It will be important for Lendeborg to quickly integrate into the Warriors’ locker room, given the big personalities residing there. And it appears that the biggest personality of them all has kept the rookie waiting.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green looks on during a game. NBAE via Getty Images
When Lendeborg was asked whether he had heard from Steph Curry, Draymond Green, or any of the other Warriors veterans since being drafted, he said, “Yeah. Steph actually welcomed both of us in the group chat, the night of the draft. when [Lajae Jones] got drafted [and] I got drafted.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Warriors’ 2026 NBA Draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg speaks during a June 26 press conference. X/@jinthirty
“And I reached out to [Curry] yesterday, and I asked him a quick question. And then I reached out to Draymond, as well. Haven’t gotten that response back yet from Draymond yet,” Lendeborg added with a laugh.
This prompted Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. to say, “Don’t worry. He doesn’t respond to me, either.”
Yaxel said Steph Curry welcomed him and Lajae to the Warriors groupchat:
“Steph actually welcomed both of us in the groupchat the night of the drafts, when he (Lajae) got drafted, I got drafted. And I reached out to him yesterday I asked one quick question and then I reached out… pic.twitter.com/PiwaYs53oZ
It didn’t take long for a potential reason for Draymond’s lack of response to present itself, as a video of Green partying with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum in Paris, France, has been circulating on social media on Friday.
In the video, the two NBA icons are dancing and lip syncing to “Shabang”, a song that rapper Drake included in his recent “ICEMAN” album.
Perhaps Draymond will get back to Yaxel once he returns from France.
The Calgary Flames bolstered their blue line by selecting Carson Carels with the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Carels plays for the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and posted 20 goals and 73 points in his second season in 2025-26.
The Cypress River, Manitoba product projects as a cornerstone defenceman and will continue his development at the University of North Dakota next season, a path that should allow him to round out his game before making the jump to the professional ranks.
Carels has all the tools to emerge as one of the biggest steals in the top 10. Viewed as a future top-pairing defenceman, he possesses the skating, hockey sense, and all-around game to log heavy minutes.
Paired alongside Zayne Parekh in Calgary’s future top four, Carels could help form a dynamic defensive duo capable of driving play at both ends of the ice.
On the night of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Rangers acquired a veteran forward.
The Blueshirts added winger Pavel Dorofeyev in a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Rangers will send out a first-round selection (No. 26) and a third-round selection (No. 92) in the 2026 draft and a top-10 protected 2028 first-round selection.
Dorofeyev, who turns 26 in late October, is an impending restricted free agent the Rangers will now have to work out a deal with. And he is coming off a solid season after he scored 38 goals with 27 assists in 82 games and was a minus-3 while averaging 17:36 time on the ice. It was his second-straight year of 30 goals, after scoring 35 in 82 games in 2024-25 to go along with 17 assists in 16:32 average ice time.
The Russian skater should really help New York in the power play. He scored 33 power-play goals with the Golden Knights over the past two seasons.
He also comes to the Rangers with a bit of playoff experience, with 31 games under his belt, including 22 last campaign during Vegas' trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. During that run, which came up short to Carolina, Dorofeyev had 16 points (12 goals, four assists) and was a plus-4 while averaging 17:04 time on the ice. He led the playoffs with his five power-play goals and his 58 shots on goal.
A third-round selection by Vegas in 2019, the lefty shooter has 92 goals and 57 assists (149 points) in his first 231 NHL games and is a career plus-11.
Victor Wembanyama was the man of the hour at a Paris nightclub.
In his return to his native country of France, the Spurs star was greeted at an after-party for the Undercover x Foot Locker Music Festival with MVP chants by raucous fans.
Social media videos showed hundreds of fans surrounding Wembanyama, who were raising their hands and cheering as the superstar walked through the crowd.
The 7-foot-4 phenom was seen smiling, interacting with attendees and high-fiving fans as they greeted him.
The 22-year-old has not only gained popularity rapidly in the United States for his ascension and playstyle but also in his home country, evident by his greeting at a club.
Wembanyama, the first overall pick in 2023, has quickly transformed the Spurs back into a powerhouse with his two-way ability and height.
