SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 6: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies grabs a rebound against Justin Harmon #44 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of a 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game at the Jon M Huntsman Center on July 6, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. ( Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Monday night’s NBA Summer League play, former Duke star Cameron Boozer continues to impress.
He finished the game against Utah with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, hit 4-5 on his threes, and shot 6-9 overall, and did that in 27 minutes.
In a related note, former BC big man Quentin Post has signed an offer sheet with Memphis for a 3-year, $30 million dollar deal. Mike Dunleavy and Golden State can match it if they do so by 11:59 Tuesday night.
In the other Summer League game of note, San Antonio played the L.A. Lakers, and while Maliq Brown didn’t have a big offensive game, L.A.’s starters shot a collective 14-30, and the frontcourt combined for 5-19, and our guess is that Brown had something to do with that.
Long before the Philadelphia Flyers made their ambitious Leo Carlsson offer sheet, they were planning a big-money heist for an already established NHL superstar.
After the end of the 2025-26 season and the subsequent Stanley Cup playoff run, the Flyers expressed some surprise that more of the top prospective free agents in the 2026 class never made it to free agency.
Some of those star players who could have found new teams in free agency include Artemi Panarin, Jack Eichel, and Kirill Kaprizov, though all three extended with their respective NHL teams.
As a result, the Flyers were left high and dry and ultimately pivoted to Leo Carlsson, though if they had it their way, things would have looked much different.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers had planned on targeting Kaprizov, the superstar Minnesota Wild winger, before the Russian phenom signed a blockbuster eight-year, $136 million contract extension ($17 million AAV) on Sept. 25.
"I had heard that if Kaprizov had hit the market this year, Philly was going to drop bags of cash on his house," Friedman said in his latest episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast. "Minnesota knew that. Minnesota knew, one of the reasons they did that was that they knew Philly would if they didn't."
So, even before the Flyers made the run they did in the Stanley Cup playoffs, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games before getting swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, general manager Danny Briere and this front office were big-game hunting.
Kaprizov, a four-time 40-goal scorer with a 108-point season under his belt, certainly qualifies, though it is also worth considering that he is a winger, and Carlsson is a natural center.
The Flyers connection with Kaprizov has always been there, too, as assistant general manager Brent Flahr was the one who drafted the Russian superstar to the Wild when he was with the organization back in 2015.
Flahr, of course, now runs the Flyers' drafts, and it is no secret that unearthing Kaprizov as a fifth-round pick is by far Flahr's biggest success and claim to fame at the NHL level.
Regardless of the ultimate outcome with Kaprizov, it speaks volumes about the Flyers' willingness to do whatever it takes to acquire good players and pay the price required to win.
They have doubled down on their bet with the Carlsson offer sheet, apparently steadfast in their belief that the young Swede, too, can develop into a 100-point player, especially with options like Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone flanking him on the wings.
And we can safely assume that if the Flyers come up short in their pursuit of Carlsson, they won't throw in the towel.
The Chicago Blackhawks have made multiple additions to their roster this off-season. Among them is defenseman Ian Cole, as the Blackhawks signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract. His new deal also comes with an additional $750,000 of potential performance bonuses.
The Blackhawks' decision to sign Cole makes sense. With the Blackhawks having a blueline full of youngsters, it certainly is understandable that they have signed Cole to have more experience. He will provide the Blackhawks with a much-needed veteran defenseman who can help mentor their young players.
While a big reason for the Blackhawks signing the 37-year-old Cole was his experience, he is also still a solid defenseman at this stage of his career. He should provide more stability to Chicago's bottom pairing and will be a clear option for their penalty kill because of his shutdown ability.
Cole is coming off a solid 2025-26 season with the Utah Mammoth, as he posted three goals, 20 assists, 23 points, and 151 hits. If he can translate these kinds of numbers over to next season, he will be a nice pickup for a Blackhawks club that is looking to be more competitive in 2026-27.
Overall, there is no real harm in the Blackhawks signing a veteran like Cole to a one-year deal.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 30: Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 30, 2024 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Six years ago I saw a photo of Donald Sutherland and thought, “Man, he looks a lot like Gregg Popovich.” Thought it would make a good Open Thread, so I wrote it up as:
I never, ever, in a million years thought to myself “Jesse Eisenberg is the perfect choice.” Yet, the Oscar nominee has expressed an interest in portraying the greatest coach in NBA history.
— San Antonio Express-News (@ExpressNews) July 6, 2026
“I just find him to be the most fascinating person on the planet,” Eisenberg stated. “Here’s this tough coach who cries sometimes and talks about the plight of America, and yet he’s also this terrifying figure who can be so mean to journalists. People like that are fascinating because, on the one hand, they’re known to be very nasty, and on the other hand they’re these bleeding hearts.”
