LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 13, 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 David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Raptors fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This week’s survey questions the average Raptors fan’s initial reaction to the selection of Allen Graves. After General Manager and Vice-President Bobby Webster used the No. 19 pick on the Santa Clara product, the decision met with a mostly confused reception. Toronto already has Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles in the ‘jumbo wing that hounds defensively and bullies offensively” archetype.
With the Raptors headed into their fourth final Summer League game on Thursday against the Miami Heat, Allen Graves is averaging 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 3.3 stocks (steals and blocks), while shooting 51.4 per cent from the field and 43.7 per cent from three.
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with more Reacts.
Hunter Dietz is pictured during a May 2026 game for Arkansas.
Entering his redshirt sophomore season at Arkansas, Hunter Dietz had thrown just 1 ²/₃ innings in his college career because of a stress fracture in his left elbow.
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“There’s a lot of gears that I can hit in my game going forward,” Dietz said Thursday on a video conference call after signing for a reported below-slot value of $2,497,500. “There’s a lot of potential that I need to unlock. I just feel like this staff is perfect for me, once I start my buildup, just to get ready for next year and the coming outings that I’m going to have. I feel like it’s just perfect for me as a player.”
Hunter Dietz is pictured during a May 2026 game for Arkansas. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Unbeknownst to Dietz, the Yankees have actually been following him since he was in high school at Calvary Christian — not far from their player development complex in Tampa — but then this spring saw him become “what we thought he would be out of high school,” vice president of domestic amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer said this week.
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Dietz pitched to a 3.57 ERA for the Razorbacks while striking out 131 in 85 ²/₃ innings.
“I feel like it just shows who I am as a pitcher, finally getting healthy after the one injury at the end of my freshman year and struggling mechanically my sophomore year,” Dietz said. “Piecing it all together and having a great year, I feel like this year was just kind of the floor for me. I’m just going to keep getting better and better, especially with the Yankees staff by my side.”
Dietz said he has gotten comparisons to current Yankees lefty Carlos Rodón, who he recently got some advice from after meeting him in the club’s Tampa facility a few days ago.
Since 2020, most of the pitchers the Yankees have drafted have spent the rest of that year working out at the player development complex before being sent to an affiliate the following year, which is likely the path Dietz will take.
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“Big, powerful left-handed pitcher,” Oppenheimer said. “He’s big, strong, fits our mold. He’s got a big fastball that’s up to 98, it’s got movement. He’s got a slider that’s basically a wipeout strikeout pitch. And a curveball that we think can be developed. … The control just keeps getting better. Ecstatic that we were able to get this where we picked and have this top end of the rotation ceiling.”
The Yankees will begin the second half with Gerrit Cole starting on Friday (against Roki Sasaki), Ryan Weathers on Saturday (Emmett Sheehan) and Cam Schlittler on Sunday (Yoshinobu Yamamoto) in their showdown with the Dodgers.
If there is actually a 2027 season and it starts on time — with a labor war and likely lockout threatening to disrupt that — the Yankees are scheduled to open the season at home against the Blue Jays on March 25.
The schedule also includes home games on Memorial Day (Royals) and Independence Day (Astros), hosting the Mets on July 16-18 and playing them at Citi Field on May 28-30.
The news sent the basketball world into a frenzy. As teams and players are all making their pitch to James in hopes that he'd join their team, there are some that are wishing he'd wrap this process up.
Most notably, NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Silver spoke at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in New York and addressed James' decision-making process in an interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin. He expressed his desire for James to make a selection so that the league can continue with its business ahead of the 2026-27 season.
"I guess all politics are local. The way I think about it is, we have to finish up the schedule," Silver said. " And where LeBron plays will affect the schedule. So I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule. But it will influence how we set the schedule, how we set opening week, Christmas Day, etc. So I need him to make a decision."
Silver: 'No inside information' on James' destination
When it comes to predicting James' next destination, Silver's guess is as good as ours.
"The direct answer is, I have no inside information," Silver said at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit. " I have my own inkling, but it's not based — it's not based on anything that LeBron or Rich have told me. I'm not going to share it with you, but I'm just saying, it's not, it's, I don't know."
Silver is a fan of the game. He's not rooting for James to join one team over another, but rather the best storyline leading into next season and to end his career.
"There's certain stories that I prefer over others, and even on his behalf. But he's going to be 42 this fall. It's amazing what he's done for the sport, for the league, and he deserves exactly what -- the opportunities that were presented to him to be able to make his own decision on what's best for him and his family. So I completely respect that. But, as I said, I think on behalf of the league, I think there are certain storylines that may be better than others, but I don't want to prejudge it. Let's see what he does."
Silver doesn't happen to have any details on James' decision but that's not stopping him imagining different storylines and gauging which would be best, or coolest. He's a fan, too.
Sorkin threw two potential scenarios that James could lean towards: Cleveland and Golden State.
"Let's admit that's a great storyline," Silver said about James potentially going back home to play for the Cavaliers.
When Sorkin asked if Silver liked that storyline, he responded, "among others, yes."
One of those other storylines would be James teaming up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in Golden State, helping the Warriors pursue another championship ring.
"Well, the only part about it is, and, honestly, I mean, he played for Steve Kerr for the Olympic team. He's close to Draymond. Playing with Steph is wonderful. I don't think LeBron at this point in his career – and I think he presumably would say the same thing – he doesn't have to chase a ring. So I don't think ... it would be different," Silver said. "I mean, LeBron's career is complete. I think, on his behalf, whatever that storyline is, I think he should go somewhere he's going to – there's going to be true joy around the game."
