Kawhi Leonard spent only one season of his 14-year NBA career with the Toronto Raptors and he made it count.
Leonard led the Raptors to their first NBA championship in franchise history, while securing the second Finals MVP award of his career. That led to his first contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, which was a three-year, $103.1 million deal.
Kawhi Leonard spent only one season of his 14-year NBA career with the Toronto Raptors and he made it count. Getty ImagesLeonard led the Raptors to their first NBA championship in franchise history, while securing the second Finals MVP award of his career Getty ImagesThat led to his first contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, which was a three-year, $103.1 million deal. NBAE via Getty Images
Since then Leonard has signed two contract extensions with the Clippers, the first in 2021 after he declined his player option for that season and then re-signed with the team on a four-year, $176.3 million max extension.
The latest contract extension came in 2024, where Leonard signed a three-year, $152.4 million deal that kept the two-time Finals MVP in Los Angeles through the 2026-27 season.
The Raptors are interested in reuniting with the small forward and Leonard is reportedly open to signing an extension with Toronto, per NBA insider Jake Fischer.
While Kawhi Leonard’s preference is to remain with the Clippers, league sources say the two-time Finals MVP would be open to signing an extension with Toronto, amid the Raptors’ own interest in reuniting with Leonard.
However, there are rumblings about Leonard’s availability on the trade block this year. Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat have also been linked to Leonard, but the 34-year-old wouldn’t have interest in inking an extension with either team.
Perhaps Leonard is also nostalgic about his former teams as he is reportedly only considering signing an extension with either Toronto or the San Antonio Spurs.
Ultimately, a reunion scenario would only transpire if the Clippers made Leonard available on the trade block. Currently, the team believes they “still have avenues to fortify their roster around Leonard and remain in Western Conference contention,” according to Fischer.
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With the NBA Draft receding into the rear view mirror, it’s time to find out who is going to get Summer League and training camp invitations. As you might expect with the California and Salt Lake City minor summer league events coming up about a week from now, the teams involved with those might be a little bit quicker on the uptake on that issue, and so:
According to DraftExpress, the Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to Exhibit 10 contract terms with former Marquette guard Chase Ross.
NEWS: Marquette’s Chase Ross has agreed to an Exhibit-10 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell DraftExpress.
14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 steals per game this season.
This is not a real NBA contract for Ross. This is a training camp invite with an option for the team to assign Ross to the Coachella Valley Lakers, their G-League affiliate, after camp is over. Sure, it’s possible that he really impresses someone in the Lakers’ front office or head coach JJ Redick or whatever, and finds his way onto the Los Angeles roster when the season starts, but that’s not the point of what the Lakers are doing here. This is more along the lines of the old-timey college football/basketball “preferred walk-on” recruiting. They definitely want him in Summer League and camp, but maybe that’s about it, and expecting more is probably expecting too much.
Chase Ross was not good for Marquette as a senior in the 2025-26 season. Yes, he finished the year at 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 steals, all of which were career highs while increasing his minutes per game by less than three per night. However, he shot a career worst 29.5% from behind the three-point line, and in an eight game stretch in the middle of the year, he averaged just 10.1 points per game and shot 17.6% from behind the arc. In Big East play, he shot just 38% from the field.
The most optimistic view of Ross relative to a professional future is that he excelled in a secondary or tertiary role behind Tyler Kolek and Kam Jones in the backcourt. No one is going to be asking Chase Ross to lead the way for the Los Angeles Lakers as long as Luka Doncic is alive and well, so I will carve out space to say that because all he has to do is prove he can be A Cog In The Machine, there’s a chance he could find a way to latch on in the league.
With that said, when he was asked to step up his game as a senior leader — much like he would have to step up his game in order to hang with NBA players — Ross failed to answer the call. I’m not optimistic here, but it’ll be nice to have at least one guy to pay attention to during Summer League across the next couple of weeks at the bare minimum.
The Colorado Avalanche finally made the difficult decision they spent years trying to avoid.
After multiple seasons weighing Valeri Nichushkin’s elite on-ice impact against recurring injuries and off-ice uncertainty, Colorado has closed the chapter, trading the veteran winger to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2028 fifth-round selection in the NHL Draft.