Admittedly, Eisenberg believes he would be “low on the list” for consideration of the role if one were to ever materialize.
Okay, so Eisenberg is notn the first choice to portray Pop. Who could be?
Austin restauranteur Gerald Stone is a spitting image.
But if a true actor is dessired, the best option is Clive Owen.
Owen, known for his dashing good looks, has gone gray as of late. His look in the top photo melded with the beard in the lower shot with a little Hollywood magic supplies a spitting image of the iconic coach. Can the English actor pull off Pop’s tone and timbre? We’ll have to cast and see.
How about other NBA coaches? I still contend Jim Carrey is a dead ringer for Rick Carlisle.
Are there any other NBA Coaches who have a an actor on deck awaiting the casting call?
I took a break from writing this and now must go off road fr0m basketball to say the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino could only be played by Russell Crowe.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 01: Mauricio Pochettino, Head Coach of the United States, looks on before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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On Monday, Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens sat alongside team owner Bill Chisholm as they addressed the unpopular decision to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Celtics shipped Brown to Philly last Wednesday in exchange for 36-year-old veteran Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-rounders. The deal was widely considered to be lopsided in the Sixers’ favor, especially since it doesn’t do much to help Boston financially over the next two seasons. George is set to make $54.1 million next season and has a $56.6 million player option for 2027-28.
While Stevens understands the uproar, he’s looking at the trade through a long-term lens. Throughout the press conference, he used the word “optionality” to explain why he believes the move will help the organization in the future.
“I think when you use the term ‘optionality’, you’re talking about just length of contract and assets,” Stevens said. “So that’s where the increased optionality comes from.”
Brown’s max contract is set to run through 2028-29, so that’s at least one fewer season of two Celtics players taking up roughly 70 percent of the salary cap.
But why send him to the Eastern Conference rival that ousted you in the first round of this year’s NBA playoffs?
“If I was being honest, if that exact deal came from a team out west and you were comparing the two, then you’d probably take the team out west, but that’s not the way it was working,” Stevens said.
There were plenty of other takeaways from Stevens and Chisholm’s press conference, but Stevens’ “optionality” explanation was chief among them. Chris Forsberg and Tom E. Curran shared their instant reactions to Stevens’ remarks during the latest edition of the Celtics Talk Podcast.
“They were going to perpetually tread water because of the finances,” Curran said. “So when the trade was made, I understood that they weren’t trading for Paul George and picks. The number one, banner headline on the marquee is ‘flexibility.'”
Forsberg also came away from the press conference with a better understanding of what Stevens & Co. are trying to accomplish.
“As it started to digest… I was like, ‘OK, I can see the vision,'” Forsberg said. “It’s certainly not the most robust trade return, and get why people were frustrated by that, but the Celtics essentially got to the point where they just need some flexibility to put this thing back together. I think Brad came in trying to stress that.”
Also in the episode:
How are you feeling after hearing Brad Stevens and Bill Chisholm?
Why was there a disconnect between Jaylen Brown and Brad Stevens about the trade conversations?
Bill Chisholm says the Celtics’ moves are not being driven by money
How are you feeling if you’re Jayson Tatum?
Watch the full episode of the Celtics Talk Podcast below:
25 June 2026, Bavaria, Munich: A civet in the renovated Hellabrunn Jungle World at Hellabrunn Zoo during the opening ceremony. Photo: Tobias Hase/dpa (Photo by Tobias Hase/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Shouts out to the World Cup organizers for placing Spain’s games all at 9 p.m. in my time zone, which is definitely better than having to wake up at 2:30 a.m. to watch the Knicks play. On to your daily links and notes.
The Knicks announced the new deals for Landry Shamet, Mo Diawara, and Jose Alvarado after the moratorium ended on Monday, as well as making the Andre Drummond signing official. I’ll have more on those contracts and the details revealed afterward, so keep an eye on the front page.
The NY Daily News’s Kris Winfield made a case that Diawara may have to become a real rotation player next season as the only true backup wing-forward with size on the roster behind Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
The New York Post’s Jared Schwartz broke down the Drummond-Mitch changes and the world the Knicks will be entering next season. We all know the similarities (big O-board boys!), so here’s a bit on the differences:
“Drummond, on the other hand, is a much more one-dimensional defender. He is solid when matched up against bigs, but he is not someone the Knicks will want checking guards and wings. He is not as agile or mobile as Robinson. Drummond has developed into a competent enough one at this point, (and) has recently emerged as someone who can knock down the occasional 3-pointer, especially from the corners.”
The Athletic’s John Hollinger placed the Knicks alone in “Tier 1A” among contenders for the 2027 NBA title, only behind the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder in Tier 1. Given Hollinger’s predictions age as well as milk, make of that what you wish. Tiny excerpt:
“Re-climbing that mountain will be hard, and (the Knicks) won’t necessarily get the same breaks. Still, these would be your on-paper favorites in the East in any playoff tournament, even if they might not enter it as the top seed.”
