LeBron James is golfing. The NBA is guessing. Rich Paul is telling everyone to relax.
As teams continue making their best pitch to the 41-year-old star, James has been spending his time with family and friends, including a golf outing with Draymond Green that immediately sent the rumor mill into overdrive.
Rich Paul said there is no timeline for LeBron James’ free agency decision as teams continue sending pitches through him. Getty ImagesLeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers with Rich Paul after Round 1 Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs NBAE via Getty Images
But according to Paul, James is on his own timeline.
Appearing on the latest episode of Game Over with Max Kellerman, James’ longtime agent made it clear that the 41-year-old star is operating on his own timeline as he weighs where he will play in his 24th NBA season.
“There is none. I wish I knew,” Paul said when asked about a timeline. “He’s taking his time. He’s really evaluating things. I’ve really left him alone. Play golf, do the things you need to do. He understands where things are. When he’s ready, he’ll let me know.”
That answer captures the state of the NBA offseason right now.
James is the biggest name left on the market, but his free agency does not look like his previous turns in 2010, 2014 or 2018.
This time, he is not expected to command a max contract or force teams to preserve massive cap space. For the most part, his suitors are already built. James is expected to choose based on fit, title odds and what Paul described as “complete happiness.”
Sports agent Rich Paul attends the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs Getty ImagesRich Paul talks with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers Getty Images
That has left several contenders trying to make their case.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that leading suitors have been sending voice notes to Paul, who then forwards them to James. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers have all been linked to the four-time MVP.
Golden State offers the dream basketball pairing with Stephen Curry, but Paul framed the Warriors’ appeal in more practical terms. If James is judging strictly by postseason danger, Paul said Golden State is the kind of team “you definitely don’t want to play” in a playoff series.
Cleveland offers the obvious emotional pull. It is home, and a third stint with the Cavaliers would give James a storybook ending where his career began.
Miami offers familiarity and another chance to chase a title in a place where he already won two
Philadelphia has become a more serious wild card after adding Jaylen Brown to a core with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The Timberwolves are a ready-made contender built around Anthony Edwards that could desperately use one veteran superstar to steady the wheel come playoff crunchtime.
Even at 41, James remains more than a ceremonial addition. He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds last season while still showing he can tilt high-level games.
But Paul’s message was clear.
James is not rushing.
Teams can send their pitches. Fans can search for clues. But, ultimately, we will all have to wait.
When LeBron is ready, Rich Paul will know.
And not a minute before.
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The Warriors added some much-needed youth this offseason when they selected forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Warriors superstar Steph Curry expressed his excitement about playing with the 23-year-old rookie, who has been one of Golden State’s standout performers so far during the 2026 NBA Summer League.
“I watch all the summer league games. I haven’t been there in person, but he looked very confident, poised and competitive,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the 2026 American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe.
“He’s a champion. And I’m excited to get out there and figure it out with him. Rookies are awesome because they bring such good energy to the locker room, especially guys with the talent like him, so that’s what we need.”
Lendeborg posted a double-double on Thursday in a Summer League matchup against the Dallas Mavericks with 21 points and 10 rebounds. This showcase came days following his 19-point performance during his Summer League debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 3 and his 11-point showing in the Warriors’ win over the San Antonio Spurs on July 5.
So far this NBA Summer League, Lendeborg has proven himself to be a scoring threat who can complement Curry and fit nicely into coach Steve Kerr’s system.
The 6-foot-9, 241-pound forward is bringing his championship pedigree from Michigan to a Golden State team that also knows a thing or two about winning titles.
During the 2025-26 NCAA season with the Wolverines, Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 40 contests and shot 51.5 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from 3-point range.
Once NBA training camp begins, Lendeborg will get to share the court with the player he used to “hate” in Curry when he was growing up as a fan of NBA star Kyrie Irving.
It certainly will be a full-circle moment when the two players start working together as teammates ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Just a few days left before the All-Star break. Let's check in on every team's lineup for trends that might carry over into the second half.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Nolan Arenado has dropped to the bottom third of the order after hitting cleanup from mid-May through mid-June. Max Kepler and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are sharing left field and DH, though neither is a true everyday player. Ildemaro Vargas is drawing starts all over the infield, but not nearly as often as he did earlier this season.
Athletics
Tyler Soderstrom sat against a lefty Thursday, but that's likely just because he came off the IL this week. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has started every game since being called up on June 29, riding a .500 BABIP through nine games. Henry Bolte is the true everyday center fielder. Lawrence Butler is platooning with Colby Thomas.
Atlanta Braves
Michael Harris II has been back at leadoff this week with Drake Baldwin batting cleanup. Mauricio Dubón has started every game since June 3. Austin Riley has settled in at sixth or seventh for a while now.
Baltimore Orioles
The new 1-2-3 against RHP is Gunnar, Adley, and Taylor Ward, who had previously hit only leadoff. Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers are strong-side platoon hitters who share positions with Leody Taveras and Tyler O'Neill.
Boston Red Sox
The search for a leadoff hitter continues, with Anthony Seigler the latest to get a look. Mickey Gasper, Masataka Yoshida, and Nate Eaton have also filled the role over the past month. Ceddanne Rafaela has been the everyday two-hitter since late May. Romy Gonzalez is off the IL and starting against all lefties.
Chicago Cubs
Plenty of consistency lately. The one non-catcher spot not filled by an everyday player is RF/DH, depending on where Seiya Suzuki is. Michael Conforto draws most of those opportunities against right-handers.
Chicago White Sox
Kyle Teel has hit in the 1-4 spots against RHP since coming off the IL but drops down against lefties. Braden Montgomery has sat twice since being called up on June 9. Andrew Benintendi and Randal Grichuk platoon at DH. Munetaka Murakami is expected back from his hamstring injury on Friday.
Cincinnati Reds
Noelvi Marte is the primary right fielder, though he'll occasionally be spelled so Nathaniel Lowe can enter the lineup (with several others shifting around positionally). Edwin Arroyo has become the primary second baseman over Matt McLain.