He added: "And I think, again, for LeBron, at this point of his career, I think what we want the fans to see, too, is like the genuine joy that they have. And I think, for somebody like LeBron, I mean, he's – he's not coming back for the money. And that's why that, to your point, the latter part of your storyline in terms of the ring, I'm sure he would love to win another championship. But I think, most importantly, I think I would love, and fans would like him to see, where he's playing with a group of players and for a coach that he really wants to be around, and he's going to – and the community's going to get great joy from it, and he's going to get great joy from it."
Major League Baseball has reached the ceremonial halfway point of the 2026 season with the San Diego Padres firmly entrenched as the worst offensive team in baseball with a .500 record.
The record portrays them as a mediocre team, losing and winning the same number of games. The stats tell a story of a team that started strong, with lots of late-game heroics, and then struggled to score runs and pitch effectively since.
With a series win over the Toronto Blue Jays before the All-Star break, the Friars salvaged that record after slipping below .500 with a dismal June and beginning of July. Padres fans don’t need a rehash of everything the team has dealt with over the past two months. Poor performance is the leading culprit, but injuries have also significantly contributed to a team underperforming its expectations.
Offensive doldrums
Of the current active roster, only Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Campusano are close to what should be expected from them, with Campusano on the injured list for the better part of two months.
Infielder Ty France is performing very close to his career norms and is on track to finish on par with his best season in 2022. He has been a welcome bright spot for the Friars.
Third baseman Manny Machado is having his worst season as a hitter but is trending toward matching his season norms for both home runs and RBI. Remarkably, he just achieved a batting average over .200 while hitting 19 homers with 55 RBI.
Worse than expected pitching
The pitching is a whole other level of miserable for the Padres. After having the best bullpen in baseball in 2025, the Padres have leaned heavily on their ‘pen with the starting rotation struggling to get into the fifth inning in many of their starts. The bullpen ERA is 3.68, fifth in baseball. That is still very good considering what has been asked of them.
The starting rotation, which is mostly pieced together by reclamation projects acquired by general manager A.J. Preller during the offseason, has a 4.78 ERA and sits at No. 27 out of 30 teams. Inconsistency has been the downfall of this group. Injuries have also taken a big toll, losing Nick Pivetta early on.
While they have all had encouraging and effective starts, Michael King is the only one with an ERA below 4.71. His 3.41 makes him the ace of the staff while averaging 5.7 innings per start.
Sprinting to the finish
A team must have more than 80 wins to get to any level of the playoffs, 83 wins has been the lowest in recent years. The Padres sit at 48-48 with 66 games left in the season. Assuming 83-87 wins will get to the wild card spot, the Padres must win a minimum of 35 of their next 66 games to hope to get there. Eight games over .500 would be a safer bet and that would be 40 wins out of 66 games .
The current starting rotation does not appear likely to achieve that level of success. With the trade deadline on Aug. 3, the next two-and-a-half weeks will determine the fate of the 2026 season.
Mason Miller gets a batter
Padres closer Mason Miller got a one-batter appearance in the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Philadelphia. National League manager Dave Roberts brought him in at the top of the ninth inning to face AL hitter Munetaka Murakami and Miller struck him out on four pitches. Roberts then removed him and gave the ball to Phillies closer Jhoan Duran for the final two outs.
Injury updates and roster moves
LHP Wandy Peralta was placed on the bereavement list on July 15. He will be replaced on the roster by RHP Jhony Brito, recalled from Triple-A.
RHP Matt Waldron was recalled after Brito made his one appearance on July 7. He covered three innings with no earned runs and two hits after relieving Walker Buehler’s two-inning start against the Blue Jays.
David Morgan was placed on the injured list on June 29 with left knee inflammation. He was sent for a rehab assignment on July 15 (ACL Padres).
RHP Randy Vásquez was placed on the injured list on July 3 with a right ankle contusion after being hit by a batted ball during his start. He was assigned to the ACL team for a rehab stint on July 14.
Outfielder Samad Taylor was placed on the injured list on July 8 with a right oblique strain. There have been no updates on his status. Infielder Luis Rengifo was called up from El Paso to take his roster spot.
Catcher Freddy Fermin is with the El Paso Chihuahuas on a rehab assignment after being placed on the injured list on July 3 with a head contusion.
RHP Nick Pivetta has been throwing bullpens in his effort to return from the right flexor tendon strain that put him on the injured list on April 14. On Aug. 22, Pivetta will hit the 130-day deadline for the injury clause on his contract. The Padres could void the player option of his deal if he is not back with the team by that date.
RHP Joe Musgrove is also advancing in his throwing program and has at least two bullpen sessions under his belt. The latest update, per Kevin Acee’s daily newsletter on July 12, reports that both Musgrove and Pivetta could be throwing to hitters by next week. He reports Musgrove is pain-free with his throwing and hopes to accelerate his throwing progression.
There has been no update on RHP Jason Adam, who was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder strain on July 2.
RHP Jeremiah Estrada is close to a rehab assignment per Kevin Acee’s newsletter. He could be throwing with a minor league team before the end of July. He has been on the injured list since June 5 with right knee inflammation.
RHP Lucas Giolito, placed on the injured list on June 23 with right elbow inflammation, has been working with the training staff to build his strength and stamina while progressing on a throwing program. It was recently reported (Kevin Acee, July 13 newsletter) that he has built up strength and his fastball now sits at 94 mph. He should begin a rehab assignment by the end of July.
There was speculation that LeBron James would use an appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York on Thursday to announce his decision about his next destination.
"Is there a decision that still has to be made?" Haliburton asked...