Former P&T scribe Lee Escobedo jumped on the Knicks-LBJ silliness and made it very clear the Knicks “should say no to LeBron James.” Fair points all around, but for a min deal, I’m still all-in. Obviously, it’s not happening.
James, for one, won’t be meeting any suitors this time. Chris Haynes with the report, Rich Paul with the public and hidden work. (As if there is something to work on, as it’s a given that Cleveland is the final destination from the minute he joined LA back in 2018).
Speaking of old people and horrible franchises, the Kings waived DeMar DeRozan on Monday. With the Warriors out of the LBJ picture (no, literally), ESPN’s Anthony Slater is reporting there is a Dubs interest in DeMDeR. Same as with James, I’d be delighted to have DeRozan clad in Knicks threads as long as he accepts the vet min and comes off the bench carrying a mid-range flamethrower.
Rich Paul keeps popping up (s/o Muruju for bringing it to my attention), and he’s now defending (?) Knicks owner James Dolan and his second-apron mandate. We’ve had our fair share of discussions about it in the comments sections for the past three weeks, but you can always keep talking about it below.
The Nuggets are expected to waive Jonas Valanciunas on Wednesday, saving $8 million and allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. I covered the news, possibilities, and Lakers/Knicks links to the veteran yesterday, so feel free to join the discussion in the comments section as we’re staying relevant.
Brad Stevens finally spoke about the infamous Jaylen Brown trade to Philadelphia, saying the Celtics “lost a lot of sleep” over the decision but wanted to “stay good” while adding “optionality.” Just for context, the Celtics traded for Paul George’s not-honerous-at-all $54.1 + $56.5 million deal for this and next season, which definitely adds flexibility to the Beantown books.
Golden nugget in a piece published on ESPN yesterday involving two franchises fighting for who finishes worse in the standings and cripples its future the most this summer: “I mean, the guy got traded for less than Walker Kessler. That’s baffling to me.”
Another good one on the Lake Show, per Vincent Goodwill via B/R, following the ridiculous Kessler trade:
“Despite a busy week of moves for the Los Angeles Lakers and general manager Rob Pelinka to kick off free agency, not everyone in the NBA is impressed with what they have done for their roster. On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast (starts at 25:45 mark), ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill explained one rival GM asked if Pelinka was ‘trying to get fired’ in the wake of the Lakers’ moves.“
OAKAAK Mario Hezonja is exploring an NBA comeback as he nears a July 20 deadline to leave Real Madrid. He is under contract through 2029 but has an NBA exit clause and a buyout around the standard $850,000 mark. Would you pay that for He-Man?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with Payton Pritchard #11 against the Philadelphia 76ers during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Jaylen Brown trade to the Philadelphia 76ers becoming official, the Boston Celtics will play their first season without the 2024 NBA Finals MVP for the first time in a decade. President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and majority owner Bill Chisholm held a press conference at the Auerbach Center to discuss everything pertaining the trade with one of a million questions on the mind of many Celtics fans: what is the next move now?
One word that Brad Stevens used throughout to describe the roster was “optionality.” When asked if this newfound flexibility could mean flipping the draft picks they received in the Brown trade to possibly get another player, Stevens didn’t seem to have his heart set on making another move. He said: “I don’t anticipate anything in the very near term. I think that we do like the team we have. We might be able to add to it, but at the end of the day, we like the group we have…we’re cognizant that we have a lot of work to do.”
This is a very interesting response from Stevens given the fact that a lot of people were of the mindset this trade was to build up assets to move for a guy like Trey Murphy III later in the offseason. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Celtics won’t make more moves this summer, but if we take what Stevens says at face value, the roster is all but complete going into the 2026-2027 season. With them being seemingly set in stone, I think we should breakdown the team currently constructed to see if we can get a glimpse into the future of next season.
Starting 5 Options
The biggest thing about the Boston Celtics moving forward this season is the play of Jayson Tatum. He is going to be the engine that makes this team go and Stevens has a similar thought to that sentiment, saying, “it will be on Jayson to continue to grow individually and accentuate the people that are around him now.”
Tatum is going into his first full season coming off of a torn Achilles. In the limited time he played last season, he looked similar to the All-NBA version of himself. There is certainly risk of injury with Tatum, but he has never been one to willingly sit out games. He will be in charge of the bulk of the scoring for the team and it wouldn’t surprise me if he is able to break his own Celtics record of points in a season with over 30.1 points per game and compete for the MVP this season.
