LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: (R-L) Gavin Sheets #30, Adrian Morejon #50 and Rodolfo Durán #48 of the San Diego Padres react as Rodolfo Durán #48 visits the mound, trailing 4-3, during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres and their fans asked Michael King to take the mound and provide a performance that would allow them to have a chance to get a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and snap their six-game losing streak. He did that, but an error by Jake Cronenworth followed by a poor pitch from Adrian Morejon turned a 3-0 lead into a 4-3 loss for the Padres at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
King gave San Diego just what it needed, and the offense did enough to score three runs against Los Angeles starter Shohei Ohtani. King cruised through six innings and worked into the seventh when he ran into “trouble,” giving up a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts and a single to Max Muncy. King was pulled after just 75 pitches and was replaced by Morejon.
The left-handed reliever got what appeared to be a potential double play ball with a grounder from Kyle Tucker that rolled out to Cronenworth at second base. The normally dependable second baseman did not field the ball cleanly and flipped toward second base, but Muncy was able to get to the bag safely and the bases were loaded with no outs. Teoscar Hernandez wasted no time and hit the first pitch of the at-bat over the center field wall and the work that was done by King and the Padres’ offense was erased.
As a result of the home run by Hernandez, King’s line looks worse than it was. He finished with two runs allowed on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts. It was a tough ending to what was a solid start and the decision by manager Craig Stammen to pull King considering his low pitch count and his success throughout the outing will be questioned. Morejon got the ground ball he needed but Cronenworth did not make the play and that proved to be a critical error until Morejon compounded it with a hanging slider to Hernandez.
It was a deflating set of events for San Diego and that was reflected in their at-bats over the final two innings. The Padres sent three men to the plate in the eighth inning and three in the ninth and finished the game with two groundouts and four strikeouts to take a one-run loss to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and extend their current losing streak to seven games.
San Diego will send Griffin Canning and his 7.09 ERA to the mound to try to get back to .500 with a win against Yoshinobu Yamamoto today at 7:10 p.m.
Catcher Blake Hunt is staying ready in the minors should the Padres need to bring him back to the MLB roster and he showed that with a home run in a win for El Paso.
Washington Nationals star Luis Garcia is flourishing right now. He has a .750 ISO across his last six games, going deep five times during that span. Garcia had two home runs on Friday evening against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also has a 56.5% hard hit rate over the last week.
Garcia will face Braxton Ashcraft today. He's allowed 2.25 HR/9 across his previous two outings, and the righty gave up three homers last time out to the Philadelphia Phillies. Opponents also have a 57.1% hard hit rate against him during that span.
This is a clear opportunity for Garcia to stay hot.
I'll play this pick up to +300.
Time: 11:05 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Nationals.TV, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Caminero's 55.5% hard hit rate over the last week says it all. He is truly squaring up everything right now, and 55.5% of his contact has been through the air during that span.
He'll face the dominant Hunter Brown tonight, but it's impossible to ignore Caminero's recent brilliance. No matter who is on the hill, he's dominating. Also, Brown has allowed a home run in each of his last two starts, and he's allowed a 42.9% hard hit rate in those outings as well.
I'll play this pick up to +300.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rays.TV, Space City Home Network
Home run pick: Rafael Devers (+238)
San Francisco Giants star Rafael Devers heads into a favorable matchup tonight against Tomoyuki Sugano. Devers has clubbed four home runs in his last six games while posting a .600 ISO. He has a mind-boggling 62.5% hard hit rate and 25% barrel rate during that span.
Sugano has had trouble with the home run all year, and that's been no different lately. The righty has given up 2.14 HR/9 across his previous four starts while posting a 7.29 ERA. Playing at Coors Field here also heavily benefits Devers due to just how much the ball carries in Denver.
I'll play this pick up to +200.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rockies.TV, NBC Sports Bay Area
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 14-72, -6.56 units
Today’s HR parlay
Luis Garcia
Bet Now +7492
Junior Caminero
Rafael Devers
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 23: Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to the game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Yankees’ roster carousel continues. Following last night’s game, they optioned outfielder Spencer Jones to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had been up with the team for his second stint this year, but while he played better than his initial 4-for-24 showing, he was still running a 40-percent strikeout rate. Fellow lefty hitter Trent Grisham’s activation from the IL immediately prior to the Friday contest also meant that regular time in center field was no longer going to be available, so it was best to keep the outfielder reps in Triple-A instead.
To take Jones’ spot on the roster today, the Yankees promoted righty pitcher Brendan Beck, who will take the spot start for this afternoon’s Fourth of July matinee against the Twins. With Carlos Rodón suddenly on the IL with elbow inflammation and Elmer Rodríguez unavailable after pitching on Thursday, Beck gets the call for his second career appearance.