"We literally talked about this in the back, Rese," James said, reiterating that revealing his next team would not be on the agenda.
"OK, my fault, my fault," Haliburton replied. "I didn't know if you wanted to ... OK, OK, I'll leave it alone."
However, later in the day at the Boardroom Game Plan presented by CNBC Sport (also at Fanatics Fest), LeBron did say a decision is coming sooner rather than later. However, he added this is not easy and there is a lot that goes into it for him, including thinking about spending time with his now former teammate Bronny (who is staying with the Lakers, don't expect a trade), Bryce (playing his second year in college at Arizona), and his daughter, Zhuri, 11, who will stay in Los Angeles with LeBron's wife and her mother, Savannah.
"People are like, 'hurry up and make a damn decision, LeBron.' It's not just about the team," he said. "There's so many other factors that I'm factoring in right now: What best fits me as a player, what best fits me as a person, what best fits me and my happiness and also my family as well. I won't hold you guys up too much longer, but the family portion is huge for me."
LeBron later added, "It's going to be pretty fun wherever I land. I'm going to do what I do best."
The timing is good news for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who stepped on stage at the same Game Plan event and said LeBron is starting to hold up league business.
"We have to finish up the schedule and where LeBron plays affects the schedule..." Silver said. "It will influence how we set the schedule: Opening week, Christmas. So I need him to make a decision."
Final Pitches to LeBron
While LeBron is reportedly still talking to potential future teammates, the pitches to LeBron are pretty much done and everyone is waiting. Donovan Mitchell made his final pitch for LeBron to return to Cleveland.
“I mean it’s home, we’ve done it once, let’s do it again, simple as that,” - Donovan Mitchell on his pitch to LeBron James to return to the Cavs. pic.twitter.com/Y9fuH5on2V
League sources continue to tell NBC Sports that another return to Cleveland is the most likely outcome. However, other reports say Miami and Philadelphia are seriously in the mix. Golden State, and reuniting with Stephen Curry, or signing to play the four at Minnesota reportedly also are under consideration, but the reports suggest LeBron wants to win and realizes what that road looks like in the West, so he is likely headed back to the Eastern Confernece (which has the defending champions and teams that got better, but does not have the Thunder or Spurs powerhouses looming at the top).
Honestly, Pat Riley of the Heat said it best: At this point, everybody is just waiting for LeBron to announce his decision.
Pat Riley on the #Heat being in the LeBron James sweepstakes:
“I don't know….To be transparent about it, we've had discussions over a week ago, maybe a week before that about it, but right now I think we're like everybody else, we're just waiting to see what he does…” pic.twitter.com/f7Dn5n4Coe
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) July 16, 2026
When LeBron does make his decision, a lot of other dominoes are going to fall quickly, as the teams that miss out will pivot to other moves, and there will be a mini-rush of signings. However, most teams have wrapped up their business, and there is not that much left to do. What does remain waits on LeBron.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Ethan Salas #14 of the San Diego Padres bats in the MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minor league baseball entered the All-Star break with multiple members of the San Diego Padres’ prospect list struggling through the 2026 season. The two players from the system named to the All-Star Futures Game, catcher Ethan Salas and LHP Kash Mayfield, are arguably the only two to have a consistently good first half of the season.
There have been some excellent performances by certain individuals, but the overall problem with the season so far is the lack of consistency. Salas and Mayfield have been the only players to be somewhat consistent.
To be fair, RHP Miguel Mendez was very good before injury disrupted his flow, and he hasn’t been the same since his return off the injured list. He is the No. 4 ranked player in the system and was a breakout last year.
Several members of the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm had tremendous starts to their first full professional seasons. So much success that they were promoted to High-A Fort Wayne at the end of the first half of the season. Since those promotions, the players have all battled to find their footing at the next level. This is not necessarily a concerning development; adjustment to new levels can sometimes take a few weeks.
A couple of members of the top ten list, No. 8 OF Kale Fountain and No. 6 C Ty Harvey, have lost all or most of their season to injury as well. Both were off to tremendous starts before those injuries occurred.
Last year’s first-round draft pick, LHP Kruz Schoolcraft, has struggled with command in his first professional season. He has recently gone into the fifth inning in a start for the first time and has had some good performances, which are usually followed by a short start with command issues. It is too soon to determine how the 6-foot-8, 245-pound teenager will develop as he matures.
With the lack of good performances and consistency from the minor league prospects, the Padres farm system remains the lowest-ranked system in MLB. Projection doesn’t count when the players in question don’t perform to confirm those expectations. The organization is approaching the August trade deadline with a decision regarding buying or selling for the major league team. The farm system provides little help beyond Salas and Mayfield if they decide to try to improve the Padres.
Ethan Salas and Kash Mayfield in the Futures Game
Salas started the game as the designated hitter. He was hitting seventh in the lineup and singled in his first at-bat in the second inning. His second appearance, in the fourth inning, resulted in a walk.
LHP Mayfield entered the game in the fifth inning with Salas switching to catcher for his inning of work. Things did not go well for Mayfield or Salas in the inning. Mayfield’s pitches were consistent with his performance with Fort Wayne in that he featured his low to mid-90’s four-seam fastball, a low to mid-90’s sinker, and a slider. Things started fine with a groundout to the first hitter, and then he walked the next batter. After that, it got a little wonky. The defense behind him failed to make some plays, a stolen base got a runner to second, and a single allowed the go-ahead run, which proved to be the winning run.
Both players were out of the game after that, and Mayfield was the losing pitcher in the game.