It brings an end to one of the most complicated tenures in modern Avalanche history.
Nichushkin arrived in Colorado in August 2019 as a low-risk free-agent signing, a player whose NHL career had stalled in Dallas. Over time, he turned into one of the organization’s most important forwards — and one of its most difficult long-term evaluations.
In 404 regular-season games with the Avalanche, Nichushkin recorded 131 goals and 152 assists for 283 points. In the playoffs, his game often elevated even further, finishing with 27 goals and 40 points in 74 postseason appearances, including a major role in Colorado’s 2022 Stanley Cup championship run.
When he was right, there weren’t many power forwards in the league who looked like him. The size, the speed, the puck protection — it all came together in a way that made him a constant matchup problem and a key driver of Colorado’s puck-possession game.
He also delivered in defining moments. During the 2022 run, Nichushkin played through a broken foot in the Stanley Cup Final and still managed to produce, tying a franchise record with four goals in the series.
But the other side of the story never fully went away.
Injuries consistently interrupted stretches of his tenure, and off-ice issues created a level of uncertainty the Avalanche had to account for year after year. In January 2024, Nichushkin entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and later received a six-month suspension after violating the program’s terms during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Since returning, there were no further public incidents, and head coach Jared Bednar often spoke about his professionalism and impact inside the room. Still, availability remained the constant issue, with injuries limiting him at multiple points during the 2025-26 season and postseason.
For Colorado, the decision ultimately came down to control and clarity. Nichushkin carries a $6.125 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season, and moving that contract gives the Avalanche additional flexibility as they continue reshaping a roster still built around contending.
In return, Colorado acquires three draft picks, including the 43rd overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. The second-round pick originally belonged to St. Louis before being moved through multiple trades to Columbus.
The Avalanche are left with cap space, future assets and one less question mark. The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, are betting that the version of Nichushkin who helped drive Colorado to a championship still has plenty of hockey left to give.
Kendall George, the Dodgers’ No. 13 overall prospect, suffered one of the strangest injuries in recent memory last month.
George (the Dodgers’ No. 36 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft) scored a run during a May 26 game with the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers. While heading back to the dugout, he had to dodge a bat dog who was running onto the field. This caused George to suffer a leg injury that he was visibly frustrated about.
While heading back to the dugout during a May 26 game, Kendall George had to dodge a bat dog running onto the field, resulting in a leg injury. Getty Images
The Dodgers suspended their bat-dog program as a result of George’s injury. While this has been upsetting for fans, it likely was the right call because dogs running around the field became detrimental to top prospects.
George, who’s hitting .328 with an .801 OPS and 26 stolen bases in 44 games this season, was placed on the seven-day injured list one day later because he suffered a left patellar tendon injury from dodging the dog. It took him about a month to return to the field, as he made his return on June 24 for the Dodgers’ Single-A affiliate, the Ontario Tower Buzzers.
It took George about a month to return to the field, as he made his return on June 24 for the Dodgers’ Single-A affiliate, the Ontario Tower Buzzers. Bally Sports
In his first at-bat, the Buzzers’ opponent, the Visalia Rawhide, played sounds of dogs barking, in what was a clear attempt to mock George’s freak injury. A video of this was posted to the Jomboy Media X account on Thursday morning and has since tallied over 380,000 pageviews.
The taunt worked out well for the Rawhide, as George struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The opposing team was playing barking noises as Dodgers prospect Kendall George took his first at bats since injuring his knee avoiding a bat dog
What does this silence surrounding Schneider’s contract negotiations mean for his future in New York?
Despite messages from Schneider about wanting to stay with the Blueshirts, as well as from Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury about waiting to retain Schneider, it does not appear we are heading in that direction.
To kick off the offseason, the trade market has proven to be a sellers' market, as the Rangers have explored trade options for Schneider, according to The Athletic, and could look to capitalize on the current state of the market.
Drury, who is not looking to sit through a prolonged rebuilding process, is widely speculated to be targeting a young forward who could instantly contribute if he were to trade Schneider.
Given the Rangers’ reluctance to commit to Schneider long term, they could sign him to a one to two-year bridge deal, but Schneider, who is coming off a two-year, $4.4 million contract, is likely seeking a long-term contract extension.
