on Tuesday for mid-range drink-driving after he tried to switch seats with a passenger when approaching a random breath-testing site on Easter Sunday.
The original report was stunning: The Buss family had voted and planned to sell its remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers to incoming owners Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger. That sale would mean the Buss family's ownership of the team, which started in 1979, would be completely over. The end of an era. With that, Jeanie Buss would have to step down as the team's governor (a role that requires at least a 15% ownership stake, by league rules).
Then came a follow-up report saying the other five Buss siblings had approached Jeanie Buss and asked for the sale, forcing a vote that approved the move.
Within hours of that report, Jeanie Buss and her attorney, Adam Streisand of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton Law, pushed back against that. Streisand sent a strongly worded letter to the attorney for the other siblings â obtained by CNBC â stating that previous legal rulings made that move impossible. From the letter:
"[No selling of the] 17.8% ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. can be effectuated without approval by the current co-trustees, i.e., Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss. The co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner. Any attempt by the co-trustees to do otherwise, and any attempt 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."
The six Buss siblings â Jeanie Buss, Jim Buss, Johnny Buss, Janie Buss, Joey Buss, and Jesse Buss (all children of the late owner Jerry Buss) â own their shares together through what has been described to NBC Sports as an incredibly complex trust. The upshot is that they do not own an individual percentage and would have to sell as a group â and agree to do so.
It's not hard to determine the motivations here. Jeanie Buss has kept a key role in the family business and is not looking to step away and give that up. Family members outside that circle feel differently.
About the only thing certain in another Buss family drama is that the big winners will be lawyers billing by the hour.
Opener pays price after scores of 23 and 0 in first Test defeat
Matthew Renshaw drafted into 13-man squad in his place
Jake Weatherald has paid the price for an underwhelming performance in Australiaâs shock Test defeat to Bangladesh, with Matthew Renshaw drafted into a 13-man squad to replace the opener for the second and final match of the series starting on Saturday.
Weatherald went into the first Test in his home town of Darwin with a question mark over his place in the side, having largely failed to make an impact since coming into the Test set-up as a late-blooming debutant at the start of the 2025-26 Ashes series.
In this weekâs Injury Report, an elbow injury resurfaces for Max Fried, putting the rest of his season in jeopardy. Hunter Goodman remained sidelined on Monday with a shoulder issue. And the Aâs will be without Tyler Soderstrom as he deals with a lingering hip injury. All that and more as we highlight all of the most relevant injury news around the league.
âŸïž Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, âOpening Dayâ and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
Max Fried (elbow)
Carlos Rodon (elbow)
The Yankees placed Fried on the 15-day injured list on Monday, retroactive to August 14, with a left elbow bone bruise. Itâs the same injury that sidelined Fried for 10 weeks earlier this season. Last Thursdayâs start against the Mariners was his fifth since returning. Itâs an incredibly tough blow as the 32-year-old left-hander had been pitching well since his return, giving up just five runs while striking out 29 batters over 24 2/3 innings. Given the time previously missed with the injury, it seems reasonable to believe Friedâs season could be over, but we should know more in the coming days. Meanwhile, Rodon will be stepping in to take Friedâs spot in the rotation. Rodon will start on Tuesday against the Orioles in his return after missing roughly six weeks with elbow inflammation.
The Padres crack the top 10 this week while chaos continues to rule the crowded American League playoff picture.
D.J. Short
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Hunter Goodman (shoulder)
After missing three straight games with left shoulder inflammation, Goodman was initially back in the Rockiesâ lineup on Monday for the series opener against the Dodgers. He was then scratched with the ongoing shoulder issue, sidelining him for the fourth consecutive game. Still, manager Warren Schaeffer called Goodman day-to-day with no decision on a placement on the injury list, for now. Itâs a situation to watch over the next day or two. Losing Goodman would be a big blow to fantasy managers. The 26-year-old slugger is hitting .251/.320/.541 with 34 homers, 69 runs scored, and 69 RBI across 460 plate appearances.
Tyler Soderstrom (hip)
Soderstrom had sat two out of four games with a bothersome left hip, an issue that forced him to the injured list in July. On Sunday, the team placed him back on the injured list with a left hip impingement. Heâll now miss at least the next couple of weeks. Darell Hernaiz was recalled to take his place on the active roster. Carlos Cortes should see consistent time in left field in Soderstromâs absence.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (concussion)
Guerrero came away with a headache after he was involved in a collision at third base in the sixth inning of Fridayâs game against the Yankees. He was sliding into third when George Lombard Jr.âs knee caught the side of Guerreroâs head as Lombard was trying to field a throw to third base. Guerrero went through concussion protocol and was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list on Saturday.