El Paso Chihuahuas (41-51 record, 4th in the PCL East)
The Chihuahuas have struggled with the constant shuttling of players between Triple-A and the Padres. They lost their best hitters when the injury bug struck the major league team and have lost a good portion of their pitching staff to the Padres. Relievers and starters go back and forth, so there is no consistency for El Paso. Their record and poor performance can’t really be held against them this season.
The latest in that revolving door scenario are RHP Matt Waldron and infielder Luis Rengifo. Both were playing well for El Paso when the parent team again suffered injuries and poor performance, which prompted the Padres to promote both.
Reliever Miguel Cienfuegos, 29, was pressed into service as a starter this past week after fellow reliever Sean Boyle, 29, began serving in the role last month.
The Padres have very little left in Triple-A that can be called up to help the major league team for the rest of this season.
San Antonio Missions (40-47 record, last in Texas League South)
The Missions split their six-game series in the week leading up to the break. Infielder Carson Tucker and catcher Ethan Salas lead the team offensively. Outfielder Tirso Ornelas, who struggled with the Chihuahuas last year and was placed with the Missions this season, leads the team with 12 home runs and 38 RBI.
Outfielder Kai Roberts isn’t hitting for average and doesn’t possess a power stroke but leads the team in stolen bases with 29 out of 31 attempts.
Outfielder Braedon Karpathios, who broke out last season after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has struggled at this level. He is hitting .234/.333/.375 with eight homers and 33 RBI but has 104 strikeouts in 336 plate appearances while walking 44 times.
Outfielder Jake Cunningham, promoted at midseason from High-A, is hitting .300/.320/.486 with two homers and 13 RBI in 17 games and 75 plate appearances. He has 21 strikeouts and two walks.
LHP Jagger Haynes is their best starter with a 3-3 record and 4.57 ERA in 88.2 innings pitched. He leads the team with 77 strikeouts and has walked 41 hitters. RHP Ian Koenig has a 4.81 ERA in 78.2 innings with 63 strikeouts to 28 walks.
Reliever Johan Moreno has a 3.93 ERA in 36.2 innings of relief with 41 strikeouts to 14 walks.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (36-51 record, 5th in Midwest League East)
Outfielder Kasen Wells, 22, leads the TinCaps in both average and OBP at .287/.384, but is a speed, contact, and defense-first outfielder. He has one home run and 22 RBI. First baseman Luke Cantwell, promoted from Single-A at the break, has struggled with his average in his first nine games and 37 plate appearances. He is hitting .194 but has a .496 slugging percentage with three home runs and seven RBI.
Outfielder Kavares Tears leads the team with 15 home runs and outfielder Alex McCoy has 44 RBI.
RHP Kannon Kemp, who had a three-game rehab assignment in the desert, has had two games and one start for the TinCaps. Rated in the top 20 in the Padres’ prospect rankings, Kemp had an oblique injury in Spring Training.
LHP Kash Mayfield, given a one-start break at midseason, is having his innings managed in his second professional season. The 21-year-old has 13 starts and a 3.33 ERA in 48.2 innings pitched this season after only having 60.2 innings pitched in his first season as a Padres prospect. He missed significant time with a shoulder injury and is being closely monitored. Mayfield has 58 strikeouts and 19 walks using his sinker/slider combo.
RHP Abraham Parra, 20, is unranked among the top prospects in the system. Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2023, Parra came to domestic baseball in 2024 for the rookie league Arizona team and began there again in 2025. A strike-thrower who has occasional command issues, Parra has 61 strikeouts and 40 walks in his 62.1 innings pitched for the TinCaps. His ERA sits at 5.92, but he bears watching as the season goes along.
Lake Elsinore Storm (45-42 record, 2nd in Cal League South)
After losing many of their best players to promotion at the end of the first half, the Storm has struggled to win games since then. They dropped out of first in their division this past week with a 2-4 record.
Catcher Alcides Hernandez leads the team with a .333 average and .463 OBP since he became the primary backstop with the injury to Ty Harvey. Outfielder Qrey Lott, 21, an undrafted free agent signed in 2025, is their best all-around player since the mass promotion that occurred in June. He is hitting .280/.396/.427 with five homers and 24 RBI in 197 plate appearances. Lott plays all outfield positions but has been primarily a corner outfielder for the Storm.
RHP Jesus Castro, 19, an international signee out of Mexico in 2025, played for the DSL Gold team last season and is in his first domestic season as a professional. In 15 games started and 59.2 innings pitched, Castrol has a 3.92 ERA with 65 strikeouts to 20 walks. He has a sinker, changeup, and sweeper combination that induces lots of ground balls and limits home runs. Currently unranked in the system, Castro and Winyer Churio (promoted at the midpoint) contributed significantly to the first-half success for the Storm.
Former two-way player Sean Barnet did not succeed in his attempt to be both a hitter and a pitcher and has since focused just on pitching. He has quietly put together a bounce-back season as a reliever. In 28 games and 31.1 innings pitched, Barnett has a 6.32 ERA but has improved significantly over the past six weeks. In 14.1 innings pitched, he has allowed six earned runs with nine hits for a 3.83 ERA and 21 strikeouts with 13 walks.
ACL Padres (29-24 record, 3rd in ACL West)
The ACL season ends on July 23.
Both RHP Randy Vásquez and David Morgan began their rehab assignments in the desert with the ACL team on July 15. Vasquez went 2.2 innings with a hit and three strikeouts, allowing no runs. Morgan went 0.1 innings with a hit, no runs, and two walks to one strikeout.