It’s also possible the Rangers take a similar route to how they handled K’Andre Miller’s restricted free agency, in which the team agreed to a sign and trade with the Carolina Hurricanes that included a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Draft, and Scott Morrow.
The silence surrounding Schneider’s contract negotiations does not bode well for his chances of remaining with the Rangers into the future.
Speedy Colorado rookie Cole Carrigg hustled out a recent double, losing his batting helmet and leg guard along the way. He slid into second with such force that he ripped his pants, before hopping up and performing a little shimmy shake toward the dugout.
That’s the new grit, the new attitude, of a team still in last place but finding a path upward under the watchful gaze of a new front office. This isn’t the same floundering Rockies from a year ago that flirted with baseball’s all-time worst record.
At 32-49, the Rockies are already a plus-14 wins from where they were a year ago at the halfway mark. They’ve turned the page on last season, too — on the last three seasons in which they’ve dropped 323 games (2023-25). That’s tied with the 1940-42 Philadelphia Phillies for the fifth-most losses by a squad over a three-year span in the modern era.
Players like Carrigg and TJ Rumfield are helping bring a youthful vibe to the field.
Outfielder Mickey Moniak said the mentality these days is winning instead of hoping not to lose.
“That’s just a big step in the right direction. I think it’s only up from here,” he said.
Last season, the Rockies didn’t win their 32nd game until Aug. 13. They were also 18-23 in one-run games. This season, they’re 11-10 in games decided by a run.
“Even during games where we’re losing, I don’t think there’s a lot of panic,” said the 24-year-old Carrigg, who’s hitting .271 with three homers since being promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque on June 9. “Everybody trusts each other. We all know that we’re all great baseball players, and we’re here for a reason. We have a really special group of guys.”
This young nucleus, which includes All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, gives them promise down the road (they currently have around a 0.1% chance of making the playoff this season). The team hasn’t been to the postseason since 2018.
“There’s been a high level of commitment to elevate the story,” manager Warren Schaeffer said.
A path forward
Rebuilds, though, take time.
That’s why a front office led by Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes are being patient to make sure a consistent message permeates through all levels of the organization.
“We’ve still got a ways to go,” said Byrnes, who was brought in as general manager from the reigning World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers. “But I’m encouraged by the progress.”
An area the Rockies plan to upgrade is the pitching throughout the system. That could be addressed through the draft next month or before the trade deadline in early August.
“Pitching is always going to be a challenge here when it’s tested over six months, and it’s our daily ritual of who’s available, who’s not,” Byrnes said. “Candidly, and it’s been done here before, to build a pitching staff that’s playoff-caliber and hopefully sustainable for several years — not just the players, but the methods behind it — is probably pretty high on the list for what we’re trying to do.”
The trade deadline
The Rockies do figure to be sellers at the trade deadline, especially given their surplus of outfielders. DePodesta already is starting to field some calls.
Anybody untouchables?
“There would be certain guys that would be really, really hard for us to move,” said DePodesta, the president of baseball operations. “That’s probably true for any team. There are guys that we feel are hopefully foundational players for us going forward.
“At the same time, I think we need to be opportunistic. We’re not where we want to be. So, if there are opportunities for us to get better, certainly both in the short-term and long-term, we need to look at that.”
One thing the Rockies are preaching on the minor-league level is position flexibility. Carrigg, for example, played outfield along with shortstop.
“It’s good for you. It’s good for us. Let’s do it,” Byrnes said. “It’s going to require some work, but for the most part ... it’s going very well.
“The most important thing we can do is deliver a team (fans) can root for, a team that wins, a team that plays in October.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers have faced many familiar faces on the mound, but one former pitcher has yet to showcase his arsenal against them.
San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler is lined up to start in Friday’s series opener versus the back-to-back World Series champions at Petco Park.
Walker Buehler is lined up to get the start against the Dodgers in Friday’s series opener. AP Photo/LM OteroManager Dave Roberts of the Dodgers. The team will face off against the erstwhile pitcher at Petco Park. Matt Marton-Imagn Images
After a shaky start with the Padres, the right-hander has seemingly found his rhythm. Buehler is sporting a 3.96 ERA in his last 15 starts for the Friars.