Cleveland Guardians
Chase DeLauter has started against all five lefties since coming off the IL given how banged up this lineup is. Former top prospect Kahlil Watson is getting as many outfield starts as he can handle since being called up in mid-June. Steven Kwan remains a bottom-of-the-order bat and doesn't start every day.
Colorado Rockies
Cole Carrigg has hit 3-5 over the past week. Kyle Karros has been the everyday third baseman while swinging a hot bat. Ezequiel Tovar continues to hit in the bottom third of the lineup in what has been a disappointing campaign.
Detroit Tigers
James Outman is the center fielder against RHP, platooning with Matt Vierling. Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter continue to sit vs. most lefties, as expected.
Jeremy Peña is expected back from the IL soon, and the team has put him right back at leadoff each time he's returned this year. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Zach Dezenzo platoon in left field while Taylor Trammell and Brice Matthews do so in center.
Kansas City Royals
Carter Jensen continues to lead off despite a .312 OBP. Lane Thomas is the everyday center fielder, batting 1-4 lately. Salvador Perez is phasing out of catcher, first base, and the top half of the order. He mostly serves as the DH, batting sixth, while hitting 40% worse than league average.
Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout returned from the IL this week. Josh Lowe has been an everyday outfielder since being recalled on June 24. Denzer Guzman has been the primary third baseman over the past month-plus.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Mookie Betts has been at cleanup since late May but isn't hitting well enough to cash in on the RBI opportunities. Tommy Edman is bouncing around 2B, 3B, LF, and CF without playing every day. It's bizarre to see Kyle Tucker hitting 5-7 primarily, but that's what's happening.
Miami Marlins
Kyle Stowers has reached 20 starts at first base, securing dual eligibility in nearly every format for 2027. Jakob Marsee is still getting near-everyday looks but has fallen to the bottom third of the order, even vs. RHP.
Milwaukee Brewers
Luis Lara has started two of four since being called up from Triple-A. Garrett Mitchell has been swinging a hot bat while starting against all righties. Andrew Vaughn's playing time against RHP remains limited. Cooper Pratt has started every game at shortstop except three since his June 16 callup.
Minnesota Twins
Luke Keaschall moved from second base to right field in mid-June, and he's spent the past two days in center with Byron Buxton out. Austin Martin is still leading off against lefties while Trevor Larnach gets the role against RHP. Royce Lewis has started every game at first base since June 16, which can hopefully keep him healthier.
New York Mets
A.J. Ewing has taken the leadoff role against RHP while Francisco Lindor fills it vs. lefties. Carson Benge, who had been leading off every game, dropped to the middle of the lineup. Jorge Polanco has started two of three at DH since coming off the IL this week. Brett Baty keeps finding his way into the lineup, primarily at second base.
New York Yankees
Jasson Domínguez has been given an everyday shot since mid-June. Anthony Volpe has started four of eight in July. Paul Goldschmidt's opportunities have fallen off too as his bat has cooled.
Philadelphia Phillies
Gabriel Rincones Jr. is the right fielder vs. RHP, with Edmundo Sosa and Derek Hill drawing opportunities against lefties. Can't wait to see what Dave Dombrowski does at the trade deadline as a result.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Jake Mangum has hit leadoff this week with Konnor Griffin back on the IL. Esmerlyn Valdez has been the everyday cleanup hitter in July. Ryan O'Hearn shedding the platoon this season has been tremendous for him.
San Diego Padres
Fernando Tatis Jr. has started nine straight in right field now that Jake Cronenworth is back, though his second base days probably aren't fully over. Sung-Mun Song is starting at 2B, 3B, and SS, taking some of those reps away from Tatis too.
San Francisco Giants
Heliot Ramos has hit leadoff this week with Luis Arraez dropping to second. Casey Schmitt has played all over this season but is most recently at third base with Matt Chapman sidelined. Bryce Eldridge hasn't hit higher than sixth since July 1.
Seattle Mariners
J.P. Crawford lost his shortstop job but continues to hit leadoff. Dominic Canzone is up to batting third versus righties. Cole Young has started every game this season. Luke Raley platoons with Rob Refsnyder.
St. Louis Cardinals
Iván Herrera has started every game this season. Lars Nootbaar has started five of 11 games against lefties since coming off the IL. Blaze Jordan started every game from June 12 through June 26 but has recently begun losing playing time to José Fermín.
Tampa Bay Rays
Chandler Simpson hasn't led off in over a month. Jonny DeLuca starts vs. all left-handers. Cedric Mullins is the cleanup hitter against RHP.
Texas Rangers
Justin Foscue leads off vs. LHP while Joc Pederson does so against righties. Evan Carter platoons with Cam Cauley in center field. Injuries have been an issue all year for this lineup. Nicky Lopez has reclaimed shortstop with Corey Seager sidelined again.
Toronto Blue Jays
George Springer dropped to cleanup on Wednesday, with Ernie Clement having led off every game this week. Nathan Lukes is the two-hitter. Daulton Varsho and Kazuma Okamoto provide middle-of-the-lineup thump.
Washington Nationals
Curtis Mead has started against five straight right-handers. Let's see if he's in the lineup against the last two arms Washington faces this half on Saturday and Sunday. Luis García Jr. platoons with Andrés Chaparro. Dylan Crews has hung around the middle third of the order since being recalled.
SAN ANTONIO, TX. - MAY 2026: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) before Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs, NBA Western Conference Semifinals, Game 5. NBA Playoffs. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
July 6 came and went and the Brooklyn Nets trade sending Nick Claxton to Chicago and Julius Randle to Brooklyn didn’t get officially approved. The reason was mundane: a late add to the trade, the Bulls Mouhamadou Gueye, couldn’t be dealt until July 9 because he had been acquired by the Bulls on April 9 and this couldn’t be moved for 90 days under the CBA rules.
Then July 9 came and again, nothing. While the delay only currently affects rookie Joshua Jefferson’s availability for the Vegas Summer League — the Nets acquired his Draft rights in that deal, the reasons why nothing happened this time were not so easy to explain. Was it possible that the trade is being expanded or that the Nets were trying to determine how the trade will affect other issues going forward?