The ACL team has benefited from the promotion of outfielder Eddson Martinez from the DSL. He has played in 16 games and leads the team with a .396/.485/.547 batting line with eight RBI. The 18-year-old hasn’t shown any power, with no home runs in his pro career over 107 games. He has 16 strikeouts to 12 walks in 70 plate appearances.
Outfielder Jesmaylin Arias, 19, in his second season with the ACL team, leads the team with seven home runs and has the most RBI with 30.
LHP Adler Cecil, 21, returning from 2025 Tommy John surgery, has made seven starts for the Arizona team. He has 32.2 innings pitched with a 5.23 ERA. His strikeouts sit at 56 for those 32.2 innings with 17 walks. Not considered a high-level prospect, Cecil was drafted by the Padres in 2023 out of Temecula High School and had his surgery at the end of the 2025 Spring Training camp. He could be sent to Lake Elsinore after the ACL season ends.
DSL Padres
The Brown team sits with a 6-25 record, last in the West division)
The Brown squad continues to scuffle with the DSL season at almost the halfway point. Infielder Gabriel Teran was brought over from the Gold team and is hitting .357/.591/.571 after 22 plate appearances. No one on the team has more than one home run and infielder Yonaiker Hernandez leads with 16 RBI.
Of their starters, Yolansky Perez has five games and 19.1 innings pitched with a 4.66 ERA to lead the team. Reliever Aneury Sosa has a 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched.
DSL Gold
The Gold team has a 24-8 record, 1st in the Northwest division. They have eight hitters with an average of .300 or better. The best slugger is infielder Abraham Bastides with a .667 slug, and he leads the team with three home runs. Shortstop Joniel Hernandez, the Padres’ No. 15 prospect, has the team lead with 35 RBI. Hernandez is hitting .328/.433/.526 and leads the team with 13 doubles, two triples, and he also has two home runs.
None of their starters has an ERA under 5.26, but multiple relievers are having good appearances. RHP Albert Perez has a 3.68 ERA in 22 innings pitched. RHP Albieris Polanco has a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings pitched. Starter Michel Cervantes has a 5.63 ERA in 24 innings, leads the team with 29 strikeouts, and has 25 walks.
The majority of players in the DSL are between 17 and 19 years old.
The NBA hasn’t released its official schedule for the upcoming season — and it’s because of LeBron James.
The four-time NBA champion has kept everyone in the industry on their toes as he makes a decision in free agency, including Commissioner Adam Silver.
Adam Silver weighed in on LeBron James’ free agency at the CNBC Sport and Boardroom Game Plan Summit. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Silver spoke at the 2026 CNBC Sport and Boardroom Game Plan Summit at Fanatics Fest in New York, where he revealed his eagerness for James to pick his next team.
“We have to finish up the schedule and where LeBron plays affects the schedule… It will influence how we set the schedule — opening week, Christmas. So I need him to make a decision,” Silver said.
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Count Adam Silver among those waiting on LeBron James to pick a team, he said at CNBC event.
“We have to finish up the schedule and where LeBron plays affects the schedule… It will influence how we set the schedule — opening week, Christmas. So I need him to make a decision.”
The looming free-agency decision has certainly caused a league-wide frenzy as James could join several teams including the Warriors, Heat, 76ers and Cavaliers. His destination would affect any rival teams as the veteran remains a key contributor on the court.
LeBron James discussed his free-agency decision at Fanatics Fest in New York. Ryan Rolo/Shutterstock
James is coming off a season in which he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He shot 51.5% from the field and 31.7% from beyond the 3-point arc. This summer, he informed the Lakers he would not return for the upcoming season.
Now, James is a free agent searching for complete basketball happiness.
LeBron James revealed that he is set to make a decision on his next team soon. Ryan Rolo/Shutterstock
The hysteria surrounding James this summer is warranted, and it appears Silver can relate to basketball fans who are desperate to know where the NBA’s all-time leading scorer will end up next.
According to a report by The Athletic on Thursday, the league “has effectively outlawed the growing practice of using league-provided dugout iPads to access generative artificial intelligence, which some teams had increasingly leaned upon to help shape in-game strategy.”
The Athletic obtained a commissioner’s office memo saying teams were pushing boundaries of technology guidelines by installing custom apps that expanded the use of iPads “beyond their originally intended purpose.”
The memo stated teams were using iPads for recommendations on substitutions, pitch-calling and other in-game decisions usually made by players and coaches.
Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler holds an iPad in the dugout during the second inning against the Orioles at Angel Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
People with knowledge of the technology spoke on the issue candidly and told The Athletic that as much as a third of the league used dugout iPads for one of the aforementioned purposes.
The commissioner’s memo was issued June 11, giving teams a month to adjust their strategy and decision-making before the ban was put in place Wednesday for the second half of the season.
The decision to crack down on iPads has caused frustration by certain front-office members tasked with innovation, with one high-ranking official saying, “It’s caused quite the stir.”
While the tech ban didn’t come with punishment, the growing trend of iPad use became urgent enough for the league to make a mid-season decision to halt the growth of the apps.
“Gotta stop the cheating before there’s cheating now,” one front office executive told The Athletic.
Even though league iPads have been around since 2016, their usage became more tightly-regulated in 2021 after sign-stealing scandals.
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve looks at an iPad before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
“For the first time, we’re going to be allowing players to view live in-game video via an iPad in the dugout or bullpen during the game,” former league executive Chris Marinak said before the 2021 season. “The iPads are issued by MLB and fully controlled so that the players can only use the app that we’ve put on the device.
“They can’t access the internet for browsing or social media or any other kind of functions. The iPads are completely locked down and monitored with the software that we have on there.”