Edward Cabrera (blister)
Daniel Palencia (elbow)
Cabrera developed a blister on his right middle finger during Sundayâs start against the Cardinals in which he allowed seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. He had previously dealt with a blister issue in May, but was confident heâd make his next start. Instead, the team opted to place him on the 15-day injured list on Monday, putting him on the shelf for at least the next couple of weeks. The 28-year-old right-hander has struggled on the mound, even when healthy, posting a 5.68 ERA over 76 innings. In the bullpen, Palencia should be slated to return at some point this week, despite moving to the 60-day injured list in what was only a procedural move. He struck out three of the four batters he faced in his fifth minor league rehab appearance on Sunday. With Jacob Webb pitching well in the closer role, thereâs no guarantee Palencia will return to resume ninth-inning duties right away.
Dansby Swanson (oblique)
Swanson departed Sundayâs game against the Cardinals in the third inning with some side discomfort following a swing and miss, after which he doubled over in pain. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday and was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. The severity of the injury will likely keep him out for 4-6 weeks, potentially ending his regular season. With Swanson sidelined, Nico Hoerner will slide over to shortstop, with rookie Pedro RamĂrez filling in at second base.
Trevor Story (abdomen)
Story could be in line to return to the Red Sox lineup this week. He told reporters on Monday that he was feeling fine physically after starting a minor league rehab assignment over the weekend. The 33-year-old shortstop has been out since mid-May recovering from sports hernia surgery. Storyâs return could come as soon as Friday. Heâll stay with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday and Wednesday, then evaluate from there. Andruw Monasterio would likely shift to a utility role once Story is back in the lineup.
Bryan Woo (shoulder)
Woo completed six innings in his start against the Astros on Sunday but was lifted at 75 pitches after experiencing some shoulder soreness. There was a noticeable 1.5 mph dip in velocity in the sixth inning. He downplayed the injury, stating he wasnât concerned about it. Even if his exit was out of precaution, it could be something to monitor this week. A potential stint on the injured list would open the door for top prospect Kade Anderson.
Cody Bellinger (hamstring)
Bellinger is nearing his return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined since late July. Manager Aaron Boone indicated on Sunday that Bellinger could be playing in rehab games on Tuesday, but corrected his statement on Monday, saying heâd start his rehab assignment on Thursday or Friday. Still, he may only need a couple of games before heâs ready to return to the Yankeesâ lineup early next week.
Konnor Griffin (finger)
In some good news for the Pirates, Griffin has been cleared to resume advanced baseball activities. The 20-year-old shortstop has been out since early July with a torn tendon in his left ring finger. Thereâs some optimism that heâll be ready to return from the 60-day injured list when heâs first eligible in early September, putting him in line with the initial 8-10 week timetable.
Matt Renshawâs abrupt call-up to face Bangladesh in Mackay will be the âlast roll of the diceâ for the Queenslander to resurrect his Test career, according to a former Australian great.
Green was the Mets vice president for player development before replacing fired manager Carlos Mendoza in the dugout in June.
The Mets have won 10 of their past 13 games. Overall, they are 23-22 under Greenâs guidance.
âMy expectation, Andyâs expectation, is heâs going to rejoin the front office, and I have no reason to believe otherwise right now,â Stearns said before the Metsâ 2-1 win over the Padres at Citi Field.
Are there any qualities Green has displayed that will inform Stearns as he looks to fill the position?
âWhen we get to that point, I will be able to talk more broadly and holistically about what we would be looking for in the next manager,â Stearns said. âI donât think right now is the right time to have those conversations.â
David Stearns, the president of baseball operations for the Mets, speaks at a press conference before the game when the New York Mets played the San Diego Padres on Monday, August 17, 2026, at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Greenâs familiarity with the young Mets players has been beneficial, according to Stearns.
âThey know him, he knows them,â Stearns said. âHe also has some familiarity with our veteran players and that wasnât completely new to anyone as well. I think any time a manager steps into a new role, having those preexisting relationships is definitely beneficial.â
Jorge Polanco has played only two games on defense after arriving last winter as the primary first baseman. But Stearns said he doesnât necessarily have to see Polanco, who has been slowed by ankle ailments, play the position this season to form an opinion for next year.
âI think the most important thing for [Polanco] is to get him on a path where he is physically in a much better place in 2027 than he has been this year, and thatâs our focus,â Stearns said.
Luis Robert Jr. returned to center field a day after starting his first major league game in left field. Robert didnât receive any chances in the field Sunday. The next step in the progression for Robert will be receiving consecutive starts in left, according to Green.