The 2021 second-round pick out of Stanford has gone through his injuries to make it to The Show, and this will be his first big-league start — no small feat! He last pitched in the majors on May 7th against the Rangers when Ryan Weathers was ill, entering as the “bulk guy” after an opener, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in three innings, striking out one. Beck has a 3.07 ERA and 3.78 FIP in 88 innings (16 starts) at Triple-A this year; I expect long reliever Ryan Yarbrough will also pitch today and that the Yankees will be delighted if Beck can even give them four solid innings.
The Yankees have had a quite a few roster moves over the past few days. The best way to consider it is to consider the replcements on the 26-man roster from Wednesday night’s game, their seventh loss in a row. Here’s the roster just one full game later:
OF Spencer Jones OF Trent Grisham UT Oswaldo Cabrera 3B Ryan McMahon SP Carlos Rodón SP Brendan Beck RP Yovanny Cruz RP David Bednar
Hopefully Beck and company can help the Yankees win their second straight and put the memory of that seven-game skid behind ’em.
The summer of 2028 is setting up to be quite interesting. If we are to believe there would be some interest in Luka Doncic returning home to Dallas, the Mavericks need to be prepared to not only bring him into the roster, but also have a contending roster around he and Cooper Flagg. What does that look like, and what would the Mavericks even have around to bring him in? This is the path to Project 2028.
The Mavericks end
To get to the future, first the Mavericks must sort out the now. This summer still must shake out, but if we are to believe the various reports of who could potentially be available, many of the Mavericks’ largest salaries could be off the books by the time next summer rolls around. PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford and Klay Thompson all seem to be very available, and only Klay would be expiring next summer. Washington’s deal runs through 2030, while Gafford is on the books until 2029. I think it is very fair to assume at least two of them are gone by the time the 2027 trade deadline rolls around, and it’s not impossible to think all three could be moved.
DALLAS, TEXAS – JUNE 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks arrives before a press conference for new Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May at American Airlines Center on June 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If that were to be the case, the Mavericks would then have exactly two players on the books for the summer of 2028: Cooper Flagg, who would be in the final year of his rookie deal, and Morez Johnson Jr., who would be in year three of his rookie contract. Now, that could change if the Mavericks successfully bring Sergio de Larrea over from Valencia, as well as if they extend guys like Max Christie or Dereck Lively, who are extension eligible now. That also doesn’t address Kyrie Irving, who has a player option after the 2026-27 season. But, even with those guys being extended, the Mavericks would have ample room to work Doncic in with cap space.
The Lakers end
The Mavericks can be prepared all they want, but this only becomes a realistic path if the Lakers aren’t able to become bona fide contenders. But, this is where the recent history of the Lakers has to have an effect on how you view their immediate future. General Manager Rob Pelinka is lucky that LeBron James wanted to live in Los Angeles and that Nico Harrison existed, because every other move that the Lakers have made since he took over has been questionable at best.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Luka Doncic #77 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers are pot committed to Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. If that works and Los Angeles contends, this is probably all for not. But, if it doesn’t, everything gets really interesting. Luka has a player option in the summer of 2028, which is the summer in which he will hit his ten years of service. That qualifies him for the super-duper extension money, which he will certainly look for. We can safely expect him to opt out. At that point, the Lakers will be paying Reaves, Kessler, Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili a combined $111 million in 2028-29. Is that a roster that sounds like it’s contending? That’s the point where opportunity could come knocking.
In 2028, why wouldn’t Dallas be the best option for Luka to accomplish that goal? A pairing of Doncic and Cooper Flagg, who has already shown that he is on the fast path to superstardom, offers a ton of promise. Beyond that, there are many opportunities to create flexibility with the vets who will soon be coming off the books. Come the summer of 2028, Dallas could be looking at a roster of Flagg, Morez Johnson Jr. and a ton of cap space. That’s enticing if you’re Doncic, as it means the roster could be tailored perfectly to what that group would need. Plus, beyond the basketball of it all, it would be the best damn homecoming that we’ve seen in the NBA, maybe beyond LeBron in 2014. That’s the path for Dallas to be the best spot for Luka Doncic once again.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 06: Retired NBA Player Milt Newton, Assistant GM, Milwaukee Bucks, speaks onstage during "Navigating the World of Sports: A Roundtable Discussion With NBA Executives" at the 2023 ForbesBLK Summit at Southern Exchange Ballrooms on November 06, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/WireImage)
According to BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas, Bucks coach Taylor Jenkins and assistant GM Milt Newton will be travelling to Bologna, Italy, to formally introduce themselves to the newly acquired Kasparas Jakucionis. Jakucionis—who was reportedly a key sticking point in the Giannis trade—is currently playing for Lithuania’s senior national team, which is trying to qualify for the FIBA World Cup.
Per Urbonas, the trip is expected to last less than 24 hours, with Bucks officials clearly wanting to make a point of reaching out and developing a relationship with the 20-year-old as soon as possible (even though they would meet in under a week at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas).