Tigers pitcher Case Mize looks at an iPad during a game against the Astros. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Though in-game video is still available, it’s only around on a delay, typically once an inning ends.
Teams and players have pushed for loosened restrictions on iPad use over time, and Jack Lambert, the director of baseball operations at Driveline Baseball, said he thinks pitch-calling is a benefit of the iPads.
“With someone live-scoring the game, teams could chart pitch type and location to get dynamically updating game plans,” Lambert said. “Those plans could determine if their approach at the plate should change as they face the lineup a second (or) third time in the game, and could also be applied to live pitch-calling.”
LeBron James discussed his free agency at Fanatics Fest in New York. Ryan Rolo/Shutterstock
“If I know Steve as well as I think I do, he was joking,” Green wrote in a post on Instagram Threads.
The reported favorites in the LeBron James sweepstakes are the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers. However, there is speculation that the Warriors are dark horses in the free agency frenzy.
Golden State seemingly lost traction as a favorite for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer after reports revealed the team wasn’t willing to strike a trade for Anthony Davis, James’ former Lakers teammate.
Perhaps the Warriors could explore a possible deal for Davis, which would certainly turn the tide in their favor. But as things stand, the three suitors appear to have an edge over the Warriors in the James sweepstakes.
A video involving Warriors coach Steve Kerr went viral on social media. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on July 11, 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
The Lakers booked their ticket to the Las Vegas Summer League Semifinals with a blowout win over the Chicago Bulls, 105-82, on Thursday afternoon.
Chris Mañon continues to shine with his strong play. He has scored in double figures for three straight games. Cameron Carr’s offense has been a huge bright spot for this young Summer League squad. He has also been consistently scoring in double figures, making a strong case to be in the Lakers’ rotation when the season starts.
Carr scored the first bucket for LA. It was also another fast start for Mañon, who scored four points early. All of Los Angeles’s starters, minus Adou Thiero, scored. Three players on the Bulls scored two points for their six in total. After a timeout, Thiero got on the board with an emphatic putback dunk.
The Lakers built a lead of six, but Chicago cut into it, making it a two-point game. Arthur Kaluma came in and drained a triple to give the team a small cushion on their lead. Los Angeles was shooting 35% from the field, while the Bulls were shooting 41%.
At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by three.
The Lakers lead the Bulls 19-16 after one quarter of play. It’s been a balanced attack for LA, with seven players scoring.
Carr started the second period with a steal that led to Jon Elmore draining a 3-pointer for LA. Chicago’s Jaylin Sellers and Caleb Wilson both had thunderous dunks that gave everyone a jolt. Carr was leading Los Angeles with seven points, and Elmore was close behind with six.
The Bulls called a timeout with 4:21 left after falling behind by nine. Zhaire Smith now had six off the bench for the Lakers. LA kept their feet on the gas pedal, expanding their lead to 16 into halftime. Mañon was the only Laker in double figures with 10.
Los Angeles had a balanced scoring attack with everyone who saw minutes, minus Peter Suder, scoring.
The Lakers lead 56-40 at the half. A 12-0 run broke the game wide open for LA. But they’ve been in control this entire contest and have never trailed. Chris Manon leads the Lakers in scoring with 10 points.
Both teams started the third period chippy and aggressive. They ended the first half with some words for each other that clearly carried into the second half. Anton Watson started the scoring for LA with a layup.
The Lakers completely took the Bulls out of the game with their strong defense, forcing Chicago to struggle offensively. Carr and Thiero were in double figures with 14 and 11, respectively. Wilson scored the last 10 points for the Bulls, but it didn’t matter as LA built a lead of 29 at the end of the third.
AK Okereke started the final frame, converting on a three-point play, further extending Los Angeles’ lead. The rest of the quarter saw the Lakers cruise to their eventual victory. Robbie Avila also made his Summer League debut during the closing minutes.
Key Player Stats:
Mañon ended with 16 points and six rebounds. Carr finished with 14 points and three rebounds. Thiero notched 11 points with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Elmore logged 11 points with five assists. Smith had 11 points with two rebounds and three assists. Kaluma scored 14 points with four rebounds and three assists. Watson pitched in with eight points and four assists.
The next Lakers Summer League game will be in the semifinals, with information about that contest to be released later.
PHILADELPHIA — Phillies reliever Brad Keller is expected to miss the rest of this season — and possibly more — with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Keller was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday and said he will seek a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, a top specialist, before making a determination about surgery.
If the right-hander requires Tommy John surgery, he likely would miss most if not all of the 2027 season as well.
Philadelphia signed Keller to a $22 million, two-year contract last December to be the team’s primary setup man for All-Star closer Jhoan Duran.
“It sucks, for sure,” Keller said. “It was really weird because I felt good through my rehab process with my forearm. I felt good with my outing in Cincinnati. I just woke up the next day and it was really sore and it didn’t progress from there.”
Keller spent three weeks on the IL with right forearm tendinitis. He returned last week and made one appearance on July 8 against the Reds. He pitched one scoreless inning and didn’t allow a hit. He walked one and had one strikeout.
“We felt like something was kind of up because he came back and was really good and we kind of expected him to be ready to go again the next day,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “He was doing his work in the weight room and he wasn’t really hurting, but we thought ... he went a little harder than you do when you’re on a rehab. So, we thought the next day he’d be fine, and it just kept going day to day. Then he came in after playing catch and it was not good. That’s when everything was set in motion.”
Keller said he had an MRI after the initial injury in June and it did not show a tear. He said if the tear occurred during his outing in Cincinnati, he didn’t feel it.
