The NBA landscape was sent into a frenzy following a recent posting of a clip of an episode of LeBron James’s Mind the Game podcast featuring guest Stephen Curry. Ostensibly a retrospective look back at their dominant gold-medal run together at the Paris Olympics, the episode has quickly transformed into the center of rampant free agency speculation.
Steph appeared on LeBron’s podcast in November 2025
Why is LeBron’s podcast channel reuploading a segment with that title today? 🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/DFZmsCy0av
On the show, James raved about sharing the court with his long-time rival, calling the experience “everything and more” and describing their on-court chemistry as “perfect.”
The timing of the episode could not be more deliberate. With reports surfacing that James has informed the Los Angeles Lakers he intends to play elsewhere, the basketball world is treating this glowing review as a thinly veiled hint. After a career defined by battling one another in the NBA Finals, the allure of pairing LeBron’s elite playmaking with Curry’s legendary gravity in Golden State may finally become a reality.
However, it will come at a time where both legends are clearly in the twilight portion of their careers. Curry is turning 39 next season, while James is turning 42. Staying healthy will be a challenge next season.
There is also the question of what purpose this serves the Warriors. Is this a legitimate (albeit, seemingly futile) attempt to compete for a title? Or is it just a move for PR purposes in order to draw the crowds in, put butts in the seats, sell jerseys, and have the spotlight of the mainstream media trained on the Bay Area?
Former Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques will reboot his international career later this year, switching allegiances and representing birthland Portugal in the T20 World Cup qualifiers.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 29: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz grabs a rebound away from Donovan Clingan #23 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at the Delta Center on October 29, 2025 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
Hopes are high for the Utah Jazz as they prepare for their first winning season since the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert era. They’ve brought on Darryn Peterson to help on the perimeter, and retained Jusuf Nurkic to hold down the paint. However, in order to achieve or surpass the lofty expectations Jazz fans have for their team, it would be nice to bring back Walker Kessler, the young, towering big man that Utah has developed over his first 4 years in the NBA. However, as a restricted free agent, the Jazz don’t have much leverage over the size of Kessler’s next contract – he takes meetings from any team interested, they can offer a deal, and the Jazz then have the opportunity to match that deal and retain Kessler, if they wish. So, Jazz fans have all been waiting on pins-and-needles for what that crucial contract number will end up being – will Walker come home, or will the proposal from another team be too rich to stomach? After the official beginning of free agency this evening, Tony Jones reports some interesting (and rather disheartening) information on the Walker Kessler bidding war.
Utah Jazz restricted free agent Walker Kessler has had meetings with a couple of teams and is headed to another meeting, league sources tell The Athletic. He holds multiple offers in the mid to high 30’s annually, along with structure of his choice, including player options
This is larger than fans and, seemingly, the Jazz Brass were expecting. Jake Fischer reported that, at some point in the past year, Kessler would’ve accepted an offer for less than what his market is currently dictating. However, the Jazz didn’t bring Kessler a deal during rookie-scale contract negotiation that seemed serious to his camp, and the time for the initial, lower offer that Kessler would’ve accepted had passed.
I, for one, am surprised that the market is this favorable to Kessler. Operating under the assumption that he’s looking at deals with about 37.5 million dollars of annual value, it seems that the league believes he is a bona fide top 7 center in the league. For reference, in 2026-2027, Alperen Sengun and Rudy Gobert will each make 35.5 million, Jarrett Allen will make 28 million, Myles Turner will make 26.5 million, and Isaiah Hartenstein will make a measly (said with some sarcasm) 23 million. 37 million annually, with a player option, seems rich for an oft-injured center who has never played for a team that finished the season over .500.
The Lakers are the team that has been reported most consistently to be interested in Walker Kessler, but they clearly are not the only team willing to shell out 9 digits offer sheets to acquire the young center. Tony Jones specifies that he has multiple offers in that range – the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets could very well also be in this thick of this race, alongside the Lakers and Jazz.
With this report in mind, how much is too much for Walker Kessler? Would you be interested in a sign-and-trade? Who do you think has the wealthiest offer on the table? Sound off below!
Jun 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs (59) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Last night, the A’s kicked off this homestand with their third-straight loss, proving no match for the superstar-laden Dodgers, who hit three home runs on their way to a 9-4 victory. The Dodgers continue to be a juggernaut as their 55-30 record is the best in MLB. The final two games of this series will be tough for the A’s, but back-to-back wins over the two-time defending champions would give the club a major lift heading into July.