Buehler spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Dodgers, but chose to part ways with the team in free agency during the 2024 offseason. The Dodgers reportedly offered Buehler $20 million to return to LA, but he ultimately decided on signing a $21.05 million deal with the Boston Red Sox for the 2025 campaign.
Buehler’s time with the Red Sox proved nightmarish as he posted a 5.45 ERA across 112.1 innings of work in Boston. The team chose to release Buehler and he was picked up by the Philadelphia Phillies, where he tossed 13.2 frames with a 0.66 ERA.
The lackluster performance by Buehler caused serious doubt about the right-hander’s abilities following his second Tommy John surgery. The Padres signed the 31-year-old to a minor league deal in the winter and he earned his way to the Opening Day rotation.
Padres sweep the Braves behind terrific start by Sears. Next up, the Dodgers, who just swept the Twins.
Buehler vs. Sasaki on Fri. Sasaki faces SD for the first time since Manny Machado hosted him at his home for dinner during their recruitment pitch, ahead of him choosing LA pic.twitter.com/2X6SrR28LC
Despite a shaky start, Buehler has remained a staple of the Padres rotation and he may very well face his former team Friday in what is poised to be an exciting matchup.
Since his 2024 World Series heroics, the right-hander has yet to feature in the postseason. If president of baseball operations A.J. Preller orchestrates multiple trades at the deadline, there’s a chance the Padres make a deep playoff run with Buehler in the rotation.
As Dodgers’ opponents learned in October 2024, the right-hander shines when the lights are brightest.
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SAN FRANCISCO — For a baseball team that can’t seem to do anything right between the lines, you’d think the Giants would try to ace their image off the field.
And yet, their putrid play isn’t even the organization’s primary problem.
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey meets with the media Tuesday in San Francisco. Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
The public relations disasterclass that started almost two weeks ago when the franchise failed to get in front of a Pride Night fiasco that has escalated into a federal investigation and put the club in the crosshairs of a national political debate only continued Thursday.
Once again, a top club official was put in front of the press and took one big swing and a miss.
Apparently even the friendliest possible setting was too scary for the team’s top baseball executive.
Dickinson introduced Posey’s replacement by telling listeners that the team’s top business-side executive had “some things [he] wants to address about Pride Night.” That much alone was dubious, given that Baer was not made available despite repeated requests by reporters following the uncomfortable session with Posey in which he would only answer “baseball questions.”
Posey canceled a scheduled radio appearance on KNBR on Thursday. Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Despite apparently preparing a statement, Baer said about as little as Posey did two days prior and took no questions on the controversy. That, according to a source familiar, was a result of the restrictions put on the interview by team officials, who told the hosts in a meeting over Zoom the night before that Baer would be pinch-hitting and no follow-ups on the topic would be permitted.
Baer said he wanted to “speak from the heart” but offered the same mealy mouthed platitudes present in the organization’s lone, nameless statement after Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote Bible verses on the Pride Night hats that featured a rainbow Giants logo.
A fourth pitcher, Sam Hentges, opted to wear the Giants’ black and orange cap.
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“I know we’ve heard from many fans, and I know there are deep feelings about the events of Pride Night this year. We know it, we’ve heard, we’re listening,” Baer said.
“Just come context here: It’s a North Star here to create an experience in our ballpark for all fans, at Candlestick and Oracle Park, an experience that’s welcoming to all fans. That has not changed. … You know, look, yes, we’ve learned a lot in the last 11 days. Yes, we could have handled things better this year, for sure. We’re absolutely committed to continuing conversations with the LGBTQ+ community going forward. That’s where we are as an organization. … I just wanted to deliver that message to the fans and move on. Let’s talk about some other things.”
The pitchers’ actions were initially reprimanded by MLB for violating the uniform code, leading the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the league over religious discrimination.
“I know we’ve heard from many fans, and I know there are deep feelings about the events of Pride Night this year. We know it, we’ve heard, we’re listening,” Baer said. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Commisioner Rob Manfred placed blame directly on the organization for the “inadequate” communication to its players, and given what we’ve seen from their public posturing, should it be any surprise that it’s apparently just as much of a mess behind closed doors?