“I don’t really recall a pitch or anything,” he said. “I didn’t feel it pop. It’s really strange. I just woke up the next morning and it was stiff. I got a couple days off and then went and got an MRI on Monday and it showed this. It was pretty surprising news.”
Keller, who turns 31 this month, is 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA and three saves this season. He has appeared in 32 games, throwing 31 1/3 innings with 32 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Philadelphia put Keller on the IL retroactive to July 13 and recalled right-hander Seth Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace him on the active roster.
The second-place Phillies were already expected to be active looking to upgrade their bullpen ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Keller’s injury could make that their top priority.
Australian Sports Group takes over licence from Capital Football
New owner has option to introduce ALM side for the 2028/29 season
The future of Canberra United has been secured, with a new owner found for the two-time A-League Women champions.
After two years of uncertainty, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced on Friday that Australian Sports Group (ASG) has taken charge of Canberra’s licence.
At the All-Star break, the Diamondbacks are fighting the Cardinals and the Pirates over which team will be in best position to contend with the Marlins for the third Wild Card position in the NL. The following table shows the games back for each team and how many games the Diamondbacks have remaining against each team.
My conclusion is the Diamondbacks could be masters of their own future. Instead of counting on the other teams to collapse, they can pass three teams to obtain the third Wild Card slot into the playoffs. The required results follow:
Pirates: D-backs win at least 2 of 3 games.
Cardinals: D-backs win at least 3 of 4 games.
Marlins: D-backs win all three games.
If the Diamondbacks play well against these three teams, they have a very real chance to reach the playoffs.
This idea includes the assumption “if other [remaining] games are equal [in wins and losses].” One reason that assumption is reasonable is that the Diamondback play some weak teams: 6 games against the Rockies, 3 games against the A’s, and 3 games against the Royals. Another supporting reason is that this season, the Diamondbacks were the first team to sweep the Dodgers.
The latest series against the Cardinals showed promise.
The Diamondbacks won the last away series 2 wins to 1 loss. Their loss was a 1-run game. Because their only loss was a 1-run game, and because this series is a home series instead of an away series, I am optimistic that the Diamondbacks will again win the series. A sweep or a series win would keep the Diamondbacks on a path to the Wild-Card berth.
The Pirates series could impact whether the Diamondbacks are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
The series will be played before the 3 August trade deadline. At that time, if the Diamondbacks have won the Cardinal series and won the Pirates series, it could possibly be a two-team race (Diamondbacks and Marlins) for the third NL wild-card berth. That situation would likely be enough to support the Diamondbacks buying at the trade deadline.
Let’s compare the teams.
Offense. This season, the Cardinals averaged more runs scored per game (4.52 vs 4.33 runs per game). These stats are little changed from when these team last played (4.55 vs 4.28 runs per game).
Runners Left On Base. This season, the Diamondbacks left fewer runners on base per game (6.54 vs 6.82).
Defense. This season, the Diamondbacks had the better defense (33 vs 18 OAA, 28 vs 11 DRS)
Bullpens. This season, the Cardinals had more shutdown performances by the bullpen (100 vs 91). This season, the Diamondbacks bullpen is the best it’s been in years.
Starting Pitching. Each team has a thin rotation, with no room for injuries.
The Diamondbacks have 6 injured starting pitchers (Soroka, Nelson, Burnes, Walston, Gallen, and Mena).
The Cardinals have six injured starting pitchers on their AAA roster per Roster Resource.
“Cardinals: The Cardinals are the sport’s most interesting bubble team. They’ve managed to stay in contention despite a paper-thin rotation.” Steve Adams, MLBTR, 9 July
Pitching Matchups.
Although none of the pitchers have been announced, perhaps the matchups will be as follows.
Friday, 6:40 PM MST.
Merrill Kelly vs Andre Pallente. In July, Kelly had the better ERA (2.25 ERA vs 5.06 ERA), and Kelly had more quality starts (1 QS vs 0 QS).
This matchup is advantage Diamondbacks.
Saturday, 1:10 PM MST.
Mitch Bratt vs Matthew Liberatore. In July, Liberatore had the better ERA (2.45 ERA vs 9.00 ERA), and Liberatore had more quality starts (1 QS vs 0 QS). However, my expectation is that Bratt will only pitch 3 innings, with one or two runs allowed, which is a lot like a bullpen game. The Diamondbacks have significant chances to win this game.
This matchup is slight advantage Cardinals.
Sunday, 1;10 PM MST.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs Michael McGreevy. These are excellent starting pitchers. In July, McGreevy had the better ERA (2.19 ERA vs 3.00 ERA). In July, each pitcher had two quality starts. It’s likely the bullpen will decide this game.
NEW YORK – Trevor Bauer. Andruw Jones. Jason Schmidt. Scott Kazmir.
If something doesn’t change, Kyle Tucker’s name will be alongside theirs on the list of the worst free-agent additions in Dodgers’ history.
When the Dodgers return from the All-Star break on Friday to open a three-game series at Yankee Stadium, they will do so with an 11 ½-game advantage in the National League West. With the most substantial division lead in baseball, they should be able to cruise into the postseason, very likely as one of the two NL teams with a bye in the wild-card round.
No such margin for error exists for Tucker individually, the 29-year-old right fielder batting .244 with seven home runs and 47 runs batted in.
As much as the Dodgers are willing to invest in their roster, making Tucker the most expensive No. 6 or 7 hitter to ever play the game couldn’t be what Andrew Friedman envisioned when he signed him to a four-year, $240-million contract over the winter.
Tucker hasn’t accepted his fate as an all-time bust, with manager Dave Roberts revealing the four-time All-Star has worked overtime with the team’s hitting coaches.