In a separate interview with BasketNews last week, Jakucionis revealed that the trade news came as a shock.
“Yeah, the first day definitely wasn’t easy,” he said. “I was thinking about it a lot, but then you realise this is a business and there’s only so much you can control. So, I’m trying to focus on what I can control, which is putting in the work and becoming a better version of myself every day. I’m not trying to spend too much time thinking about everything else.”
That said, the budding guard isn’t dwelling on the situation. Instead, he’s looking to take advantage of the opportunity he’ll get on a rebuilding Bucks team.
“Like I said, the first day was tough because it was the first time in my basketball career that something like this happened to me… but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s a young organisation with a lot of young players, so I think it will be a good situation for me.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 2: An exterior view of the front of Citizens Bank Park with a statue of Mike Schmidt during a fireworks display after a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park on July 2, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Royals won 6-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Independence Day, where this year, the 250th anniversary of our independence as a nation, there is a little extra celebration in our country.
Baseball is still America’s pasttime, even if football has passed it in terms of popularity. The majority of little kids still play T-ball first when they’re getting into team sports as opposed to strapping on the shoulder pads, so I’m still going to call baseball America’s pasttime. That means today, as you celebrate, you might be doing something baseball related wherever you are at.
What will you do today that is baseball related on the Fourth of July? Maybe it’s as simple as having a catch in the backyard barbeque that you’re headed out to later on today. Maybe it’s just kicking back and watching the Phillies later on tonight in Kansas City. Maybe it’s far more than that – maybe you’re going to a baseball or softball tournament somewhere for your child. Good luck with that one.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 30: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 30, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A low-scoring affair saw the RoughRiders break a 2-2 tie in the seventh with a run against Enoli Paredes and hold on to defeat a lackluster Tides lineup. No Norfolk batter had more than one hit, managing only five in total, all singles. José Barrero drove in a run on a single and scored the other on a fielder’s choice, and that was the entirety of the Tides’ run output. A heating-up Heston Kjerstad reached base twice on a single and a walk. Enrique Bradfield Jr. didn’t start but pinch-hit in the ninth and struck out.
Yaqui Rivera started and gave up two runs in three innings. A rehabbing Yaramil Hiraldo worked a scoreless frame with two strikeouts as he returns from right shoulder inflammation that has sidelined him since April 2.
In a wild game, the Baysox erased a late 3-0 deficit with a three-run seventh inning, then fell behind again in the eighth, only to rally for two in the top of the ninth to steal the win. The top of the lineup set the table nicely, as Aron Estrada, Griff O’Ferrall, and Thomas Sosa collected two hits apiece. Sosa played the hero with his two-run single in the ninth to grab the lead for good.
Former Orioles minor leaguers Justin Armbruester and Zach Peek both pitched for Binghamton in this game. Armbruester fared well, working a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, but Peek surrendered three runs to blow the lead in the seventh. That included a two-run homer by Baysox right fielder Fernando Peguero and an RBI single by O’Ferrall.
As for Chesapeake’s hurlers, starter Evan Yates went five and allowed three runs (two earned). Jeisson Cabrera gave up a run in the eighth but vultured the win, and Zane Barnhart worked a perfect ninth for the save.
High-A: Frederick Keys 8, Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 7
This was another roller coaster of a game, with the Keys storming out to a 6-0 lead after two innings, then coughing up seven unanswered runs to fall into a 7-6 deficit before responding with a go-ahead, two-run rally in the seventh.
Ike Irish went 0-for-3 and Wehiwa Aloy did not play, but some lesser known names did the heavy lifting for the Keys lineup. RJ Austin got the offensive party started with a leadoff homer, part of his three-hit night in which he was a triple shy of the cycle. Leandro Arias also homered, and Yasmil Bucce and Colin Tuft drove in two runs apiece.
Starter Twine Palmer gave up three runs and struck out eight in five innings, but reliever Jacob Cravey let the early lead slip away by coughing up four runs while recording just two outs. The bullpen was much better after that, with Chandler Marsh, Bradley Brehmer, and Todd Kniebbe combining for 3.1 scoreless frames to allow the Keys to come back. Brehmer struck out the side in a perfect eighth inning.
All you need to know is that the Shorebirds committed five errors and gave up 18 hits in this game. Not gonna win many games that way, and indeed they didn’t. Starter Brayan Orrantia and reliever Kailen Hamson allowed six apiece, with each giving up three earned runs, and Orrantia also committed one of the Shorebirds’ quintet of miscues. Charleston third baseman Nicandro Arias torched the Shorebirds for five hits and four RBIs.