But nobody, even the franchise’s supposed leaders, is willing to address any of that.
Even when posed with the line of questioning they prefer, the team’s top decision-makers don’t seem capable of coming up with adequate answers. Posey called his news conference despite having not even spoken to Devers, largely deflecting those inquiries to manager Tony Vitello.
Baer, asked about the team’s problematic bullpen, noted how unfortunate it was that they had lost last year’s All-Star closer, Randy Rodriguez, to elbow surgery — a development that took place last September, before Posey opted not to commit more than $2 million to any reliever.
The bullpen came up the last time Posey appeared on the KNBR airwaves. Asked about his lack of investment in the group over the offseason, he used a strawman to deflect criticism. He seemed to suggest his choices were committing $69 million to Edwin Diaz or nothing at all.
The inability to articulate a vision can be traced back to Posey’s first day on the job, when he suggested his plan to return the team to relevance was to focus on “making memories.”
Surely, nobody will forget this saga anytime soon.
Even if they would prefer to, as Baer put it, talk about some other things.
RENO, NV - MARCH 18: Nevada Guard Corey Camper Jr. (4) looks on during a break in the action late in the game during a first round NIT Tournament college basketball game between the Murray State Racers and the Nevada Wolf Pack on March 18, 2026, at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, NV. (Photo by Greg Ashman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a deal with undrafted free agent Corey Camper Jr. out of Nevada, per One Time Agency Group. Nevada Athletics announced that it is an Exhibit 10 contract with the Suns after going undrafted.
Camper Jr. spent his senior season at Nevada, averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season, while hooting 45.3 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three. Camper, a 6-foot-5, 181-pound prospect profiles as a wing player, likely a shooting guard at the next level.
— On Time Agency | We Are Player-Driven (@ontimeagencygrp) June 25, 2026
Camper Jr. played two junior-college seasons and two years at UTEP before transferring to Nevada for his senior season. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors.
An Exhibit 10 deal is a one-year, non-guaranteed minimum-salary NBA contract for undrafted rookies that comes with an invitation to Summer League and training camp, which could secure a spot for Camper on the Suns’ preseason roster.
So far, the Suns have done the following:
Pick 30: Koa Peat – Forward (Arizona)
Undrafted FA: Sam Hoiberg – Guard (Nebraska)
Undrafted FA: Corey Camper Jr. – Wing (Nevada)
Camper Jr. will join a Suns Summer League squad that will likely feature Koa Peat, Rasheer Fleming, Khaman Maluach, Koby Brea and Sam Hoiberg.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 21: Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Globe Life Field on June 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for June 25, 2026 against the Toronto Blue Jays: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Kevin Gausman for the Jays.
Corey Seager is back! And the Rangers are in Toronto, where unpleasant things often happen for the team. But we’re going to think positive about this four game series.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Langford — CF
Seager — SS
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — 3B
Osuna — LF
Higashioka — C
Lopez — 2B
6:07 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +120 underdogs.
New Zealand’s Tom Latham and Devon Conway broke a record that had stood for nearly a hundred years before England skipper Ben Stokes marked his return to international duty by sparking a late fightback on the first day of the third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Rokas Jokubaitis #32 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game on July 16, 2024 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You might or might not like what the New York Knicks did in the 2026 NBA Draft. Hell, you might or might not like the draft entirely, because there were 30 second-round picks and only one of them wasn’t traded among all the cap maneuvering and asset stockpiling across the Association.
First and foremost, you should get familiar with the two dudes that are actually (we expect) part of the Knicks roster for the upcoming season, which are Vanderbilt forward Tyler Nickel and German international guard Jack Kayil. Young bloods!
With that out of the way, the funniest part of the draft and the Knicks’ trades on both Tuesday and Wednesday is that you never know what might come with those sorts of ancillary, seemingly meaningless, filled-with-random-stuff deals.
And if you don’t believe me, ask Keith Smith. Shortly after the Knicks traded out of the first round, Smith pointed out that by adding the draft rights to French prospect Melvin Ajinca, the Knicks now have the rights for 17 (!!!) players.