Finally, on Friday, just before the Nets and Knicks were to tip off in a Las Vegas Summer League contest, the deal is done. The Nets announced it themselves…
Marks welcomed Randle, now on his fifth team since being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers out of Kentucky in 2014 with the seventh pick in the first round.
“Julius is an extremely accomplished player who will raise our level of physical toughness and competitiveness,” said General Manager Sean Marks. “His veteran leadership and big game experience will be immensely impactful to our young players as we continue to grow as a team. We’re excited to welcome Julius and his family and look forward to making them part of our Brooklyn community.
Marks also wished Nic Claxton, the team’s longest serving player, well.
“The decision to part with Nic was not an easy one. Over his seven seasons with our team, Nic was an exemplary representative of our organization and the borough of Brooklyn. It’s been rewarding to witness Nic’s growth as both a player and a person throughout his time with the Nets and we wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future. We are thankful for the impact Nic had here and he’ll always remain part of the Nets family.”
Claxton was drafted at No. 31, the first pick of the second round, in 2019, just days before the Nets made their Clean Sweep by getting commitments from Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan. So he survived all the ups and downs of the organization over the next seven seasons, including the trade for James Harden, the collapse of the Big Three after only 16 games, the trades of all three, four head coaching changes and the rebuild.
The Nets celebrated the completion of the deal by welcoming Randle, one of the games top power forwards, to the organization…
Randle will turn 32 years old in November, making him the oldest player on the roster by nearly three years. He just averaged 21/7/5 in his second and final season with the Wolves, during which there was noise about his fit (or lack thereof) in the locker room. With the Nets, Randle gets to return to New York City, where he wore a Knick uniform for five seasons, and attempt to help lead the Nets toward a playoff spot.
His most productive seasons in terms of individual stats came with the Knicks where over his tenure he put up better 22 points a game, grabbed nearly 1o boards and nearly five assists, winning the Most Improved Player award in 2021 and being selected both to the NBA All-Star team and All-NBA. But the Knicks did not win with him and Leon Rose sent him to Minnesota in a blockbuster trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to MSG.
The first on-court effect of the trade is that Jefferson is now on the Brooklyn Summer League roster. He will not play vs. the Knicks Friday evening but will be be available on Saturday when the Nets play the Atlanta Hawks at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The announcement ends speculation that the trade could be expanded beyond the original teams. There was one minor wrinkle. Gueye will now move from the Bulls to the Hornets rather than the Timberwolves as originally reported. No new assets were moved. The number of guaranteed roster spots on the Brooklyn roster remains at 15 with the Nets payroll jumping $8.75 million, the result of a $5.78 million difference between Randle and Claxton’s salaries and the $2.97 million guaranteed rookie salary for Jefferson. Evans as a second rounder does not have a guarantee.
The Nets absorbed the Randle contract into cap space, dramatically reducing what’s now available for any significant move in free agency, barring a trade…
The Nets are now down to $11.75 million in cap space after officially trading Nic Claxton and Isaiah Evans for Julius Randle and Joshua Jefferson. https://t.co/aowqPNU7qY
Prior to the announcement, Jake Fischer of The Steinline suggested that the Nets were reviewing their cap space, etc., and other financials. He put it in the context of various teams’ pursuit of Peyton Watson, the 6’9” Denver Nuggets power forward who’s a restricted free agent and has been rumored to be a Nets target.
Brooklyn does still possess the cap space to furnish Watson with an offer sheet in his desired salary range, but I’m told that the Nets have been internally assessing how to utilize their available spending power before officially completing their multi-team trade with Minnesota, Charlotte and Chicago that will bring Julius Randle to Barclays Center and transport LaMelo Ball from the Hornets to the Timberwolves.
The Nets have not been keen, though, on plying Watson with an offer sheet in that $25-plus million range. It’s a ballpark, remember, that stems from Nuggets swingman Christian Braun’s five-year, $125 million rookie scale extension last October.
If Brooklyn did value Watson in that range, Denver surely would have seen an offer sheet for the 23-year-old by now. Unless the Nets’ stance changes, Memphis’ offer sheet to Quinten Post that Golden State declined to match would remain the lone offer sheet tendered to a restricted free agent to date this offseason.
That’s a bit more specific than Fischer’s comments two days ago when he said that the Nets were nothing more than a “conceptual suitor” for Watson indicating that Sean Marks & co. weren’t that interested in the 23-year-old at least at the price tag he preferred. (Fischer also stated that while the Clippers pursuit of PWat is complicated by the still unresolved Kawhi Leonard scandal, the Hawks may be ready to enter a sign-and-trade discussion.)
There remain some housekeeping matters for the Nets as well. They have yet to officially sign Moe Wagner. They can pay the 6’11” center either out of that remaining cap space or sign him out of the $9.4 million room MLE they have access to. According to a report by Mike Scotto, Nets and Wagner agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal so his first year would fit neatly in the MLE. Timing, it should be noted, is critical to managing cap space. The Nets currently have or could easily access up to $25 million.
Malachi Smith, the rookie guard, is in the second year of a two-year, totally non-guaranteed deal. Indeed, on Friday afternoon, Smith posted a promotion for his annual youth camp in his hometown of Belleville, Ill. He contained no reference to the Nets, not in the text or in the accompanying photos…
It also seemed odd that Smith didn’t accompany the Nets Summer League team to either Sacramento or Las Vegas despite being one of the team’s youngest players. Later Friday, the Nets requested waivers on Smith.
Then, there’s the big ticket: extending Michael Porter Jr. Porter is eligible — and has been eligible for weeks — to sign an extension up to four years and $234 million. No one expects the deal to reach those heights but there’s been speculation that he could wind up with a deal for four at $160 million that would include a jump in his salary next season from $40.8 million to $49 million then a drop-off in years after that.
That contract signing could easily be the final inking of free agency.
There’s no indication that MPJ wants to leave and a number of indications that the Nets would like to keep him. It’s not just that he averaged 24.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists and shot 46/36/86 last season. He has also become a mentor to the team’s youngsters. Just last week, video of him hosting four of last year’s rookies at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri in May recirculated…
And as noted, he recently hosted Watson, his former Nuggets teammate, on a yacht in the Mediterranean. Does that mean anything other the two, who have been close, remain friends?