Jaiden Lo Re had a nice night for Delmarva, collecting two doubles and scoring two of his team’s three runs. He’s batting .329 with a .904 OPS in 22 games for the Shorebirds. Leadoff man Braylon Whitaker added a home run. But it was far too little to make up for the Shorebirds’ self-inflicted wounds.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 03: Atlanta shortstop Jorge Mateo (2) runs to first base during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on July 3rd, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Don’t look now, but Jorge Mateo is having a career year. He is working on career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. And it’s not luck driven, as his xwOBA, xwOBAcon, xBA, and xSLG are at career highs as well.
Jorge is crushing the fastball right now. A .422 xwOBA on four-seamer is pretty good. He’s cut the whiff rate on the fastball in half. He’s pulling the ball now more than ever before and hitting it harder than ever before. To be honest, that’s his main improvement from a hitting standpoint. All his numbers versus the other stuff is right around where it was in years past. But if you can pick a pitch to handle, it’s the fastball. He might see more of the other stuff, but right now he’s cruising.
It’s quite a surprise from where we started the year. Ha-Seong Kim was the presumed starter, and Jurickson Profar would get most of the starts in left field. But that’s not where we are right now. Mauricio Dubon has been needed to hold down left field with Jurickson Profar on a year-long hiatus. And I’m still not convinced Ha-Seong Kim is fully healthy.
So are the Braves all set with Jorge Mateo at shortstop? Well, unless a mid-season move for a left fielder and Ronald Acuña Jr’s return pushes Dubon out of the outfield, then Mateo is probably their best option. It’s not like Kim will be at shortstop a lot in the near future.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 03: Maliq Brown #15 of the San Antonio Spurs warms up prior to playing the Miami Heat in the California Classic a NBA Summer League game at Chase Center on July 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Duke Blue Devil Maliq Brown got his first taste of NBA competition Friday night, and held his own in a summer league game vs. the Miami Heat: the new San Antonio Spur played 22 minutes, scored 10 points, shooting 4-7/2-4, and had three rebounds, a steal and a block.
Not bad at all.
On the other side of the court, former Blue Devil Trevor Keels had 18 points, hitting 6-13/2-5, pulling down 7 rebounds, and also had 3 assists and 2 steals.
It was a pretty solid debut for Brown, who still has to earn a full-time spot. Currently, he’s on a two-way contract, but for those who watched closely at Duke, Brown is the sort of player you grow to appreciate.
His greatest talent is his defense, and part of that is his excellent footwork that puts his hands in position to just devastate an opponent. Advanced analytics will suss that out, but most fans won’t fully appreciate it right away.
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 02: Tom Dundon, Portland Trail Blazers owner, listens to questions during a press conference at Moda Center on April 02, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you want to understand why this off-season feels so traumatic for fanbases across the league, stop staring at salary caps and start looking at ownership. Particularly new owners.
We are only three days into free agency — which, realistically, is a lifetime in the modern NBA. But the landscape has already shifted and ironically enough, the three franchises enduring the most radical structural resets right now are Boston, Los Angeles, and Portland.
Boston traded Jaylen Brown for a 36-year-old Paul George and some picks. Los Angeles and LeBron James are mutually parting ways after eight seasons. Portland acquired Ja Morant, which is a massive talent splash on paper, but their off-season has been entirely defined by institutional friction.
It’s not so much a failure due to bad front office execution per se. They are changing dramatically, as it appears, because they all just transitioned into the hands of institutional corporate capital. Look no further than Dallas in February. 2025, when Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont provided the blueprint for prioritizing calculated corporate management over legacy … and prioritized real estate development, a plan that ultimately went awry.
They shocked the league by trading away Luka Dončić for a package centered around Anthony Davis, who is no longer with the team. Neither is the general manager who executed the deal. Nor most of the front office.
Forget the days of new owners immediately throwing blank checks at superstars. Joe Tsai and before him Mikhail Prokhorov tried that in Brooklyn, Mat Ishbia tried it in Phoenix, and both watched it blow up.
The league has officially outgrown the local billionaire fan. Mark Cuban was a fan of the Mavericks and he’s no longer there. The Buss family legacy is engraved into the Lakers and they are no longer there. Paul Allen was a devoted Trail Blazers fan and called it a “dream come true” when he bought the team in 1988. Wyc Grousbeck was a local die-hard kid from Boston.
The ripple effects are felt across the league. While this flood of institutional capital might lure in massive business and drive franchise valuations into the stratosphere, it’s incredibly difficult for the everyday fan to process such dramatic losses in such a short period of time.
The ($) Shift
For decades, the NBA was run by people who treated franchises like highly expensive toys and/or legacy family businesses. Too many to name. Thus under the old model, if an owner had the cash and a championship window, they typically paid whatever it took to keep the band together. Winning a trophy was the ultimate liquidity event for their ego.
Perhaps Tsai, Ishbia and Marc Lore & Alex Rodriguez in Minnesota are the last of a dying breed.