Victor Wembanyama got a warm welcome in Paris. Barstool Sports/X
After the Spurs won just 22 games in Wembanyama’s rookie year and went 34-48 in 2024-25, they went 62-20 last season and made the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
The Spurs fell to the Knicks in the Finals, but Wembanyama still left his mark in the playoffs.
Victor Wembanyama is pictured June 13. NBAE via Getty Images
The Frenchman averaged 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last season while playing a pivotal role in the Spurs Western Conference Finals win over the Thunder.
Some Knick fans took to X to unsurprisingly express their displeasure with the video.
“Cheap shot artist. Thats the only place besides San Antonio he’d have that welcoming,” one fan wrote.
People chanted “MVP” as Victor Wembanyama moved through a Paris club. Barstool Sports/X
“Lol western conference MVP. Doing real big things. France is so soft. #Knicksin5,” another fan wrote.
Even with Knick fans in his face, Wembanyama isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
When the Chicago Blackhawks were handed the 4th overall pick as a result of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, there was a lot of discourse about Ivar Stenberg falling to them with that pick.
However, a couple of NHL trades and transactions that took place made it clear that it wasn't a likely scenario. So much so that the Blackhawks traded the 4th pick to the Buffalo Sabres in a deal for Bowen Byram.
When it came down to it, the San Jose Sharks selected Stenberg second overall, meaning the Blackhawks read the room properly when they decided to move the pick. Kyle Davidson wouldn't have appreciated it if Stenberg fell to the Sabres at 4.
With the fourth overall pick, the Sabres selected Daxon Rudolph, who was a surprise based on how most boards looked going into the draft. A majority of scouts had three or four defenders ahead of him, but Buffalo took him at four.
DAXON RUDOLPH IS A BUFFALO SABRE ⚔️
We have selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph 4th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft.
After a big year for the Sabres, they took the chance with a pick that they weren't originally supposed to have. The sky is the limit for Rudolph, but it wasn't the name that most were expecting to hear at that point in the night.
For the Blackhawks, they are happy with Bowen Byram, who is going to be their number one defenseman. They needed to make a move to make themselves better going into Connor Bedard's fourth season, and they did that.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
The New York Rangers have acquired Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the 26th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a 2026 third-round pick (92 overall), and a 2028 top-10 protected first-round pick.
Shortly upon the trade was finalized, the Rangers and Dorofeyev agreed to a seven-year, $77 million contract extension worth $11 million AAV.
Over the past two seasons, Dorofeyev has scored over 30 goals, while he’s coming off a career high of 64 points in 82 games.
Through the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2026, the 25-year-old forward played a substantial role, recording 12 goals, four assists, and 16 points.
It was heavily speculated that the Rangers were targeting a young forward who could instantly contribute to their lineup and now make a big splash with Dorofeyev.
Appearing as a guest on 97.3 The Fan, Buehler spoke about why the last eight starts have been better than his previous first seven.
“A lot of the stuff we’ve been working on being more in there. Obviously, the first six or seven weren’t kinda what we wanted,” Buehler said during an interview with Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan.
“Changing stuff takes time, and I feel like some of that stuff has settled in and been more natural. I feel like we’ve been doing the right things, and it’s nice for it to pay off.”
Over his last eight starts, Walker Buehler has looked reformed for the San Diego Padres. Getty Images
Walker Buehler spoke with @SammyLev about what's worked so well for him recently:
"Changing stuff takes time and I feel like some of that stuff's kinda settled in and been more natural. I feel like we've been doing the right things and it's nice for it to pay off."
Walker Buehler is regaining confidence while pitching with the San Diego Padres. Getty Images
Through his first seven starts this year, Buehler struggled for San Diego, pitching with a 6.75 ERA.
Since May 10, Buehler has had the fourth-best ERA [2.76] through his last eight starts with 36 strikeouts.
With all of the recent success, Buehler credits how he’s been throwing different kinds of pitches over the plate, instead of how he’s traditionally thrown.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
“Some improvement to the changeup, a lot more sinker, a lot less cutter, slider has improved a little bit,” Buehler said. “You know we’ve kind of taken a look at everything that I do and seen. Try to find something that we can kind of alter or fix and get myself a little more confidence to throw it on both sides of the plate.”