There’s also a possibility that the Nets could try to move him, as Brian Lewis suggested Thursday on Erik Slater’s Locked on Nets podcast, but at this point that seems unlikely.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Charles Davalan as the forty-first overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2025 MLB Draft presented by Nike at Coca-Cola Roxy on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The 2026 MLB Draft has a different feel to it for many reasons, including the Dodgers having their smallest bonus pool ever and the timing of the festivities themselves.
Rather than starting on Sunday or Monday as has been the norm ever since Major League Baseball moved the draft to align with the All-Star break, this time the draft will start on Saturday. The 20-round affair was shortened from three days to two last year and that schedule remains, which means the 2026 draft will conclude on Sunday, before any of the major league All-Star events have even happened.
Draft bonus pools are derived from the total recommended slot values for every pick through the end of round 10.
Round
Overall pick
Slot value
1
40
$2,504,200
4
132
$575,300
7
223
$260,300
8
253
$218,500
9
283
$201,700
10
313
$191,900
Total
$3,951,500
Every signing bonus from the first 10 rounds count against the bonus pool, plus any signing bonus over $150,000 for any player drafted in the 11th round or later. Teams can spend up to five percent over their draft bonus pool and pay only a 75 percent tax on the overage. Any spending more than five percent over the bonus pool triggers more punitive penalties, including forfeiture of future draft picks. To date, no MLB team under the current slotting system has spent enough to trigger loss of draft picks.
How to watch
The first 135 picks of the draft happens on Saturday, which includes the first four rounds plus all competitive balance rounds, compensation picks, and prospect promotion incentive selections.
Saturday’s television and streaming coverage is fragmented, with NBC and Peacock showing the first 10 picks after a preview show, followed by MLB Network televising picks 11-40, that final selection belonging to the Dodgers.
MLB.com and MLB.tv will stream everything beginning with pick 11 through the end of the 20th round on Sunday. Day 2 is a nonstop ride, with 16 rounds all on one day.
Saturday, July 11 (rounds 1-4) 11 a.m. PT: Picks 1-10 (NBC, Peacock) 11:30 a.m: Picks 11-40 (MLB Network) Streaming from 11th pick through round 4 on MLB.com and MLB.tv
Saturday, July 12 (rounds 5-20) 8:30 a.m. PT: MLB.com, MLB.tv
The Dodgers have two selections on Saturday (first round, 40th overall; and fourth round, 132nd overall), and 14 on Sunday.
While appearing on The Dan Patrick Show on Friday, Austin Reaves shared when he found out LeBron James was departing the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons.
The shooting guard was at a golf event hosted by former teammate D’Angelo Russell when his girlfriend texted him the news.
Reaves, a 2023 NBA Cup champion, said he then texted LeBron: “I was having a great day on the golf course 'til you ruined it.”
The 28-year old then told Patrick, all kidding aside, LeBron has made “the biggest impact on my career” during his time in Los Angeles, where he just re-signed on a four-year, $185 million max contract.
He has played each season of his NBA career so far with LeBron. Basketball fans still are waiting to find out where LeBron will end up in free agency.
It turns out Reaves’ devotion to the Lakers goes beyond his playing time. He said he was a “huge Kobe (Bryant) fan,” with posters “and everything.” His grandmother also was a fan of Bryant, he shared. "We’d sit on the couch and watch Lakers games all the time.”
He also touched on the Knicks' recent victory, calling USA teammates Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Jalen Brunson, “great dudes.” Reaves attested to how their character informs their game. "They care for one another, they play for one another.”
Patrick asked Reaves about guarding Steph Curry, who’s also participating at the American Century Championship. “I tried to,” replied Reaves, laughing.
He recounted a specific game guarding Curry: “At the end of the game I was like ‘I did a really good job,’” then he found out Curry had scored 30 points. "Well, never mind.”
Patrick also asked about Reaves’ famous headband and how long he’ll wear it. "I think its here to stay.”
After a long delay, the Red Sox made it to New York for their weekend series with the Mets. However, the travel issues caused MLB to push back first pitch from its original 7:15 p.m. start time to 7:50 p.m.
Following their win over the White Sox on Wednesday afternoon, the Red Sox dealt with "multiple plane issues," per Tim Healey of the Boston Globe.
Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive, as of roughly 2 p.m. on Friday, the Sox were set to land at LaGuardia Airport at 4:10 p.m., but eventually landed around 4:40 p.m. and got to CitiField a little after 5 p.m.
"Definitely something I don't think any of us have experienced that before," Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock said before Friday's game. "But hey, that's travel nowadays"
Jul 1, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson (2) removes his batting glove after lining out to second base to end the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
Two years ago, the Orioles hosted the Royals in the Wild Card round. Baltimore had just finished the regular season 91-71, a drop from their previous 101-61 record in 2023, but still good enough for second place in the daunting American League East and for the top Wild Card spot.
Despite dropping the series in two games to Kansas City, it looked like Baltimore was set up for the future. It wouldn’t have shocked anyone for the Orioles to continue making the playoffs and reaching the ALCS, if not beyond.
Instead, mirroring the Royals’ path, the Orioles bombed in 2025 and don’t look all that much better in 2026. Last year, coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, Baltimore fell to last in the East, finishing 75-87, 19 games back of first place. Manager Brandon Hyde, a mortal enemy of my family, didn’t even last 45 games before being ousted.
It didn’t matter.
This season, the Orioles have improved, albeit minimally. Their winning percentage is up, but they remain in the AL East’s cellar, and the playoffs look as far away as they did in 2021, when the Orioles finished an embarrassing 52-110.
Royals fans can relate.