The new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), specifically the implementation of the second apron, killed that behavior. Thus, for new owners, the second apron protected new corporate syndicates from having to spend past a pre-determined ceiling. Even old owners like James Dolan, on top of the world in New York City after winning a Championship, told fans that he would not dip into the second apron because it is “suicidal.”
1. Boston’s Bill
When Bill Chisholm’s group bought the Celtics for a record-shattering $6.1 billion, it wasn’t just a local guy writing a check. It was heavily backed by institutional private equity through Sixth Street Partners.
The on-court result? Trading away reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. To be fair, Brown’s name floated around when Grousbeck owned the team but a trade never actually took place for the homegrown star.
Brown is set to earn $140 million over the next two years. Alongside superstar Jayson Tatum, his contract immediately became a threat to a new owner looking at the financial side of things and not the heart. Two supermax contracts in the second apron is a catastrophic liability that paralyzes the corporate balance sheet.
No thanks.
2. No More Parties in L.A.
In LA, Mark Walter and Todd Boehly finalized a massive transaction that placed a $10 billion valuation on the Lakers, ending 46 years of Buss family control. LeBron’s relationship seemingly ended without much celebration nor sentimentality.
They triggered the first apron with the signing of Walker Kessler but they avoided the second apron by allowing LeBron to walk. He’s one of the greatest if not the greatest of all-time. Do we need to say anything more?
3. Portland’s Portfolio Efficiency
Where do we begin? Up in the Pacific Northwest, the Paul Allen estate finally moved on. They sold the Trail Blazers to a $4.25 billion syndicate led by Tom Dundon. Dundon is a portfolio operator who runs sports teams like lean enterprise businesses.
He’s made it clear that he isn’t here to be the city’s favorite billionaire neighbor. Nope. He’s optimizing an asset and leveraging local political infrastructure to protect his capital. That’s not unique but his braggadocio is.
Portland’s off-season has been a rollercoaster to say the least. Interim head coach Tiago Splitter was low-balled on offers which made him pack his bags for Chicago. The penny-pinching reached a bizarre climax when the front office replaced him by signing Micah Nori to an unprecedented, completely non-guaranteed coaching contract.
To be fair, they added a star in Ja Morant who will excite things for the fanbase. But he’s also a star who has been at the center of controversy over the past couple seasons. He’s joined by Damian Lillard who is 35 and coming back from injury is going to be questionable a lot of nights while younger players like Scoot Henderson take a backseat to those two. Continuity, culture, development and all they were building is out of the window… just like that.
New Reality
The narrative you see on social media is usually pretty simple: “This owner is cheap” if blame isn’t allocated towards a front office.
But the reality is a lot colder. The NBA isn’t a collection of sports teams run by eccentric billionaires chasing trophies for their cities anymore. Increasingly, it’s an asset class run by private equity firms and corporate syndicates designed to minimize risk and protect their investments … and divorced from civic responsibility.
No longer your billionaire fan or neighborhood friend. Maybe for old teams, but very few with the new.
When these massive entities buy in at valuations between $4 billion and $10 billion, their primary goal on Day 1 is structural stabilization, operational efficiency, and strict regulatory compliance with the league’s financial rules. The second apron gave the perfect excuse to do exactly what corporate managers do during a takeover: cut costs, shed long-term liabilities, and restructure the staff.
And it’s likely to get even more divorced from the cities it represents. Teams will likely soon have new partners new minority owners from sovereign wealth funds, huge vaults of cash built up by state actors from Norway to Singapore to the U.A.E. Dolan who is spinning off the Knicks from the rest of MSG has spoken openly in the past of selling a chunk of the reigning NBA champions to minority investors including said wealth funds. Hello, Abu Dhabi?
Tsai sold a piece of the Nets, Liberty and Barclays Center to members of the Koch family in 2024 for $688 million but ironically, one member of the family, 27-year-old David Koch Jr., is a basketball fan and after two years as a basketball operations assistant, an entry level position, with the Nets, he was promoted this week to Special Assistant to the General Manager.
There are dangers to the NBA beyond seeing players tossed aside like chattels. It will be more difficult to sell the NBA and its teams to fan bases — and political decision-makers — as civic endeavors particularly when you have owners like Dundon demanding the city of Portland eat the full $600 million cost of renovating the Moda … or he might just move the team elsewhere.
It’s a brand new league. Most don’t care about trading your favorite player to a rival team. As long as people are paying and they continue gaining capital — without dipping into the second apron — then it’s all a way to enhance profits and build valuations.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 19: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action against the New York Knicks during Game One of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 19, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA world is waiting on LeBron James, and he reportedly has a short list of finalists he’s considering signing with in free agency. When will LeBron make up his mind? Who knows. He’s the top unrestricted free agent on the market by a mile despite turning 42 years old in December, and he can take as long as he pleases before he announces his next move.