The rest of the starting lineup mainstays will most likely be made up of Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and the newly acquired Paul George. Reports have said the Celtics think that Pritchard will make a “Jalen Brunson” type leap with the new opportunities given to him with Brown traded. I think it will be interesting to see if Pritchard becomes that legitimate number 2 option behind Tatum and if he can take the leap to being the main ball handler on the roster, it will make the Celtics a dangerous offensive team. Although we did see him play well coming off the bench at the end of last season, it feels like Pritchard will be the starting point guard as of now.
The Celtics are banking on Payton Pritchard making a Jalen Brunson-type leap, per @tomhaberstroh
“The Celtics trading [Jaylen] Brown is a bet that [Payton] Pritchard is their in-house version of New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, a diminutive player who didn’t fully show his… pic.twitter.com/zEJHqyUn7P
Derrick White had an abysmal shooting season last year, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be able to bounce back from it. He was a 39% three-point shooter in the prior three seasons with the Celtics and it feels like he will be more comfortable being next to Jayson Tatum again. With George and Pritchard in the mix, he won’t necessarily be tasked to be the second option for the Celtics like he was last season which should lead to more efficient production.
When it comes to Paul George, I don’t think Boston will be expecting him to play like his younger years in Indiana, his MVP-level play in Oklahoma City, or even his second option play in Los Angeles. I see him fitting in well as another shooter for Boston, seemingly filling the Sam Hauser role in the starting lineup, with the potential to turn the clock back once in a whle. He will most likely finish with similar numbers to his last year in Philadelphia at around 17 points per game with the opportunity for more.
The only real question mark about the starting lineup is the starting center position. This is a two-man race between Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson. Queta was the starting center last season for Boston and just signed a 4-year, $56 million contract extension while Robinson is coming off a championship with the New York Knicks and signed a 3-year, $47.4 million contract. Both players have similar games on the court, so we could see Joe Mazzulla interchanging them throughout the season depending on the matchup, but I think Queta will get the edge early, just due to experience in the system.
Bench Chaos
One thing about Boston’s bench is that they will not be short on heart and hustle. The Celtics have a mix of veterans like Sam Hauser and the newly signed Robinson and Mike Conley Jr. along with a ton of young guys looking to make a name for themselves in Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza, Ron Harper Jr., and Chris Cenac Jr.
It will be interesting to see how Sam Hauser continues to fit into the roster. Last season was the first year he didn’t shoot 40% from three in his career, but even in a “down year,” he shot 39%. He seems more suited for a bench role to provide shooting versus being in the starting lineup like he was last season. Robinson (if he is coming off the bench) will provide defense and rebounding that the Celtics were desperately lacking season while Conley should provide some guard depth behind Pritchard and a mentor presence to the young guys.
Out of the group of young players the Celtics have on their roster I think the one that is going to get the biggest run this season is Baylor Scheierman. Scheierman played some really great basketball in his second season in Boston, shooting 40% from three and provided some solid defense.
Hugo Gonzalez is another guy who it looks to take another leap after an exhilarating rookie year where we saw hustle and defense at times that mimicked Marcus Smart. The offense will be a big question for Gonzalez in Year 2, but with the way he has been playing for Spain in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, it looks like the Celtics could have another gem on their hands.
The rest of the pieces on the bench seemed to be a mixed bag of question marks. Jordan Walsh had a breakout season where he was in the starting lineup for a big stretch of the year but towards the end of the year fell out of the rotation. Similar to Gonzalez, his defense is no doubt elite but will he be able to crack the rotation with a crowded wing group in front of him? Luka Garza was a solid backup center for the Celtics who was able to provide good minutes for Boston who is most likely going to be a good third center option. Ron Harper Jr. is another guy broke out in limited minutes for the Celtics on a two-way contract before signing a 4 year, $13.7 million contract to return to Boston this offseason. He will be another solid addition to the guard depth the Celtics have built. Boston’s 2026 first round pick Chris Cenac Jr. could also see a little bit of time with the big club as well but I feel like he will spend most of his season in the Maine Celtics developmental machine.
Identity
Boston is going to have to establish a new identity with Jaylen Brown no longer on the team, but I can see them being a similar team to the one we saw last season. The Celtics will be built on the back of their defense with Jayson Tatum being main source of offense. Boston’s defense will no doubt be insane in the starting lineup alone with Pritchard/White/George/Tatum/Queta all being good to great defenders while the bench will come in and cause chaos with their defensive energy. On offense, we will most likely see the Celtics continue their style of a barrage of three pointers will potentially focusing on shooting a high percentage at the rim.
It will certainly be a new reality for the Celtics without Brown but this team is still talented on both sides of the ball with a top 5-10 player in the NBA in Tatum. If I had to make a projection for this next season it would be 50+ wins with a top 3-4 record in the Eastern Conference. To quote Bill Chisholm from today’s press conference: “the mandate is to win” and with this roster, there is a great chance we see Boston win a lot of games in the 2026-2027 season.
For weeks, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been linked to superstar RFA forward Jason Robertson, who just filed for arbitration with the Dallas Stars.