After acquiring the draft rights for Melvin Ajinca as part of their draft night trading, the New York Knicks now hold draft rights for 17 players!
In all of my years of doing this, I've never seen a team come anywhere close to that number of draft rights held at one time.
Of course, we (probably just me) here at P&T take all things Knicks very seriously and couldn’t let the opportunity pass without tackling every one of the dudes whose rights belong to NYK, so you know the professional team from Stashtown, the Stash Squad, from younger to older, so the disrespect gets increasingly higher.
Get some popcorn and sit tight, this is definitely going to be a hella long ride down memory lane.
F — Melvin Ajinca, 21 (2024 Draft) — ASVEL Basket
Ajinca is the new headliner of the Knicks’ collection because he is young enough (just damn 21 years old, three years younger than some prospects that just got drafted!) to make this whole exercise feel slightly more meaningful. The French wing was drafted 51st overall in 2024, originally by the Knicks, shipped to Dallas, then returned to New York through the 2026 draft-night trade chaos.
At 6-foot-8, Ajinca is the one name in the list you can talk yourself into with a straight face. He played this past season for ASVEL in France and the EuroLeague, getting real minutes against grown professionals. The shooting still needs work, but size, athleticism, age, and wing tools will always keep the door open for a potential NBA stint.
C — James Nnaji, 21 (2023 Draft) — Baylor Bears
Nnaji is probably the second-most interesting name on the list, and maybe the strangest in terms of development path. The 7-foot Nigerian center was selected 31st overall in 2023, never signed an NBA contract, bounced through Europe, had his rights land with the Knicks in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and then somehow became a… NCAA Baylor Bear?
Anyway. Nnaji has NBA size, length, and defensive tools. The offense remains raw, but the Knicks do not need him to become Hakeem Olajuwon in case of absolute emergency. They would settle for a large human who can screen, rebound, block shots, and avoid turning every catch into a turnover.
G — Hugo Besson, 25 (2022 Draft) — Tofas
Besson was the 58th pick in the 2022 draft, and his rights came to the Knicks from Milwaukee in the Jericho Sims trade. He is now with Tofas in Turkey, which is not exactly the route you’d imagine someone would take to become Jalen Brunson’s backup.
The French guard has bounced around a bit, including stops in New Zealand, France, Serbia, Italy, and Turkey. That is concerning for the Americans reading, but we in Europe are simply accustomed to this type of living, believe me. He can handle, shoot, and score, but he would need a big jump to become more than an emergency stash name.
G — Rokas Jokubaitis, 25 (2021 Draft) — Bayern Munich
Ah, Rokas. The one-time golden child of Knicks Summer League and still, undoubtedly and undisputedly, the No. 1 stash in my heart. The lefty Lithuanian guard was picked 34th in 2021 and arrived in the same draft-night deal that brought Miles McBride to New York, which means the Knicks already won this transaction even if Rokas never crosses the Atlantic.
Jokubaitis signed with Bayern Munich through 2028 after a season with Maccabi Tel Aviv. He also suffered a significant knee injury during EuroBasket, which complicates his future. When healthy, he is a smart pick-and-roll guard with EuroLeague experience. The Knicks’ backcourt, sadly, has never really opened the door for Rokas.
G — Ognjen Jaramaz, 30 (2017 Draft) — Cedevita Olimpija
Jaramaz is one of the rare players on this list who was actually drafted by the Knicks. That alone gives him a special place in Stashtown. The Serbian guard was selected 58th overall in 2017 and has built a long European career with stops at Partizan, Bayern Munich, Baskonia, and Cedevita Olimpija. He has played EuroLeague basketball, national-team basketball, and enough high-level games to count as a legitimate pro. Too bad the NBA ship has sailed.
F — Juan Pablo Vaulet, 30 (2015 Draft) — Estudiantes
Vaulet is a 2015 stash classic. He was drafted 39th overall by Charlotte, had his rights traded around the league, and eventually landed with the Knicks in the Mikal Bridges trade.
The Argentine forward currently plays for Estudiantes in one of Spain’s lower-level divisions. He has good size, international experience, and a respectable career overseas. He also turns 31 next season, so this is less “future Knick” and more “old asset available for silly trade packages.”