Once James is off the board, the top players available will mostly be younger restricted free agents unlikely to change teams barring a surprise. Jalen Duren reportedly wants to leave the Detroit Pistons, but unfortunately for him he doesn’t have any leverage since his team has the ability to match any contract offer. Peyton Watson is in a fascinating situation because Denver probably has to cut salary elsewhere to retain him. Bennedict Mathurin is probably looking at a return to the Clippers, where he should be in line for more minutes following Los Angeles’ decision to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors.
You can find every signing and trade during 2026 NBA free agency at our tracker. Now, let’s rank the best remaining free agents left on the market.
11. Gary Trent Jr.
Need a pure off-ball shooter? Gary Trent Jr. might be the best available. Over the last five seasons, he’s made 38.5 percent of his three-pointers on 11.1 attempts per 100 possessions. His pull-up three ball off the dribble is less reliable after only hitting 28.6 percent of those last season.
10. Bruce Brown
Brown can still be a connective guard even if he’s lost the scoring juice he once showed on the 2023 champion Nuggets. He can be a low-cost shooter and defender in the backcourt who can soak up some minutes, but he doesn’t really move the needle in a major way anymore.
9. Brandon Williams
Williams is a 26-year-old point guard who took a leap in the second half of last season. He’s an excellent driver who can touch the paint and force his way to the foul line. His lack of size and shooting caps his value somewhat, but he feels like he could be one of the more high-upside players still available.
8. Jonathan Kuminga
The idea of Kuminga as some young superstar in waiting has totally dissipated at this point. If he wants to carve out a lucrative NBA career, he’s going to need to realize he needs to improve his defense, rebounding, and spot-up shooting with his bully-ball drives as only part of the package, not the entire sell.
7. Gary Payton II
Payton still grades out as an impactful player because he’s an efficient scorer (63.5 percent true shooting last season) who grabs a lot of offensive rebounds for a guard and forces turnovers on defense. He’s only good for 15-20 minutes a night at this point at age-33, but he could add value for a contender on a cheapo contract.
6. Rui Hachimura
Hachimura is big and strong for a wing with a nice spot-up three-point stroke. He made 42.6 percent of his threes during his three full years on the Lakers, but his volume wasn’t great at only 6.4 attempts per 100 possessions. He doesn’t rebound or defend all that well, and his playmaking is non-existent.
5. Bennedict Mathurin
Mathurin can score in bunches, but he’s never been particularly efficient because he’s a low-ish volume 33.6 percent three-pointer shooter for his career. He can really rebound the ball for a wing. Still only 24 years old, he should get a solid deal to return to the Clippers, but probably needs to make himself more of a dirty work guy going forward.
4. Peyton Watson
Watson has always been a good wing defender, but he exploded as a scorer when Nikola Jokic got hurt midway through last season. Watson eventually went down with a hamstring strain that took him out of the playoffs, so there are still questions on if his improved scoring punch is actually sustainable. His shot diet features a lot of mid-range looks, but he did show some ability to knock them down at a better-than-average clip last season before the injury.
3. James Harden
Harden opted out of his player option to give the Cavs more flexibility to try to sign LeBron James. He’s one of the best regular season guards ever, but on the brink of his 37th birthday, it’s becoming foolish to think he’ll ever avenge his playoff demons.
2. LeBron James
James is probably the second-best player in league history, and it still feels like he’s a top-50 player in the league as he readies to turn 42 years old midway through next season. I’d love to see him in Minnesota, but I still think it’s Warriors or Cavs for his future.
1. Jalen Duren
Will Duren consider playing on the qualifying offer to get out of Detroit? That would be massively risky if the Pistons are offering him $140 million guaranteed. Take the money, Jalen, and try to help the Pistons get to the NBA Finals next year after a deeply disappointing playoff run.
Jun 17, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Anthony Molina (61) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves continued to shuffle things around and kicked off Friday with a few moves in the bullpen. First, the club announced that righty Anthony Molina was recalled to Atlanta, fellow righty James Karinchak was optioned to Triple-A, and lefty Danny Young was reinstated from the injured list. Finally, righty Ian Hamilton was designated for assignment.
The #Braves today recalled RHP Anthony Molina to Atlanta after optioning RHP James Karinchak to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game. The club also returned LHP Danny Young from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list, and designated RHP…
The moves provide the Braves with a fresh look in the bullpen as they continue searching for consistency in the late innings. Molina returns after a strong stretch in Triple-A, while Young gives Atlanta another left-handed option following his stint on the injured list. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s DFA opens a spot on the 40-man roster as the club continues to reshape its pitching staff ahead of the second half.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JUNE 26: Hunter Goodman #15 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates his two-run home run as he rounds the bases against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field on June 26, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Rockies 9-8 in ten innings. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When it comes to the Colorado Rockies and the Trade Deadline, expect the unexpected. The perennial cellar-dwellers have at times conducted the types of fire sales familiar to teams without a shot at the ostseason, attempting to restock their prospect pool while punting on the current group. But they’ve also had deadlines where they hedged, most infamously in 2021 when they held onto Trevor Story and Jon Gray, two valuable assets on expiring contracts who ended up leaving in free agency after the season.