Kansas City Royals (38-56) at Baltimore Orioles (43-51) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
Royals: 4.31 runs scored/game (20th in MLB), 5.11 runs allowed/game (27th in MLB)
Orioles: 4.55 runs scored/game (13th in MLB), 4.89 runs allowed/game (23rd in MLB)
Pete Alonso, signed away from the Mets in the offseason, leads the Orioles with 2.0 bWAR as he’s slashed .249/.345/.467 with 20 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 56 runs scored. Another offseason acquisition, this time by trade with the Angels, Taylor Ward leads the team in walks with 71, which has boosted his OBP to a career-high .383 as his slugging has dipped to .352, which would be his worst in a full season. Catcher Adley Rutschman, a/k/a The Only Player Drafted Ahead of Bobby Witt Jr., has bounced back from a very down 2025, though his numbers remain across a chasm from what he posted his first two seasons. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, drafted in the second round of that same 2019 Draft, is struggling. Long ago are the days are finishing fourth in MVP voting, let alone winning Rookie of the Year in 2023. All told, the Orioles feature six regulars who are posting a below-average OPS, chief among them Henderson, but also starting third baseman Coby Mayo, starting right fielder Tyler O’Neill, and starting center fielder Leody Taveras.
It looks like the Orioles will start 27-year-old Brandon Young tonight. The second-year righthander leads the team in wins with seven while posting a solid 3.89 FIP over 77-and-1/3 innings pitched. He doesn’t strike out a lot of batters, but doesn’t walk many, either. Righties Kyle Brandish and Shane Baz are the projected starters for games two and three of the series. Brandish leads the team in strikeouts but also allows 1.1 home runs per nine innings, worst among Oriole starters with at least 10 starts. Baz sports the team’s best FIP at 3.79, but his strikeouts are down while his walks are up. Not a good combination.
The team’s closer, Ryan Helsley, is out, and so 36-year-old Andrew Kittredge picked up the save in yesterday’s 3-2 win over the Cubs. Reliever Tyler Wells picked up the win yesterday despite allowing the go-ahead run to score. He leads Baltimore relievers in innings pitched while Rico Garcia leads them in appearances with 42. Garcia has a WHIP well under one and strikes out over a batter per inning. Righty Yenier Cano leads all relievers with a 2.65 FIP.
I have no idea what to think of this series. As I stated in the opening paragraphs, two years ago it looked like the Royals and Orioles would be facing each other often once the calendar flipped to October. Clearly, things have changed for both teams, and for the worse.
Case in point: this mid-July series, the last before the All-Star break, has zero consequences for either club. What a shame.
Luinder Avila takes the ball for the Royals tonight. First pitch: 6:05 PM local time.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 4: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves takes the field before the first inning against the New York Mets at Truist Park on July 4, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Casey Sykes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At least I didn’t have to write “Braves tumble” into St. Louis, though the status of their tumbling remains a distinct possibility. The Braves righted the ship, or at least gave the appearance of righting the ship, a bit in Pittsburgh earlier this week, winning a series for the first time since June 19-21. After starting the season 18-2-1 in terms of series performance, the Braves are just 2-6-1 since (with possibly flipping one of those losses to a tie thanks to a rainout). One of those six recent series losses came against the Cardinals in Atlanta, and the Braves will get a chance to return the favor in St. Louis this weekend, before everyone heads off into the All-Star Break.
The Cardinals did not have a particularly fun time after departing Atlanta. They did take a series from their archrivals, the Cubs… but then lost four of five to the Brewers, putting a sizable dent in their playoff odds (from about 40 percent to about 30 percent). Before the Brewers had their way, the Cardinals held onto the NL’s last playoff spot with a one-game lead over the Marlins; now, they’re three games in what’s become a bit less of a logjam: the three NL Wild Card teams are separated by half a game, with the Braves three games ahead of them… but the Cardinals are part of a second tier of pseudo-contenders a bit further back.
Overall, the Cardinals are 14th in position player fWAR and 21st in pitching fWAR, which doesn’t suggest particularly useful production. However, they have two more wins than suggested by their run differential, and are three wins over what’s indicated by their BaseRuns, so that more or less explains that.
The Braves will have their one “steady” rotation member on the hill for this one, which is good news. But, Chris Sale will need to bounce back a bit, as his most recent outing was one of his worst in a Braves uniform. Sale lasted just five innings against the Mets, allowing two homers and posting a 3/2 K/BB ratio in a blowout win. The performance didn’t really matter in the context of the game, but in a vacuum, it wasn’t great. Sale’s FIP was his second-worst of the season, and his xFIP- for the start was 123 — only the second time this year he’s gone above 100, the only time this season he’s gone above 105, and his fourth-worst mark in any start as a Brave. Sale generally tends to get back to dominance after a poor outing, so there’s no reason to expect anything different here.
Sale has somehow managed to avoid the Cardinals as a Brave thus far, and, in fact, has faced them just twice in his career: once in 2015, and once in 2023. He dominated both times.
On the flip side, the Braves will take aim at 29-year-old Kyle Leahy, whom they didn’t see in Atlanta. Leahy spent 2024 and 2025 pitching long-ish relief for St. Louis, but has ascended to the rotation after some pretty good work in 2025 (1.4 fWAR in 88 innings, though a lot of that coming as a result of a low HR/FB). This season, Leahy’s stats are minorly weird: a 93 ERA-, 99 FIP-, and 101 xFIP- are all consistent, but he has this absolutely horrid xERA. Generally, xERA for pitchers doesn’t mean much because it’s so heavily influenced by the batters a pitcher faces, whose exit velocity tends to be more batter-derived than pitcher-influenced and factors into a large part of xERA… but seeing a guy with very generic peripherals and horrendous contact quality is not rare but still kinda weird, especially considering that Leahy didn’t have any contact management issues in 2024-2025.
Overall, Leahy is a true junkballer (legit six-pitch mix) who gets elite extension that makes his mid-90s fastball play up a bit. His pitch shapes don’t look good on paper, but are mitigated somewhat by him offering a harder set of secondaries than batters are generally used to. He has very good command of his four-seamer, sinker, and curve, while the rest of his arsenal is really more of a junkball-y “hope they get bamboozled” sort of thing. So long as the Braves’ lefties can acknowledge that his changeup is generally in the dirt and avoid looking terrible on it, they may be able to get some good hacks in against his four-seamer and curve.