On Monday's edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman said that there were "some pretty serious talks" between the Penguins and the Stars regarding a potential trade that would bring Robertson to Pittsburgh. Obviously, it hasn't happened yet, and Robertson filing for arbitration makes things murkier for the entire situation.
But there was something else Friedman mentioned that is getting a fair amount of attention, and it was a suggestion involving another hot-button trade candidate.
"Here's another one that I've wondered about, and that is Pettersson. Elias Pettersson from the Canucks," Friedman said. "And, remember, he has control, but... look, all of a sudden, he's got to play better. And that $11.6 (million), everyone's been talking about that, I know. But, again, the ground has shifted here in a huge way. I've sat there, and I've said, 'Where could he go that could be good for him?'
"I don't know. I wonder if the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin might be good for him."
Pettersson, 27, is a big yet under-the-radar trade candidate from the Vancouver Canucks, as the center's value has faded a bit over the last several years. After posting a 39-goal, 102-point season in 2022-23, his production has decreased. Following one more season above 30 goals and point-per-game in 2023-24, he has just 30 goals and 96 points in the 138 games combined over the past two seasons.
He also carries a cap hit of $11.6 million for six more years, which is, perhaps, the elephant in the room. Sure, that $11.6 million might not look so hefty in a few years given how the market is evolving quickly, but Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas did caution the idea of throwing a ton of money out there all in one summer and not having enough cap space to, perhaps, be in on better talent in the future.
So, it's worth wondering whether Pettersson is a worthwhile gamble for the Penguins. Here is the case for either side of it.
While $11.6 million may not be a ton of money a few years down the line, it could, potentially, pose some issues for the Penguins - especially if they plan to try adding another key piece via trade and because of the young players they already have.
It also poses a potential issue for the 2027-28 season and beyond, as the Penguins have a projected $71 million in cap space as of right now for next summer but already have obligations. Erik Karlsson's future in Pittsburgh is uncertain, and that cap number includes his $10 million cap hit being off the books. Sidney Crosby will also need a new contract, and they will have a boatload of UFAs and RFAs - many of which are young players.
Aside from UFAs Evgeni Malkin, Tommy Novak, Andrei Kuzmenko, Justin Brazeau, and Samuel Girard, they will also have RFAs Elmer Soderblom, Nick Robertson (assuming he gets the one-year deal out of arbitration), Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Avery Hayes, Jake Livanavage, Owen Pickering, and - potentially - Ville Koivunen, should his assumed new contract be just one year.
That's a lot, and it will add up, especially since at least a couple of these guys have a chance to break out at the NHL level this season and demand a whole lot more. Adding Pettersson's cap hit only dwindles that $71 million, too.
But, money aside, Pettersson has gained a reputation - fair or not - that questions his effort. Is that apparent reputation and aversion to coachability worth the $11.6 million? Honestly, it may not be, and it's a fair question to ask - even if there is considerable upside.
Well, simply put, it's not everyday that a legitimate second-line center option is available on the market, and especially not one whose acquisition cost will be minimal in the rising cap environment.
Aside from left defense, the Penguins' biggest area of need is another top-six center. While Ben Kindel projects to get there at some point, it's probably best for his development to remain the team's third-line center heading into next season. And, even if he does breach that position - and even if folks don't want to talk about it - Crosby won't be superhuman forever and will eventually need a viable replacement.
Pettersson and Kindel down the middle for a while doesn't sound half bad. Plus, by that point, the Penguins will have several of their young players established on the NHL roster, giving Pettersson and Kindel options.
And, yes, maybe $11.6 million could be a bit tricky next offseason, but what if the Canucks were willing to take on Ryan Graves's $4.5 million average annual value for three more years while they're rebuilding anyway? And what if one or both of Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell is not on the roster? Then, the cap might be a total non-issue.
Yes, the Penguins would be taking a chance with Pettersson, but there could be enough upside to justify the risk. At worst, Pettersson - who is actually very capable on both sides of the puck - becomes an average second-line center or good third-line center for the Penguins, and at best, they have a long-term solution at first- and second-line center who could help bridge the gap between the Crosby competitive window and the next competitive window.
If the Canucks are willing to take back Graves's contract for Pettersson, it is probably worth the risk. Top-six centers don't grow on trees, and it's even rarer that they can be had at the cost that Pettersson will likely go for, which is, reasonably, a 2027 first-round pick, a roster player, a prospect, and Graves.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 24: Meleek Thomas shakes hands with Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after he is drafted 34th overall by the Sacramento Kings in Round Two of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 24, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When you think about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest needs, the first thing that comes to mind is more playable size, specifically on the wings.
So you can imagine the confusion from reporters and the fanbase that came with the second round selection of Meleek Thomas.