Yesterday, rookie left-hander Gage Jump got knocked around for the first time in his brief MLB career. Today, the A’s will turn to veteran southpaw Jeffrey Springs, hoping he can limit the Dodgers’ powerful offense and keep his team in the game. The 33-year-old enters his 18th start with a 3-7 record, a 5.52 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and 78 strikeouts over 88 innings.
Springs, who has not earned a win since April, has been performing particularly poorly lately. This will be his sixth outing in June, a month that has not been kind to him, as shown by his 9.97 ERA and 10 home runs allowed. The left-hander got back on track in his last start against the San Francisco Giants, earning a no-decision after allowing three runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Springs has found success against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his career, posting a 1.29 ERA and a 1-0 record over 14 innings pitched. If he wants to earn his first win in some time and help the A’s snap their losing streak, Springs will need to keep the ball in the ballpark—something he has struggled to do this season. The Athletics would also benefit from at least five innings from Springs, given the bullpen’s vulnerability.
A’s skipper Mark Kotsay is rolling with nearly the same starting nine from the series opener, as his team faces a left-handed pitcher for a second consecutive game.
The only change is in the outfield, where left-handed hitter Lawrence Butler is back on the bench after starting Monday night. Colby Thomas switches from left field to right. Recent call-up Joey Menesess, who normally plays first base, will make his first A’s start in left.
The middle-infield duo of shortstop Alika Williams and second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer played well last night. Kuroda-Grauer became the first A’s player with three hits in his MLB debut since Mark Canha. The A’s will need another strong performance from the bottom-of-the-order hitters, whose job is to get on base and turn the lineup over to center fielder Henry Bolte, slumping catcher Shea Langeliers and the force of nature that is first baseman Nick Kurtz.
The Dodgers meanwhile will have young left-hander Justin Wrobleski going for them tonight. The emergence of this 25-year-old pitcher, the club’s 11th-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, has been one of the most underrated stories of the Dodgers’ season. In addition to their winning pedigree and financial resources to attract top talent, Los Angeles’ farm system is among the best in baseball at developing prospects into MLB-caliber players.
Wrobleski enters his 14th start of the season with a 9-2 record, a 2.71 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 53 strikeouts over 86 1/3 innings. Even though he does not strike out many batters, that has not stopped him from shutting down opposing lineups. Wrobleski earned the win in his last outing, throwing seven innings of two-run ball against the Minnesota Twins.
The A’s offense must be patient, capitalize on pitches Wrobleski leaves over the plate and hope the hitter-friendly ballpark conditions work in their favor as they look to even the series and force a rubber game tomorrow.
There will be only one Max Muncy in action tonight, with the Dodgers’ Max Muncy getting the night off. The visitors will look to continue their power surge against homer-prone Springs. Miguel Rojas is arguably the lone weak spot in the Dodgers’ lineup, meaning A’s pitchers will need to pitch carefully and limit hard contact to avoid a second straight blowout loss.
Can the A’s beat the Dodgers and get back to winning? Time to find out. Let’s go A’s!
Dec 21, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) celebrates with Toronto Raptors forward CJ Miles (0) during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The NBA world has been altered for the second time in a decade, as Kawhi Leonard has yet again made his way to the Toronto Raptors, seemingly in it for the long(ish) haul.
The exact details of the trade have been revealed by Shams Charania to be as follows.
Clippers Get:
Brandon Ingram
Gradey Dick
2031 First-Round Pick
2033 First-Round Pick
2030 Second-Round Pick
2033 Second-Round Pick
2027 First-Round Pick Swap
Raptors Get:
Kawhi Leonard
Jun 13, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) celebrate winning the NBA Championship over the Golden State Warriors against game six of the 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
What does this mean for the Raptors?
Trading Brandon Ingram for Kawhi Leonard allows the veteran to slot in seamlessly at the 3, providing a huge boost to the scoring gravity at that position, as well as an improvement to floor spacing. Leonard has shot a career 39.1% from the three point line, and last year, hit his highest volumes of threes taken, ever.
Gradey Dick as a prospect certainly had a high upside, but a massive drop in production last year as well as the team’s health improving forced him out of the starting lineup, giving him few minutes and difficulty developing the guard. Relinquishing him, as opposed to Jamal Shead or Collin Murray-Boyles, was the correct move for the Raptors if they want to be competitive with Leonard on their roster.