G — Nikola Radicevic, 32 (2015 Draft) — Lietkabelis Panevezys
Radicevic was picked 57th overall by Denver in 2015 and eventually came to the Knicks in the Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel salary-dump deal with Detroit. The Serbian guard is back with Lietkabelis in Lithuania after a career that has taken him through Spain, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Lithuania.
He is a real professional guard. He is also 32, which makes an NBA arrival hard to imagine unless Brock Aller finds a new exploit in the CBA.
C — Wang Zhelin, 32 (2016 Draft) — Shanghai Sharks
Wang Zhelin is one of the more accomplished active players on the list. The 7-foot Chinese center was selected 57th overall by Memphis in 2016, had his rights routed through the Lakers, and landed with the Knicks in 2022.
He has spent his career in China and currently plays for the Shanghai Sharks. He has been a CBA star, a multiple-time All-Star, and a domestic MVP. That matters—only just in China.
F — Luka Mitrovic, 33 (2015 Draft) — CSKA Moscow
Mitrovic was Mr. Irrelevant of the 2015 NBA Draft, selected 60th overall by Philadelphia. A decade later, the Knicks acquired his rights in a 2025 draft-night pick swap, because of course they did.
The Serbian forward currently plays for CSKA Moscow after a long career with Crvena Zvezda and other European clubs. He is a smart, experienced frontcourt player with real credentials overseas.
F/C — Bojan Dubljevic, 34 (2013 Draft) — Retired
Dubljevic was picked 59th overall by Minnesota in 2013 and became a Valencia Basket legend rather than an NBA player.
The Montenegrin big man retired in June 2026 after a decorated European career, including a long run in Spain and later stops with Zenit and a return to Zaragoza. The Knicks still hold his NBA rights, for some reason.
F — Latavious Williams, 37 (2010 Draft) — Al-Ittihad Jeddah
Williams was the 48th pick in the 2010 draft, selected by Miami. The Knicks acquired his rights from New Orleans in the Jose Alvarado trade, which means he is part of the same family tree as GTA, which is nothing remotely close to bad.
Williams has never played in the NBA, but he has played basically everywhere else, including the G League, Spain, Israel, Korea, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
G — Sergio Llull, 38 (2009 Draft) — Real Madrid
Llull is the crown jewel of “great player, never coming over” draft-rights lore, and in Spain, we’re still debating from time to time whether or not he did right or wrong nearly 20 years later. Denver selected him 34th overall in 2009, Houston famously bought his rights but could never convince him to come to Texas, and the Knicks acquired them in the Austin Rivers sign-and-trade in 2020.
He has spent nearly two decades with Real Madrid, winning basically everything there is to win in Europe. EuroLeague MVP. EuroLeague champion. Spanish champion. Big-shot maker. Absolute legend.
F — Emir Preldzic, 38 (2009 Draft) — Orlovik Zepce
Preldzic was selected 57th overall by Phoenix in 2009, then went on a draft-rights tour through Cleveland, Washington, Dallas, Indiana, Toronto, Philadelphia, and finally New York. He has been in more NBA transactions than many actual NBA players.
The veteran forward currently plays for Orlovik Zepce in Bosnia and Herzegovina. At his peak, he was a skilled, versatile forward with ball-handling chops and a strong career in Turkey. At 38, the dream is not the NBA. The dream is being included in another trade and confusing another fan base.
G — Petteri Koponen, 38 (2007 Draft) — Retired/Coach
Koponen is special because he is the only first-round pick in the Knicks’ Stash Squad. Philadelphia selected him 30th overall in 2007, and he eventually came to New York from Dallas in the original Ajinca-Hukporti-Koponen weirdness of 2024.
He retired as a player in 2022 and later moved into coaching—because which squad doesn’t have a coach, right?—including a stint with the New Zealand Breakers. So yes, the Knicks hold the draft rights to a retired Finnish guard who is already a coach. You read that right. Mike Brown, watch out.
F — Tadija Dragicevic, 40 (2008 Draft) — Retired
Dragicevic was selected 53rd overall by Utah in 2008. His rights bounced from Utah to Dallas to Chicago to Houston to New York because second-round rights seemingly never expire.