Because of his profile, Leahy is pretty steady and generally throws up the same type of outing, with variance largely around whether fly balls clear the fence. He had a sky-high HR/FB in April (24 percent), but it then fell to around seven percent in May, three percent in June, and is sitting at zero for July so far. As a result, he’s been on a pretty good run for about seven starts FIP-wise, though it’s included a couple of xFIP-based clunkers. If the Braves can actually noodge his HR/FB up, that’ll bode well. If not, it could be another sad BABIP day for the team, at least until they chase him.
LeBron James continues to weigh his options as he searches for a new home to end his illustrious NBA career.
The Warriors still are believed to be one of those options, even if the odds are slim. But Charles Barkley doesn’t believe James should take his talents to Golden State, and the outspoken TV analyst really sees only one reasonable avenue for the four-time NBA MVP.
“His only move in my opinion is to go back to Cleveland,” Barkley told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole at the 2026 American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe. “If he goes to Golden State or somewhere else, it’d be like he’s chasing Michael Jordan and trying to win more championships.
“He don’t have any affiliation with those other teams. His only affiliation is where he was born in Cleveland, Ohio. So I think he should go back to Cleveland.”
James was born in Akron, Ohio, about 40 miles south of Cleveland.
He spent the first seven years of his NBA career with the Cavaliers before joining the Miami Heat in 2010. He returned home to Cleveland in 2014, where he spent the next four seasons and finally brought a championship to the Cavaliers in 2016 — the first and only in franchise history.
Now, after informing the Lakers he would not return to Los Angeles for the 2026-27 NBA season, several teams, including the Cavaliers, Warriors, Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers, have been rumored as top suitors.
“If he goes to the Warriors, all they got to worry about is do they have enough Depends and Bengay with all them old-ass geezers they’d have on the team. So, seriously, he should not go to Golden State. Between Steph, Draymond, Jimmy Butler and LeBron, they’d have to get a lot of Depends. He should go to Cleveland, where he grew up, and it’d be a great way to finish his story.”
LeBron James is not the same player he was years ago.
This is somewhat of an obvious statement. James will turn 42 in December and has the all-time record mileage of 23 seasons spanning 1,924 regular and postseason games. Yet James is still an impact player, one who still has a unique, play-making skill set and averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game last season in 60 appearances.
This may be the best fit on a personal level, as this would be his third different stint with the franchise. James is from Akron and was drafted by the Cavaliers. Northeast Ohio is his home.
At a hoops level, however, James is more of an awkward fit. Cleveland already has Donovan Mitchell and James Harden on the roster, both of whom are ball-dominant guards who thrive most when they’re initiating the attack. James is at his best with the ball in his hands. In fact, the more awkward moments with the Lakers this past season were when James was forced to defer substantially to Luka Dončić. The Cavaliers already have a lot of what James brings.
This is a case where James certainly helps the team, but it may take a considerable stretch of time for coaches and players to figure it out. The Timberwolves have failed to break through in the Western Conference playoffs, and with the addition of LaMelo Ball, it's clear that the front office wanted to pair another shot creator and ball-handler alongside Anthony Edwards.
James would be another option to bring the ball up and initiate offense, and he would give Minnesota some flexibility with how they can expand their shot portfolio. But Ball would certainly need to learn to play more efficiently off the ball and James would need to cede some of those responsibilities. James helps the Timberwolves, but not as much as elite perimeter shooting would.
The Warriors desperately need to infuse more play-making to maximize the final years of Stephen Curry’s career. One of the hardest-working players in the NBA, Curry is constantly on the move when off the ball in an attempt to create space. Yet, Golden State’s offense the past couple of seasons has lacked a true ball-handling point guard, so those duties have also often fallen to Curry.
James would instantly become a facilitating play-maker who would get even more out of Curry. And if they could make the money work, a lineup that includes Curry, James and Jimmy Butler, assuming he can return to full health from his torn anterior cruciate ligament, would be a massive upgrade over the one Golden State trotted out last season. While this would be a new franchise and a new system, James played under coach Steve Kerr with Team USA, and he and Curry are longtime friends.
James last played for Miami in 2014. Still, the overall system, culture and expectations are the same because head coach Eric Spoelstra and president Pat Riley are still there. Simply put, James knows this system and there would be no learning curve to figure out his fit.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, when healthy, is the best teammate James would presumably have of all his suitors. Both are built to play in transition, and the Heat ranked first in the NBA this season in pace (104.22). Miami is already pretty competitive in the East after its trade for Antetokounmpo. With James, the Heat would rise to one of the top competitors and would instantly become the East’s top defensive team.
With the additions of Jaylen Brown, Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons, the 76ers have launched themselves into contention for the Eastern Conference title. Adding James might very well make Philly the favorites.
While health concerns will seemingly always follow Joel Embiid, a starting lineup of James, Embiid, Brown, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe instantly becomes among the league’s best. James would ease pressure off Maxey to be the primary ball-handler and would give the Sixers immense flexibility with how they’re able to operate on offense and where points and shot creation can come from. The biggest issue here is that it would be unconventional, if not altogether odd, for James to join a new organization at this stage of his career.
Senators general manager Steve Staios has turned his attention toward some of his Belleville free agents, and for the second straight day, he signed a 2021 first-round draft pick to a one-year, two-way contract for next season.
After Xavier Bourgault re-signed on Thursday, it was Tyler Boucher's turn on Friday.
Like Bourgault, Boucher is coming off his best pro season, by far, this past year and the Senators are hoping he can take another step this fall.
Senators European scout Anders Ostberg describes Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, Ottawa's top pick in last month's draft
Over 47 games, Boucher had 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points with the Belleville Senators, which over a full 72-game AHL season, would be a valuable 40-point pace.
That was not only a good step, it earned him another contract. But games played will remain the key statistic for Boucher, as it does every year.
Looking back to the draft five years ago, Boucher was seen by most analysts as a very good prospect at the 2021 NHL Draft, and probably the most physical forward available, but almost no one, except for the Senators, saw him as top-10 overall material.