But, there is one need that felt overlooked at times with this Cleveland team and it was a Ty Jerome-sized hole on their bench.
Jerome was absolutely sensational in the lone full season he suited up for, as he was a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year and arguably had the most efficient season for a reserve across the league. He did flame out in the playoffs, but the Cavs were better off with having his production off the bench.
No one could really replicate that efficient scoring and playmaking for Cleveland last year. Jaylon Tyson took a huge step, but had an inconsistent second half of the season and was dreadful in the playoffs. Sam Merrill also showed improvement, but he is more of a movement shooter. Neither of them were the self-creators that Jerome was.
So, it is not hard to see why the Cavs chose Thomas.
Thomas has all the traits that both Koby Altman and Kenny Atkinson have come to love in their guards. He is a great movement shooter, he rarely turns the ball over, and has a high motor on both ends of the floor.
He also showed that he can play either guard position at Arkansas, as his numbers skyrocketed when he was without his running mate Darius Acuff Jr. He shot an absurd 51% from three-point range, and his turnover rate, which was already low, was even lower when he was the primary ball handler.
Arkansas’ Meleek Thomas proved he could carry an offense when Darius Acuff was off the court. Thomas’ usage jumped from 23% with Acuff to 28% without him. He shot 48% from the field without Acuff, including 51% on three-pointers. His assist percentage spiked, while his turnover… pic.twitter.com/hOCbWGb80M
The thing with Thomas is that he showed in college that he can create off the bounce, specifically on jumpers. His release does have to get a tad quicker, but his shooting should translate to the league right away.
Where he does have to develop though, is his playmaking and ability to play point guard. He showed flashes of that in college, but with Acuff dominating the ball, Thomas was not able to showcase his full potential there. The Cavs are going to have him play a lot more point in Summer League, so that should help speed up the process.
Thomas likely won’t become a key year one rotation player, as it is very hard for rookies to become key contributors on a team with title aspirations. But, he can absolutely develop into the long-term shot-creating guard that Cleveland needs off the bench.
The NHL is trying to settle into its brief mid-summer quiet period, but there are major names still out there (trade requests) and arbitration hearing season is also around the corner.
In the post-July 1 dust-settling, Elliotte Friedman’s latest 32 Thoughts podcast made waves among several fanbases (15 minutes on the Ducks losing control, the Blues are still active), among them the Isles. One point was that the Islanders did receive “calls” about Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal, but in the rising cap — and now, with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet — those contracts are suddenly bargains after Danny Briere singlehandedly rewrote the league salary scale.
Rob Taub sums up Friedman’s nuggets and non-nuggets (or scan to the 2:34 mark to listen) on the Isles:
Couple takeaways from @FriedgeHNIC on the #Isles via 32 Thoughts: The Podcast:
-I look at the Islanders, and I know some of their fans were like, do more, do more, do more. I think what it is right now is New York is in a position where they are starting to turn over their…
My favorite part is “I thnk they’ve decided none of these defensive prospects are being blocked. At the end of this year, they’ve got, look at all the guys who are coming off the last year of their contracts. Defense, not so much, but…”
This is our concern, Dude.
So, non-news amid the wait for non-news, but reiteration that Mathieu Darche is treating this coming season as the transition season that last season never quite became.
It’s a few days old, but various Swedes praise Malte Gustafsson’s potential. [Post]
Elsewhere
After speculation he’d head to a former haunt, Claude Giroux returns to the Senators after all. [Sportsnet]
Recent acquisition from the Devils, Simon Nemec signs a five-year deal with the Flames. [NHL]
The Canucks call Jamie Oleksiak “a big body who moves very well” and he calls the Canucks “too good an opportunity to pass up,” so I’m not sure who’s gaslighting whom. [Sportsnet]
The Panthers are happy with their dramatic offseason. [NHL]
Alex Ovechkin is happy with the Capitals’ offseason. [ESPN]
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 29: Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees walks back to the dugout during the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on June 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After seemingly holding off the June swoon during the first couple of weeks of Aaron Judge’s absence, the Yankees succumbed in full, losing nine of ten games while their offense completely went to sleep. Their standing in the division, which looked strong just a few weeks ago, New York leading by four games, has slipped, with the Rays now three games up in the AL East.
The Yankees were always going to struggle at some point without Judge, but this latest stretch has of course been particularly brutal. Now that they’ve let the Rays open up a gap again in the division, how nervous are you that the Yankees will fade out of the AL East chase?
In truth, this AL East race has already been a rollercoaster. You can see it in FanGraphs’ division odds, which show the Yankees’ division chances shooting up before falling off three separate times this season:
You may notice that as things stand, the Rays and the Yankees have the same division odds, at least by FanGraphs’ estimation. Baseball Prospectus has anointing Tampa Bay as the division favorites, while betting markets have the Yankees as narrow favorites for now.