The Serbian forward has retired after a long European career. He never played in the NBA. He will not play for the Knicks. But his rights remain in New York, which means he is technically part of the club’s vast international empire.
G/F — Brad Newley, 41 (2007 Draft) — Retired
Newley was selected 54th overall by Houston in 2007 and came to the Knicks in 2022. He built a long career in Australia and Europe, including NBL stops with the Sydney Kings and Melbourne United, then retired after the 2023-24 season.
This is another “not a prospect, still a (dumb) asset” situation. Newley is not walking through any door. He might be having trouble walking outright (I’m getting there).
F — Axel Hervelle, 43 (2005 Draft) — Retired
Hervelle is the oldest player on the list and the elder statesman of the stash. Denver selected him 52nd overall in 2005, back when Mike Sweetney was still a Knick, Jamal Crawford was still young, and Madison Square Garden had yet to go through the full Isiah Thomas experience.
The Belgian forward retired in 2020 after a strong European career with Real Madrid, Bilbao, and Spirou. The Knicks acquired his rights in 2020. Why? Because the transaction worked for them!
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 16, 2023,...
The NBA’s offseason rhythms don’t slow down for anyone.
And the immediate question that followed — with the official start of free agency a week away — is how Reaves’ new nine-figure deal will affect the Lakers financially this offseason?
The quick answer? Minimally.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (right) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (left) during Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series. AP
Because Reaves didn’t officially sign the contract, his $20.9 million cap hold (which allows the Lakers to maintain his Bird Rights and go over the salary cap line of $165 million to re-sign him) is on the Lakers’ books instead of the $41.3 million salary he’ll have for 2026-27.
From here, the Lakers have multiple paths they can choose from when entering free agency.
They have five players (LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes) slated to become unrestricted free agents and two more players (Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart), having until Monday to decide whether they’ll opt into their player options or opt out and become free agents.
The Lakers can relinquish everyone’s cap hold but Reaves’, which would create around $48 million in cap space.
They could use the cap space to re-sign their own players, sign other unrestricted free agents, make offer sheets for restricted free agents or use in trades to acquire players without having to send out players who make an equal amount of salary.
If the Lakers took this route, they’d also have the $9.4 million room exception.
And then from there, officially re-signing Reaves would be the last order of business.
But if the Lakers decide to stay over the cap, they could maintain the rights to re-sign most of their own free agents. They’d also have access to the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which they could use to sign one player or multiple free agents, which they did last season with Ayton and Jake LaRavia.
Reaves’ contract may be significant, but it isn’t slowing the Lakers down this offseason.
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 07: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers walks through the dugout before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field on June 07, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have activated shortstop Corey Seager from the injured list, the team announced this afternoon. To make room for Seager on the active roster, the Rangers have placed infielder Cody Freeman on the 15 day injured list with a herniated disc. In addition, the Rangers formally announced the release of first baseman Blaine Crim. The 40 man roster currently stands at 39.
Seager has not had an ideal first half of the 2026 season. He got off to a slow start and was slashing just .179/.286/.353 when he went on the injured list in mid-May due to back issues. He was activated in early June but only played five games before going on the 7 day concussion injured list after a collision at home plate against the Kansas City Royals on June 11. Hopefully, Seager will hit the ground hitting like Corey Seager.
Coincidentally, Seager’s former double play partner, Marcus Semien, was just placed on the injured list by the New York Mets earlier today.
Freeman was initially called up at the beginning of June when Sam Haggerty went on the bereavement list. He was sent down just a couple of days later when Seager was activated from his first i.l. stint, then came back up on June 13 when Evan Carter went on the i.l. Freeman started three straight games when he was brought up the second time, but from June 16 through yesterday had only appeared in three games, all coming off the bench in late game situations. For the year, he has slashed .235/.278/.235. He will now been sidelined for a while.
UPDATE — I originally posted this saying that Freeman had been optioned to AAA Round Rock. This is because when I saw Seager had been activated and then saw Freeman’s name on the transaction, I just assumed that he was optioned and didn’t read carefully enough. I apologize for the mistake. It has been a hectic few weeks for me, and I haven’t been as focused as I should be.