He'd love a chance to prove everyone wrong but he'll need to dodge that injury bug that always seems latched on to some part of his body. In the five seasons since his draft day, he's played only 177 hockey games total between his time at Boston U, the Ottawa 67s and the Belleville Senators.
The Senators are obviously hoping (and banking) on Boucher being able to take another step this fall.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published on The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. For full coverage of the Senators, check out one of the latest headlines below:
The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Kekalainen ideally would like to make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, and another possibility is someone who may be readily available in the way of the Anaheim Ducks matching the offer sheet to center Leo Carlsson and that is veteran winger Chris Kreider. The 35-year-old was part of the dismantling of the NY Rangers by former Sabre Chris Drury, as he was dealt to the Ducks after 13 years on Broadway. In his first season on the West Coast, Kreider matched his goal total in his previous season with the Rangers (22) and posted 50 points.
What do the Sabres do to replace Alex Tuch's scoring and leadership?
The matching of Carlsson’s five-year, $90 million deal ($18 million AAV) has left the Ducks with just over $9 million in cap space, 40-goal scorer Cutter Gauthier still to sign, and a blueline short-handed after the departures of vets Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba, and the trade of Olen Zellweger to Buffalo last month. Ducks GM Pat Verbeek was taken by surprise at the Carlsson offer sheet, thinking he would have plenty of cap space to sign him, Gauthier, blueliner Pavel Mintyukov, and more defensive replacements.
The Ducks scrambled to re-sign Mintyukov to a five-year deal at an AAV of $7.2 million, and now do not have enough cap space to extend Gauthier. A number of NHL insiders have indicated that Verbeek is now looking to jettison a contract to clear room to re-sign the 22-year-old scorer, which reportedly include Kreider, former Tampa winger Alex Killorn, and Frank Vatrano.
Adding Kreider would make perfect sense for the Sabres, if he is not on their 15-team no-trade list. Even though he is slowing down, the Massachusetts native can still move and is capable of playing in the top-six. He has one year left on his contract at $6.5 million, which would mean no long-term commitment on the part of Kekalainen, and in the spot that Verbeek is in, a deal might be so low-cost that the Ducks would have to include a pick to take on contract.
That might be a long shot, since there might be a number of teams interested in the big winger, but the potential cost would likely be significantly less than any of the other trade or free agent options out there currently.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Tate Southisene #19 of the Atlanta Braves in the field during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
As the Atlanta Braves have worked to return their farm system to its prior glory in recent years, the 2025 draft class could prove to be one of the most important steps in that rebuilding process.
In a departure from its typical draft strategy of loading up on pitchers with their top picks, the Braves instead selected a trio of shortstops, led by high school standout Tate Southisene with the 22nd overall pick.
At just 18 years old, Southisene was one of the youngest players in the Carolina League upon making his debut for the Low-A Augusta GreenJackets in late August. Though he batted just .215 and produced a mere .539 OPS in 66 plate appearances last season, Southisene returned as a much more polished player in 2026.
Southisene scorched his way to a .297/.429/.500 slash line with eight home runs, 30 RBIs, 46 runs scored, and 36 stolen bases in just 51 games for Augusta before earning a June promotion to High-A Rome.
Hailing from a family that includes four brothers either playing pro ball or with aspirations of doing so, baseball is in the blood for Southisene. I caught up with Tate to discuss his first full season in the professional ranks, his hot start, the adjustments he’s made, and the future.
Grant McAuley: What has the last year been like in your life, because it was about this time a year ago that you were preparing for the draft and deciding your route to professional baseball?
Tate Southisene: Yeah, for sure. The past year has definitely been cool. It’s a different experience just being out on my own, playing professional baseball and just kind of getting my feet wet, but I’ve been enjoying every part of it.
GM: Tell me a little about your experience in the Braves organization thus far. Obviously, there’s the draft process: They select you, you sign, and then you head out somewhere to begin your career. What were those first few steps like, and how long did it take you to look around and realize that you’re a professional baseball player?
TS: The Braves have been great. [As an] organization, I appreciate them just giving me a chance out of high school. Those first couple of months of pro ball, getting down to Florida and getting my feet wet, I was able to enjoy that and then also the process. They made it very easy just being able to get out of there and play my game.
GM: Talking to guys over the years, whether it was Spencer Strider, or Michael Harris II, or Austin Riley, the one thing all talked about is that the Braves do such a great job of preparing you for every step you take along the way up the ladder, then ultimately to the big-league level. It just makes it easier because you do feel like, to your point, that you belong, You’re familiar with everything. You know what those expectations are and you’re just going out there and doing a good day’s work.
TS: Yes, for sure. I mean the Braves, like I said, they kind of set out the format for me and their expectations, so I was just able to go out there and play.
GM: Well, tell me a little bit about your own expectations. You got a taste of the of the minor league life last year. You went back to Augusta this year and were off to a very good start, then you get a promotion to Rome. What has the 2026 season been like for you?
TS: It’s been good. Being able to be out there in 2025, just for that short, little month of professional baseball, affiliate ball, I thought it was great for me. To be able to almost go out there and struggle a little bit as a high schooler, I was able to experience the failures and different stuff like that. So, in 2026 and this past off-season, I was able to prepare a lot more and know what’s to come and not just step into the 2026, just brand-new, but having an idea, a good idea, of what it’s like.
GM: That was going to be my next question. You got a little bit of that experience. And as you mentioned, many if not most know that baseball is a game of failure and you can learn a lot from those failures and use that to propel yourself into the off-season. What was your focus on as you were getting ready for your first spring training?
TS: Yeah, put on some weight on, good weight that is. Get bigger, stronger and faster and that stuff. But really with the swing, just make my adjustments. I had a lot of things going on (swing-wise) and I had to be able to slow the game down, really. So, I was able to touch on some things and I felt good going into Spring Training.
GM: Something else that you have on your side that not everybody does is that you come from a baseball family. How much were you able to lean on your brother, Ty, as you were getting ready for this year and talk over what is really kind of the family business?
TS: Having my brother, Ty [to lean on], was great. He’s already gone through it before. This is his second full year now, so last year it was his first full year. Being able to kind of go through the offseason with him and just kind of know what to work on as we were working out together, running together, hitting together, fielding together. We were doing everything together to prepare for the season.