Buehler’s sinker usage has increased from 12.7% during April to 21.2% in May and 19.4% in June. Over the last two months, the pitch has seen 40 batters, and only 11 of them have landed hits, while 6 struck out.
MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Whiff percentage from the sinker has also gone up, as he generated a 0.0% Whiff rate during April. In May, his sinker had a 12.5% whiff, and a 3.2% in June.
As Buehler has started to find his groove again while pitching for the Padres, Friday night will be a huge test for him, as he is scheduled to take on his former team, the Dodgers, when they come to Petco Park for a three-game series this weekend.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: Cameron Carr is interviewed after being drafted twenty-four overall to the New York Knicks during the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chloe Fatouva/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A player only gets one chance to make a first impression. On Friday afternoon, Lakers rookie Cameron Carr had that moment and soaked it all in.
The newest Laker met with the LA media and was just as excited to be a Laker as fans are about the prospect of having a young, athletic player on the roster.
“Man, walking in the building, first thing you notice is the rich tradition and the people that have been here before you,” Carr said. “It’s like a moment of happiness. As a kid, you always dreamed of walking across the stage and accomplishing everything you wanted to. It just felt good to walk in the gym and look at all the people that came before me. Now I’m in their shoes.”
It’s clear that Carr is aware of the moment and how unique it is. He is now part of this historic franchise that has been around for over seven decades and has won 17 championships, second only to their rivals, the Boston Celtics. This is the dream of hundreds of thousands of people, and Carr made it happen.
The Lakers selected Carr with the No. 24 pick in the draft, and the selection has been praised by experts. On paper, Carr is an explosive player who can apply pressure at the rim, giving the Lakers the vertical spacing they so desperately desire.
During his sole season at Baylor, Carr averaged a team-high 18.9 points per game. He shot 49.4% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc.
If his excitement and eagerness during his presser are an indication of what his work ethic will be at the pro level, then the Lakers might have added the newest member of their rotation.
Now that introductions have been made and he’s been seen smiling ear to ear while holding his Lakers jersey, it’s time to get to work. Carr will have his first opportunity to represent LA in a basketball game soon enough.
Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada
The Rangers added a young premier talent during the NHL draft, and they also made their fifth overall selection.
Dealing the Nos. 26 and 92 picks they would have made over Friday and Saturday to Vegas, as well as a top 10 protected first-rounder in 2028, the Blueshirts acquired a high-end goal scorer in Pavel Dorofeyev and subsequently locked the 25-year-old restricted free agent into a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $11 million.
Access the Rangers beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting withMollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.
Dorofeyev is one of just 12 NHL players to score 35-plus goals in each of the last two seasons, a testament to his ability to bring production to the Rangers top six and power play.
The move came after an offer the Rangers put in for the Ducks’ Mason McTavish lost traction as the first round of the draft approached Friday. It reportedly was one of two offers, and St. Louis ultimately landed the 23-year-old center in exchange for the Nos. 15 and 29 picks.
President and general manager Chris Drury continues to seek ways to add youth and skill to the Rangers lineup.
Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game Six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada Getty Images
Dorofeyev is exactly the type of player Drury assured he would target in the Letter 2.0.
Coming off a career-best season in which he recorded 37 goals and 64 points, Dorofeyev played a key role in Vegas reaching the Stanley Cup Final this season. The left wing’s impact carried over into the playoffs, where his 12 goals in 22 games were second only to Brett Howden (14).
After breaking out during the 2024-25 season with 35 goals, the Russian sharpshooter has been Vegas’ leading goal scorer in each of the last two campaigns. The 20 power-play goals he scored last season were also good for the second most in the NHL.
Before acquiring Dorofeyev and selecting left-handed defenseman Alberts Šmits fifth overall, the Rangers started their draft day with a prospect swap.
Trudeau, 23, is a 2021 fourth-round pick who has spent the last four seasons in the AHL. The left-handed blueliner has yet to make his NHL debut.