Perhaps with Paul DePodesta now leading baseball operations, they will take a more normal approach. Assuming the Rockies do, in fact, sell, they have some pieces.
A trio of veteran starters — Kyle Freeland, Michael Lorenzen, and Tomoyuki Sugano — are on expiring deals. Freeland and Lorenzen have been dreadful, but given the Coors effect and a constant need for starting pitching around the league, they might have low-end value. Sugano’s been more encouraging in his first year in Colorado, pitching to a 102 OPS+, and could be a viable rotation piece for a contender.
Given their roster construction, it’s more likely the Yankees will target one of Colorado’s relievers. Longtime starter Antonio Senzatela has been a revelation in his first year pitching out of the bullpen, posting a 3.07 ERA and 160 ERA+ in 44 innings. Taking advantage of shorter outings, his fastball is up two ticks. Senzatela’s also transformed his cutter from an afterthought into his secondary pitch, to great effect (opponents are hitting .196 against it). The 31-year-old will be a free agent after this season and is a virtual lock to be moved.
Another option is Jimmy Herget, a journeyman who’s caught on in Colorado and pitched at a high level in a year and a half there. The Yankees have swung deals for two Rockies relievers (Jake Bird and Angel Chivilli) in the past year and, while neither has panned out thus far, that shouldn’t hold GM Brian Cashman back from kicking the tires on Senzatela and Herget.
On the other side of the ball, veteran utilityman Willi Castro holds value and is under contract through 2027. He’s picked things up after a slow start, slashing .292/.388/.472 in July. He could be on the Yankees’ radar, though his skill set is a bit redundant to Amed Rosario’s. Mickey Moniak, also under team control through next year, could be moved as well. After grading out as one of the worst outfield defenders in baseball last year, he’s stabilized a bit this year. But it’s his bat that plays — the lefty has a .990 OPS against right-handed pitching this year.
The biggest question mark for the Rockies is whether they’ll shop Hunter Goodman. The 26-year-old broke out last year, making the NL All-Star team while taking home a Silver Slugger at catcher. Goodman has been just as dominant offensively this year; his 27 home runs are seven ahead of the next-best catcher.
While the jury’s still out on him defensively, and his below-average framing rate flies in the face of the Yankees’ well-established philosophy at the position, their catchers have struggled so mightily at the plate that they’d have to ask after Goodman if the Rockies make him available. The bigger wrinkle is that, with three more years of club control after this season, Colorado make take their best player off the table, at the very least preferring to hold onto him until he’s closer to free agency.
As we approach the deadline with so few teams truly out of contention, those teams will garner more than their fair share of attention. Count the Rockies, on pace for their fourth straight 100-loss season, squarely in that group. If the Yankees link up with them on a trade, the most likely scenario is that they acquire one of their veteran relievers, with Hunter Goodman lurking as a higher-impact dark horse.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul call during the second quarter of an NBA game against the Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena on February 24, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Will Dawkins has made a habit of buying low on assets deemed negative by their previous teams.
He did so with Trae Young, then Anthony Davis and now Deandre Ayton, who all enter Washington under similar circumstances: Their former teams wanted nothing to do with them, and yet the Wizards wanted everything to do with them.
Dawkins first acquired Young for the low price of CJ McCollum’s expiring contract and Corey Kispert. Then he acquired Davis for four players not in Washington’s plans beyond last season and five picks — two late first-rounders and three second-rounders — that weren’t the team’s own.
Four months later, Dawkins has struck again, this time acquiring Ayton for Jaden Hardy and second-round picks in 2031 and 2032. It marked another smart move by Washington’s fourth-year general manager as the team builds toward its first season of true competitiveness since 2017-18.
Why the trade makes sense
The Wizards entered free agency needing a backup center.
Behind Davis and Sarr sat Tristan Vukcevic, Felix Okpara and Julian Reese. While capable big men in their own ways, competing in a talented Eastern Conference with such raw and inexperienced frontcourt depth appeared risky.
But the search didn’t stop at experience or even talent. The Wizards needed a backup center not only equipped to produce in 20-25 minutes a night but also capable of starting 15-20 games as an insurance policy for Davis, who played just 71 games over the last two seasons.
Dawkins checked all three boxes when adding Ayton, who averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds on 67% FG with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 7-footer shot an NBA-best 80.1% at the rim in 2025-26 and ranks second in the NBA in FG% within five feet over the last three seasons.
For a Wizards team that ranked dead last in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage last season, Ayton’s career 93rd-percentile defensive rebounding percentage should certainly help.