Based on the odds, it would seem like now is a great time to feel pretty nervous about the Yankees’ chances of earning the division crown. The team’s odds by FanGraphs have peaked at almost 90 percent multiple times this year, only for the Yankees to fumble things away, with the Rays now in front according to the projections.
Yet on the other hand, the fact that the projections still put this as a toss-up could provide Yankee fans some comfort. Despite how awful the team has played in recent weeks, how putrid the lineup has been for long stretches, the team isn’t out of it, has easily the best run differential in the American League, and still has something like a 50 percent chance to take the division.
Moreover, the Yankees stand to add more to their roster over the next month than their rival Rays, something that’s not fully baked into any projection. Not only will the Yankees get Max Fried, Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton (hopefully) back at some point, but they are perennially more active than Tampa at the trade deadline. Though the Rays have a stronger farm system, it’s not Tampa’s M.O. to dip into that farm system to add veteran help midseason; the Rays’ whole model relies on having scores of young players on hand to replace their current big-league contributors who threaten to age out and/or make more money. The Yankees, despite accusations of prospect hugging, typically make several major-league additions to their roster every summer during which they contend.
Overall, I think the FanGraphs odds have it about right: the Rays may have nudged in front in the standings, but the Yankees are by no means out of it and must act with urgency to fight their way back. What do you think? Are you nervous that the team will fall out of it entirely, or do they still stand a good chance to come back?
This morning, Sam continues our Trade Deadline coverage with a look at the Detroit Tigers, who are still on the playoff bubble but could prove to be sellers this month. Also, Andrew delivers today’s Rivalry Roundup, Jeff profiles George Moriarty, and Michael analyzes the last week down on the farm. And in the afternoon, Peter’s At-bat of the Week features more strong work from Trent Grisham.
Kyle Lowry’s long road in the NBA is ending as a Raptor.
Lowry announced Tuesday morning (July 7) that he’s “officially retiring as a Toronto Raptor.” The team shared the news with the words “#7 FOREVER” and a video narrated by Lowry.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play this game for two decades,” Lowry said. “All my stops … Memphis, Houston, Miami, Philly — of course Philly, all my love to Philly — and last but not least, Toronto, my home. So thank you to my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, my opponents, staff, the media and especially the fans. It’s all about you. I appreciate you.
“Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, Canada. And as I always told y’all, it’s officially happening. I’m officially retiring as a Toronto Raptor. Twenty years and one day. Seven forever. I love y’all. Peace.”
SportsNet’s Michael Grange reported Lowry’s retirement last week and wrote, “The event on Tuesday is expected to set the stage for additional recognition of the so-called GROAT (the Greatest Raptor of All-Time) as the 2026-27 season unfolds, per sources, with a likely jersey retirement planned at Scotiabank Arena during the regular season, where Lowry’s No. 7 would join Vince Carter’s No. 15 as the only Raptors jersey hanging at the downtown stadium.”
Lowry, 40, has built an excellent case to one day be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. After two years at Villanova, Lowry became a six-time All-Star, quintessential floor general and franchise legend with the Raptors. He helped Toronto earn its first NBA championship in 2019 and also won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in 2016.
Lowry was a member of his hometown Sixers for the final two-plus seasons of his career. He appeared in 72 games and averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 assists.
Though Lowry struggled to stay healthy and wasn’t a regular part of the rotation, he appreciated his chances to play.
“It’s always fun to play basketball,” Lowry said after an April 1, 2025 game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “Listen, we’re privileged and we’re honored to play the game of basketball. I love this game at the highest level. It’s provided for me and my family, my friends with everything that I could ask for. So I wanted to try to go out there and play, and just have fun.
“You don’t know how long this game is going to last for each individual, so just go out there and enjoy the process. Just enjoy being out there and in the game.”
Off the court, Lowry was impactful for the Sixers. He actively mentored young guards such as Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe and often looked like an assistant coach during games.
In Toronto basketball, No. 7 will always be Lowry’s.
“That (number) represents me,” Lowry said. “It represents my family. It represents everything I’ve gone through, the growth, the maturity, everything I’ve put into the game of basketball. It just represents Kyle Lowry.
“It’s hard work, grit, passion and, of course, a champion. The guy who was there, the guy who stuck through everything, believing it was supposed to be what it was supposed to be. It was supposed to happen and it did.”
Door is ajar for Rassie Erasmus’ side to surpass All Blacks when leading sides converge on Australia next year
The best sports teams constantly look to reinvent themselves. Their core principles remain in place but, crucially, they never, ever stand still. To do so is to risk slipping backwards relative to their competitors and arrive at the worst of all possible outcomes: a poorer, less successful version of themselves.