A fifth-round pick in 2020 (134th overall) under the Jeff Gorton regime, Berard appeared in 48 games for the Rangers over the last two seasons. Despite an encouraging 2024-25 campaign in which he posted six goals and 10 points in 35 games with the Rangers, Berard was the last cut from training camp this past season.
Pavel Dorofeyev of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks in overtime of Game Five of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Getty Images
After returning from the Rangers team bonding trip in Rhode Island to a Hartford assignment, Berard went without a goal through his first 14 games of the AHL season. When he was recalled by the Rangers at the end of November, Berard didn’t do much with his opportunity.
The 23-year-old wasn’t able to record a single point through 13 games.
Montreal drafted Trudeau 113th overall out of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, where the young Canadian collected 90 points (20 goals, 70 assists) over three seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders.
The Rangers are pleased with the forward prospects who emerged as options despite the lost 2025-26 season. Berard had fallen down the depth chart amid strong showings from Gabe Perreault, Noah Laba, Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora.
Acquiring Dorofeyev and trading Berard were moves that threaded the needle on Drury’s initiative to reshape the roster and prospect pool.
And the Rangers did it without forfeiting the chance to draft Šmits.
Jun 1, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) reacts as he walks off the field after the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals series versus the Miami Marlins this weekend will start off with a bang. A compelling pitching matchup featuring Michael McGreevy for the Cardinals against Max Meyer for the Marlins. Meyer, in particular, has been one of the best pitchers in the Majors especially since June where he’s 4-0 with 28 strikeouts and just 9 walks over those 4 starts. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm central time at Busch Stadium and the game TV broadcast will be handled by Cardinals.tv.
The Mets' firing of Carlos Mendoza reverberated through the baseball world on Friday and reached Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Mendoza, of course, was Boone's bench coach with the Yankees for four seasons before he was hired by the Mets in late 2023. The Yankees skipper was asked about Mendoza's firing ahead of the second game of New York's four-game set with the Red Sox.
"Surprised, I guess, but not surprised," Boone said about how he felt when he found out about Mendoza. "I talked to Mendy. Obviously, it’s a tough situation over there right now with what they’ve been going through this year and going back to last year.
"Mendy is in a good place. He’s really good at what he does. He’s a great leader that as time goes on, my expectation is that he’ll be in line for another job in a lot of different way, shape and form. And has earned a strong reputation in the industry, even through all this, it solidified that reputation."
Relieving Mendoza came after the Mets lost their sixth straight game on Thursday, dropping the team's record to 34-47. But the Mets' struggles date back to last season when their year took a tailspin in the second half of the season, resulting in an 83-win season and missing the playoffs.
Mendoza's managerial career started off great as the 2024 Mets went 89-73 and made it to the NLCS. Mendoza finished with a 206-199 record.
Boone was asked whether he was surprised by the timing of Mendoza's firing, and the longtime Yankees manager said he was and wasn't.
"It’s always surprising. Can I say that I’m really surprised this happened with what they’ve been through? No, not necessarily," Boone explained. "But still, when you hear the news, it catches you. He’s a great baseball man. He’s a really good leader and I think he’s a really good manager that will get another opportunity."
"I talked to Mendy. Obviously, it's a tough situation over there right now with what they've been through this year and even going back to last year. Mendy's in a good place."
After lots of speculation, the Vancouver Canucks have selected Caleb Malhotra third-overall at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
The forward is the first center off the board and the third forward after the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Gavin McKenna first-overall and the San Jose Sharks picked Ivar Stenberg with the second-overall selection.
Malhotra, a six-foot-two two-way centerman, spent the 2025–26 season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL. In his first OHL season, the center scored 29 goals and 55 assists in 67 games, finishing the season tied with fellow Canucks prospect Riley Patterson with the 11th-most points in the league. He dominated during the OHL post-season, finishing within the league’s top-five in points with 26 in 15 games.
For his efforts this season, Malhotra was named to the OHL’s First All-Rookie team.
Prior to his time in the OHL, Malhotra spent one season with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL. During this span of time, he scored eight goals and 18 assists in 44 games, before racking up 17 points in 21 playoff games.
Malhotra has committed to Boston University in the NCAA for the 2026–27 season.