While Ayton’s always provided efficient interior scoring and above-average rebounding, his critics highlight his inconsistent play, poor hands and apparent disinterest in buying into his role as reasons he’s incapable of being a starting center on a contender.
It’s a somewhat fair assessment of a player blessed with incredible skills he’s never truly realized.
The good news for the Wizards is that this role is different. The former No. 1 pick won’t be required to start 72 games like he did on a 53-win Lakers team. Nor will he be given the workload asked of him in Los Angeles, Portland or Phoenix.
Ayton needs to set screens, finish around the rim and rebound in a bench role for a Washington team stacked with young talent and accomplished veterans. Seems like an easy ask.
The Wizards didn’t give much to acquire Ayton, either. Hardy wasn’t an expected rotation player, and the two second-round picks don’t make a dent in Washington’s war chest of them.
Dawkins said adding depth next to and behind Sarr was a goal at February’s trade deadline and into the offseason. Washington’s GM has done that by acquiring Davis and Ayton to compliment his young shotblocking center.
What it signals
Trading future draft capital to fill a roster hole signals a shift in Washington’s team-building philosophy.
It’s a transaction that suggests the Wizards have entered a new phase of their rebuild, one uninterested in taking on bad contracts for draft capital or trading talented players for promising prospects and future picks.
Washington is finally serious about competing. And its roster supports that desire.
The Wizards had a gaping hole at backup center. And instead of signing a player like Marvin Bagley III to a veteran minimum deal to temporarily fill that void, they traded two future draft assets to secure a starting-caliber center in Ayton to serve in a bench role.
It’s not a move that immediately turns the Wizards into title contenders. But it’s a noteworthy transaction regarding the team’s direction, which is one focused on assembling a group talented enough to make noise in the East.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Aroldis Chapman became the major leagues’ career leader in strikeouts as a reliever Friday night, toppling a record that had stood for more than half a century.
The Boston Red Sox’s 38-year-old left-hander didn’t do it with one of the triple-digit fastballs that have made him one of the most imposing pitchers of his generation and one of the most accomplished relievers in baseball history.
Instead, his high pitch to the Angels’ Denzer Guzman was clocked at a mere 98.6 mph — and Guzman still couldn’t get around in time.
“I feel very happy, very proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “I just feel very satisfied right now.”
The strikeout was the 1,364th in Chapman’s 17-year career. It broke the record long held by Hoyt Wilhelm, the Hall of Famer whose 21-year career ended back in 1972, just five days shy of his 50th birthday.
Chapman paused and soaked in the moment only briefly after fanning Guzman, aware of the significance of the strikeout while also knowing he still had to get two more outs. He promptly gave up two hits, but escaped the jam with a double-play grounder to secure Boston’s 5-2 win over Los Angeles and his 383rd career save.
The Red Sox celebrated Chapman’s achievement in their Angel Stadium clubhouse, showing a video retrospective of Chapman’s career to his younger teammates — everything from his debut with Cincinnati in 2010 to his two World Series championships with the Cubs and Rangers.
“It’s cool. We’ve been waiting for that one,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “What a career he’s had. The cool thing is watching the video, and you’re seeing him at a young age throwing 102, and he’s still doing it. It’s just incredible.”
In his 889th major league appearance — all of them in relief — Chapman saved a deserved victory for Red Sox rookie Jake Bennett, who was making his seventh appearance.
“It’s incredible,” said Bennett, who tired in the eighth. “It’s incredible to even just be a part of a team that it happens on.”
Chapman hadn’t pitched since he tied the strikeout record last Sunday while blowing a save against the Yankees, with whom he spent parts of seven seasons before an acrimonious split four years ago. He has pitched for seven teams since he defected from Cuba in 2009, earning eight All-Star selections and moving up to 10th on the majors’ career saves list.
This record spanned across a half-century of baseball history and a fundamental change in the way pitchers are used.
Among the 14 pitchers in major league history who have recorded 1,000 strikeouts as a reliever, only Lindy McDaniel was a contemporary of Wilhelm, a World War II veteran and a pioneer in relief pitching. The crafty knuckleballer was among the first pitchers to be used regularly as what’s now known as a high-leverage reliever, coming into close games and tight situations regardless of whether the starter was tired or not.
Chapman has spent his entire career in those tight spots, and he has usually excelled when healthy, often with a fastball that has topped 105 mph at times during his career.
He has even been in a renaissance since joining the Red Sox before last season. After earning AL Reliever of the Year honors in 2025 with a minuscule 1.17 ERA, he has 17 saves in 19 chances this season, still taking high-leverage assignments and usually succeeding.
“I was just focused on doing the job, day in and day out over the course of the last few weeks, getting to this point where I had the opportunity to break the record,” Chapman said. “I had some highs and some lows, but I’ve just tried to stay positive throughout.”
Luis Garcia
Junior Caminero
Rafael Devers