The ultimate example in rugby, until now, has probably been the All Blacks. For decades it was not only about winning the next game, but underlining their position, to quote one of their motivational whiteboard slogans from 2013, as “the most dominant team in the history of the world”. When you are chasing that kind of rarefied target you don’t allow the grass grow beneath your jandals.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 05: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees singles during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on July 05, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bill Ladson: The Yankees dodged a bullet on the injury front Monday, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. drew the start at second base. Chisholm left Sunday’s game with discomfort in his right big toe, but x-rays came back negative. The 28-year-old, who called the test results a “huge relief,” has been dealing with pain in the toe since his time with the Marlins back in 2023. The Yankees have withstood a barrage of injuries lately, most recently to starter Carlos Rodón, who landed on the IL last Friday with an elbow injury.
Daily News | Gary Phillips: When taking stock of the Yankees’ recent slide, there’s plenty of blame to go around. Without question, one key factor has been defense. Heading into Monday’s game, they’d allowed 29 unearned runs in their last 15 games, the most over that length of time since 1935. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged defensive miscues have been “part of the issue,” adding that the recent turns of experienced defenders Ryan McMahon at third and Trent Grisham in center should help.
New York Post | Jake Nisse: Ryan Weathers was contending with more than just the Twins’ offense Sunday in a continued fallout from a bout of food poisoning or a stomach bug that swept through the clubhouse last week. The southpaw told the media he threw up multiple times between innings, fighting through the nausea to allow four runs in as many innings. “Credit to him, under the weather today, and still went out there and battled,” said Boone of Weathers’ performance. After a dominant start to the season, Weathers has watched his ERA balloon to 4.29, calling into question his slot in the rotation.
The Big Lead | J.P Hoornstra: Our condolences to the family of Al Holland, who died Saturday at the age of 73. Holland found his biggest success with the Phillies, where he earned an All-Star nod and Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award while serving as the team’s closer. Affectionately known as “Mr. T.,” Holland closed out his 10-year career in pinstripes, appearing in 28 games with the Yankees between the 1986 and ‘87 seasons. Holland is survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children.
The Phillies are saddened to learn of the passing of Al Holland, who spent parts of three seasons with the club from 1983-85. As a dominant closer, Al was an integral part of the team’s winning the National League pennant in 1983 and was an All-Star in 1984. The club and fans are… pic.twitter.com/XG14iYwdSC
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 28: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff at TD Garden on April 28, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Trading a franchise icon after the best season of his career is going to be an extremely unpopular decision within your fanbase. Yet, that is what the Celtics just did by trading Jaylen Brown to the rival Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first round picks and two second round picks.
There is a basketball reason that the Celtics did this. The cap sheet played into it and not paying two players the 35% max for years and years to come definitely played a role in this, especially in the second apron era.
However, Paul George is only making about $3 million less than Brown will this season and has one fewer season left on his deal, so money isn’t the entire reason Boston wanted to make this move so badly.
The Celtics are making two big bets by moving Brown and they are very much interwoven.
The first is that they don’t believe Jaylen Brown is as good as the fans and Boston media do.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst was the first to mention this on The Hoop Collective podcast the night of the trade.
“The Celtics felt that even though Jaylen Brown was talking about himself for MVP or there was this MVP campaign for Jaylen Brown, the Celtics did not feel that Jaylen had the best season on their team. They felt that Derrick White had a better season.”
"Even though Jaylen Brown was talking about himself for MVP, the Celtics did not feel like Jaylen had the best season on their team…They felt that Derrick White had a better season."
You probably disagree with that take and so do I, but I believe that they believe it.
Brown is a great player, who carried the Celtics offense for much of the seaso,n made All-NBA second team and finished 6th in MVP voting.
Yet, according to databallr.com, the Celtics were 6.2 points per 100 possessions better with Brown off the court vs. when he was on.
Yesterday, Brad Stevens talked about how maximizing Jaylen is maximizing his usage and that having two players taking up that much usage doesn’t work in the modern NBA.
Stevens, and the rest of the Celtics brass, clearly don’t think that having two players who always need the ball, isn’t a formula for winning anymore and that it was time for them to move off of that philosophy.
This ties into the second bet that Stevens and the Celtics are making: the infrastructure they have is good enough to withstand trading Brown.
Stevens did also mentioned that the analytics played a small part in doing this deal. “For me, Mike (Zarren) and his staff might get mad at me, they do everyday, but I would say (the analytics were) a small piece of information.” However, I am unsure if I believe that.
The Celtics believe that they found a formula last season that was a gold mine to winning games in the regular season and they don’t need Brown to do it. The return of Jayson Tatum certainly helps them believe that.
They want to win the rebounding and turnover margins and trading away Brown does not hurt either of those areas. The signing of Mitchell Robinson also indicates their belief in this.
The bottom line is that the Celtics don’t think that Brown was as important to their success last year as he, the fans or the media did and by trading him to Philly, the Celtics are betting against him in a big way.