The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy had Malhotra sixth on his final draft ranking, while fellow correspondent Tony Ferrari had Malhotra ranked second among all centers in this year’s draft class.
Photo Credit: @OHLHockey - X
The most widely-discussed element of Malhotra being drafted by the Canucks organization is the fact that he is the son of new Vancouver head coach Manny Malhotra. In the lead-up to the draft, both Caleb and Manny have emphasized that, in the event that Caleb were drafted by Vancouver, both would maintain a level of professionalism around the rink despite being father and son.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
After weeks of speculation regarding who Mike Grier and the San Jose Sharks would select with the second overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, we've finally got our answer.
Shortly after the Toronto Maple Leafs took Gavin McKenna first overall on Friday night, the Sharks' time finally came as Laila Edwards of PWHL San Jose stepped up to the podium and announced that the Sharks selected Ivar Stenberg with the second pick of the night.
After the Sharks traded William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators earlier this week, it solidified the consensus belief that Stenberg would be selected by the Sharks. Then, Grier made that a reality on Friday.
Stenberg had one of the best seasons by an 18 year old in Swedish Hockey League history this past season, scoring 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points. That is the fifth-most points by an 18 year old in SHL history, behind players such as the Sedin twins, Markus Naslund, and Tomas Sandstrom.
As things currently stand, the Sharks currently hold two more first-round draft picks, the ninth and 27th overall picks.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) celebrates the third out, Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8) fouling out to left, during the fifth inning of the National League Division Series game at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct. 6, 2025. | Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s a rivalry weekend in Milwaukee. After a 4-2 road trip, the Brewers are back home to open a seven-game homestand against two division rivals. This also marks the beginning of 18 games in 17 days leading into the All-Star Break, and is the final homestand before the break.
Jacob Misiorowski is back on the mound to make tonight’s start. In his last game, Misiorowski was still strong but had his “worst” game in a while. He pitched just six innings, allowed two runs, and only struck out seven (his lowest strikeout total since April 14). That’s obviously still a very good start, but a step down from what he had been doing. This is his second start against the Cubs this season. In his previous start against them, he pitched six shutout innings on May 19.
For the Cubs, former Brewer Colin Rea starts tonight’s game. He is one of the few healthy arms in the Cubs’ rotation, but has been having a rough season. In 16 games (12 starts) he has a 4.99 ERA and 4.83 FIP. His last start came against the Blue Jays, where he pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings. The last time the Brewers faced him was in the 2025 NLDS. He mostly kept the Brewers in check then, allowing just one run over six innings in two appearances.
The Brewers made one roster move prior to today’s game. Yesterday, they optioned Craig Yoho back to Triple-A Nashville. That cleared a roster spot for Jared Koenig to be activated for tonight’s game. Koenig has missed 2 1/2 months with an elbow sprain, but is finally back in the bullpen.
It’s a pretty standard lineup for tonight. Christian Yelich is batting leadoff as usual, with Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and William Contreras behind him. Jake Bauers is playing in right field with Andrew Vaughn manning first base. Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, and David Hamilton round out the lineup.
First pitch is at 6:45 p.m. The game will be exclusively on Apple TV, with the usual radio broadcast available on the Brewers Radio Network.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Defenseman Brandt Clarke has agreed to a five-year, $37 million deal to stay with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings announced the deal Friday for Clarke, the eighth overall pick in 2021 who has grown into the new cornerstone of their defense.
Clarke had career highs of eight goals and 32 assists while playing in all 82 regular-season games last season for the Kings, who lost in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. He was third in the NHL with 185 blocked shots, and he finished fourth on the LA roster in scoring.
The 23-year-old Clarke spent parts of the past four seasons with the Kings, but has been an NHL regular for only two years. Los Angeles general manager Ken Holland still saw enough to lock down the mobile defenseman through the 2030-31 season.
The Kings hired Peter Laviolette as their head coach earlier this month, and Clarke's offensive skill fits well into the team's possible evolution away from its traditional defense-first mentality to a more aggressive club under Laviolette.
Clarke was the Kings’ most prominent restricted free agent heading into the summer, but Holland also must make decision on unrestricted free agents Andrei Kuzmenko and Scott Lawton.