“I’ve tried basically everything,” Tucker said last month.
This feeling is why the Dodgers won’t be the hare in the race against the tortoise. As comfortably positioned as the team might be, Tucker has something to prove.
In that regard, he’s not alone on this team.
The Dodgers have underperformers who are determined to return to the levels at which they’re used to being. They have older players who want to show they will remain useful beyond this season. They have players returning from injuries who know the time they missed won’t be held against them if they perform in October.
So, don’t be concerned about them falling into a slumber. They might not have the Arizona Diamondbacks or San Diego Padres breathing down their necks, but they have very real incentives to continue playing hard over the final 10 weeks of the regular season.
Dodgers Issues Beyond Kyle Tucker
After various injuries limited his offensive production over the previous season and a half, Mookie Betts reported to spring training saying he believed he would once again be a MVP-caliber hitter.
Another injury set him back, an oblique strain sidelining him for five weeks early this season. He slumped upon his return, only to finally start looking like his old self last month.
Teoscar Hernández’s situation is similar. Like Betts, Hernández reported to spring training with an improved physique. And like Betts, he went down early in the season with an injury, in his case a hamstring strain that cost him about a month.
With his numbers down across the board, Hernández has practical reasons to want to salvage his season. His contract expires after next season.
Freddie Freeman is also under contract for just one more season after this one. He was an All-Star this year, but he will also be 37 in September.
Freeman has been open about wanting to finish his career with the Dodgers and said there’s one thing he could do to make sure that happens: Continue hitting.
In the coming weeks, closer Edwin Diaz is expected to return from the injured list. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Will Smith should follow, in some order.
A $69-million offseason addition, Diaz saved only four games before he underwent a procedure to remove bone chips from his elbow. He is on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.
Snell, who started only one game before he underwent his own elbow operation, is also expected to start pitching in the minors in the coming days. Glasnow, who has been sidelined for more than two months with back problems, has finally resumed mound work.
Smith, the team’s All-Star catcher, has missed more than a month with a lingering neck problem.
The return of each player will break up the monotony of a long season, providing the team with a sense of renewal.
And it’s not as if these Dodgers are short on motivation.
Considering what hasn’t worked out for them up to this point, their major-league-best 61-36 record is more a reflection of their consistent professionalism rather than their overwhelming talent.
They have won as many games as they have because they don’t beat themselves.
Even after piling up errors in the week leading up to the All-Star break, the Dodgers lead baseball in fielding percentage and defensive efficiency. Their pitchers have the third-lowest walk rate in the National League.
“Something that we’ve been really good at is not giving away games because of our defense,” Roberts said.
If winning the World Series in each of the last two years didn’t make them complacent, 3 ½ months of steady but unspectacular play won’t either.
They have something to play for as a group. They also have something at stake as individuals.
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 7: Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 7, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On the day that Gary Trent Jr.’s new deal with the Bucks was officially announced by the team, reports also state that the league will investigate it for possible salary cap circumvention.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, “The NBA is probing the signed $64 million free-agent deal for Gary Trent Jr. with the Milwaukee Bucks, per a league spokesperson.” Marc Stein reiterated the news, stating, “The Bucks officially announced the deal today and the NBA now says it is being looked into after Trent played the past two seasons on a sub-$4 million salary and dipped statistically in 2025-26.”
Yes, it seems it was too lucrative after all. And now, after all the good that has happened this offseason, we the Bucks have to navigate the summer with this cloud lingering over their heads.
Regarding the deal itself, Jake Fischer reported that it “is fully guaranteed. Year-to-year salary breakdown, per sources: $15.2 million for 2026-27, jumps up to $16.4 million for 2027-28 and 2028-29, then back down to $16 million in Year 4.”
Of course, the deal stunk the moment it was reported and there’s reason rumours of it surfaced long before it was officially reported.
For one, Trent’s play with the Bucks last season was arguably the worst of his career. After exploding in the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers in their 2025 first-round series, averaging 18.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and a league-leading 2.6 SPG, while shooting 52% from the field and 50% from three (on 8.8 attempts per game), Trent came into the 2025-26 season with high expectations and a starting role. But, after starting the season’s first 12 games, he quickly found himself relegated to the bench, where he would stay for much of the season. Overall, Trent’s 2025-26 campaign saw him average career lows across the board (excluding his rookie season where he played just 15 games): 8.1 points (on .387/.360/.769 splits), 1.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.5 SPG.
Two, following the trade that sent Giannis to the Miami Heat and the NBA Draft, the Bucks are loaded at the guard positions. Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and AJ Green were already ahead of Trent in the rotation and now, with Tyler Herro, Brayden Burries, and Kasparas Jakučionis also on board, Trent doesn’t figure to even sniff the hardwood. Throw in two-way guards Cormac Ryan, who showed out down the stretch last season, and Kam Jones, who’s had himself a solid Summer League, and there really is no on-court justification to keep Trent—especially at that price and on a deal of that length.
But there is something to say about keeping your word. And by following through with any “handshake agreement” they had, Jon Horst and his team have sent a message that the Bucks are an organisation that honours its word and looks after its players. Of course, Burries, like Trent, is a Klutch Sports Group client too. So, all of this could pay dividends down the road—or even in the short term, should the Bucks wind up with another Klutch client, Peyton Watson.
Still, at least for the time being, this is a bad look for the Bucks and if the Kawhi Leonard Aspiration investigation is anything to go by, it will linger.
Bucks fans, where do you sit on the spectrum from “Meh” to “The house is burning down!”? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