GM: For those who watch Spring Training and may see some games on TV or listen to on the radio, the minor league side of things is a little bit different experience than big league camp, but did you get to be around some of that? What were your impressions of that first full spring training?
TS: That was great. Just being able to make my adjustments during Spring Training and being around everybody. There’s a lot going on, too, but kind of do your own thing, work on your own stuff. Everything’s kind of on your own for the first couple of weeks. Then be able to get into a group setting last couple of weeks of spring training, I thought it was really good.
GM: Yeah, that camaraderie starts in spring training and extends into the season. Walk me through Augusta and how much different it was the second time around with some adjustments you were able to make. Obviously, the bat has been speaking for itself this year, but you’ve also been doing a lot of running. How would you describe the Tate Southisene game?
TS: I think, for me, I can do a little bit of everything, very versatile. I can hit, hit for power, can steal, can field, can throw. I feel like I can impact the game in a lot of ways, even if I’m not hitting the best. Let’s say I take a walk, then I could steal a bag, too. So, I can kind of impact the game in different ways.
GM: Has there been a coaching focus to elevate your running game? Obviously, you’ve got the speed, but what you do with it is a different story. Has that been a focus there for you and also for the organization to just see how much you can get out of running?
TS: For sure, it was definitely the organization [that] brought it up. We worked on my running form, my stealing form and picking good counts to run on. Yeah, it’s definitely been a focus of mine to just be able to take advantage of my speed.
GM: Talk to me a little bit about your teammates. One of them in particular, Eric Hartman, who you joined up here in Rome, you guys have created a lot of buzz for this team. You were a first-round pick, and then you’ve got somebody who was the very last pick that the Braves made in the 2024 draft class. That’s a unique partnership if you will. What has it been like getting to know Eric and playing with him a little bit more on an everyday basis?
TS: It’s been great. Going up to Augusta last year, Eric was actually the first person I met there. He was to the left of my locker. He walked in and was the first person I met. So, we’ve had a good relationship ever since then. Playing with him in that one month was great and then [to] be able to go down during weight camp, we were working out together. Now, I get to see him in Rome, so that’s been great. He’s a good guy, a good player, great player, really great player.
GM: Now we’ll get to see where your paths take you both as you continue this year. You already know, those in-season promotions can come along. What was your reaction to finding out that you’d be moving up to another level this year and now being able to play with a Rome team alongside Hartman and all these guys on a very exciting squad?
TS: I was very excited about the promotion. I was kind of a little shocked with a change of scenery, for sure. But I’m glad that I’m one step closer to the end goal and just being able to play my game every single day. It’s the same game.
GM: Let me wrap up with this. As we talked about, you’re from a baseball family, what’s the best advice or best support that you’ve gotten from the family?
TS: Just for me, it’s really just [support] mentally. It’s a very mental game, so just stay with your support system and just stick with it every single day.
GM: It is an everyday game and it’s an everyday grind, but you’ve done some pretty good stuff thus far in 2026. Good luck the rest away and thanks for the time.
TS: Thank you. I appreciate it.
In case you missed it, here’s my conversation with rapidly-rising prospect Eric Hartman.
The Brooklyn Nets headline the Summer League slate today, as their deep roster and NBA experience give them a clear edge against the New York Knicks.
I’m also backing Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies against Caleb Wilson and the Chicago Bulls, along with the Oklahoma City Thunder and lottery selection Aday Mara.
Check out my NBA Summer League picks for Friday, July 10.
NBA Summer League predictions for July 10
Pick
Nets moneyline
-244
Grizzlies moneyline
-177
Thunder moneyline
+108
Today's Summer League Picks
Nets moneyline (-244 at Kalshi)
The Brooklyn Nets are heavy favorites for a reason, as they bring plenty of recent experience and talent to the court in Las Vegas. Brooklyn went 2-1 in Salt Lake City, as Egor Demin led the way with 23 points and 7.5 assists across two games. No. 6 pick Mikel Brown Jr. finished with 10 points and four dimes in his lone appearance, and he’s expected to see more run moving forward.
Brooklyn welcomes back all four of last year’s first-round selections in Demin, Ben Saraf, Drake Powell, and Danny Wolf, who each averaged at least 20 minutes while playing 44+ games. Two-way man Chainey Johnson saw NBA run last year, and he’ll be with the team for action in LV.
Conversely, the New York Knicks' Summer League roster features Pacome Dadiet, Mo Diawara, and Dillon Jones. Diawara saw the most playing time of the trio last season with 9.2 minutes per game, and the majority of New York’s roster is comprised of 2026 undrafted players.
Grizzlies moneyline (-177 at Kalshi)
The Memphis Grizzlies started a soft reboot last season, partly due to necessity and partly due to recurring injuries. With Ja Morant off to Portland, a new era has officially arrived in Memphis.
Several new faces saw meaningful run in 2025-26, including Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Taylor Hendricks, Cedric Coward, Walter Clayton Jr., Javon Small, and Jahmai Mashack. All six players recorded multiple starts for Memphis a season ago, and they added Duke standout Cameron Boozer with the third pick in the draft.
Although the Chicago Bulls’ roster isn’t bereft of talent, Memphis’ Summer League roster may be the best in the Association. The Grizzlies aren’t rivaled in depth, experience, or talent.
Thunder moneyline (+108 at Kalshi)
Despite being winless in Summer League action thus far, the Oklahoma City Thunder should be favored against the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been afforded two wins against weak Miami and San Antonio rosters.
OKC's roster includes a pair of Top 16 picks from this year’s draft in Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz, as well as Buddy Boeheim, Brooks Barnhizer, and Payton Sandfort, who all appeared in multiple NBA games last season.
The edge goes to the experienced team, which is still hungry to earn its first Summer League victory.
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Friday’s NBA Summer League parlay
Nets moneyline
Grizzlies moneyline
Thunder moneyline
+359 at Kalshi
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Eric Samulski
James Schiano
Nets moneyline 
Grizzlies moneyline 
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