As for the picks, Toronto is in both the short term and the long term giving something up. The 2027 pick swap, as per Michael Grange of Sportsnet, is largely inconsequential, but the picks given up in the 2030s mean that Toronto has cleared its way for title contention until the end of the decade, when they’ll have to start paying the piper. The rest of the 2020s are a chance not only to contend, but to trade, draft, and have the flexibility to make moves that could make Toronto NBA Champions yet again.
The dates on these picks are significant. A swap for ‘27 not material (Clips should have the better pick anyway in a weak draft). But 31 and 33 unprotected is not nothing. Kawhi will be long gone, Barnes will be 30 and 32 yo. 🤷 https://t.co/smx0LRu1qu
I disagree with Grange’s emphasis on the importance of the 2o31 and 2033 picks, however. While of course, the Raptors are borrowing against their future to try to succeed in the present, to contend in the NBA is to take risks, and there may not be a better shot to win than now. Barnes hitting his 30s is something I am not worried about, rather relish, as many of the league’s superstars only end up getting better after hitting a decade or so in the NBA.
LeBron James was 31 when he took Cleveland to the NBA Finals for the second time and won, and Scottie Pippen was making All-Defensive Teams well into his third decade. Barnes’ style of play falls in line with the two point forwards, and nothing about his’ health projects a huge decline at that point, anyways. Even Kawhi, now playing beside Barnes, had arguably hit a new peak at 34 year old, rivalling his Raptors’ season and his best years on the Spurs. If Barnes stays with the Raptors, I would be willing to bet that he is a player who also will only improve with age and experience.
The other value of getting Kawhi is the opposite of the risk that 2018 was. Then, the Raptors had only a year to win an NBA Championship, but now, the whole reason Kawhi is coming to Toronto is because he wants a long term contract that will keep him on a team, and in the NBA, for years to come. Toronto has never been a free-agent destination, nor a place where huge trades have happened — other than when the Raptors got Kawhi. Getting a premier scorer through the draft is not something that the Raptors have seemed willing to tank for, so Kawhi is, ironically, a safe choice when looking for a number one option.
This is the moment that choosing a short rebuild pays off for the Raptors. In less than three years, they have managed to put together a very competent team through trades and draft, fighting through some painful years and even more painful goodbyes to franchise favourites. Now, after getting Kawhi, the team is really only a centre or two away from being one of the top two teams in the East. History in some ways seems to be repeating itself, and searching for a Serge Ibaka and a Marc Gasol should be the priority of this front office.
In baseball, you need a big swing to hit a home run, and with Kawhi on our team, there is no reason not to be swinging for the fences. This is the chance to take, picks and players be damned.
The 2026 NHL Free Agency period officially begins at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and while most of the speculation surrounding the Detroit Red Wings is the ongoing trade request saga of Dylan Larkin, the club still has multiple pending unrestricted free agents.
As of 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Patrick Kane remains unsigned. The club has spoken openly about wanting him back for another season, and Kane himself said there was mutual interest during his season-ending media availability.
And while the Red Wings are expected to move on from the likes of James van Riemsdyk and Cam Talbot, one pending UFA they could potentially retain is David Perron.
According to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, the Red Wings and Perron are "talking" about a new contract, though there is still a chance he could head to the open market.
"David Perron, 38, intends to play again next season," LeBrun wrote. "Perron, who had 13 goals between the Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings last season, is still talking to the Red Wings, but if something can’t be worked out there, he is looking to hit the open market."
Perron, who signed a two-year contract with the Red Wings in 2022, was a valuable veteran voice in the locker room and provided timely scoring. But he departed the club in 2024 to sign a two-year deal with the divisional rival Ottawa Senators, whom he helped reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.
However, he missed a good portion of this most recent season after undergoing surgery, and was re-acquired by the Red Wings at the Trade Deadline for a conditional fourth-round pick.
In the 15 games he played after returning to Detroit, Perron scored three goals with no assists.
The 38-year-old veteran has played in 1,239 career NHL games, and has accumulated 332 goals with 480 assists. He also helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup In 2019.
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The Vegas Golden Knights didn't just end the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup hopes this spring—they've now taken another piece of the organization.
Less than two months after sweeping Colorado out of the Western Conference Final, Vegas has hired Colorado Eagles head coach Mark Letestu as an assistant coach, adding another respected figure from the Avalanche pipeline to its NHL staff.
The Golden Knights announced Tuesday that Letestu has joined Ryan Craig's coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 season, ending his brief but successful tenure as head coach of the Avalanche's American Hockey League affiliate.
Letestu spent just one season behind the bench in Loveland, but it proved to be a productive one. He guided the Eagles to a 41-20-11 record before leading the club to the Western Conference Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs, marking one of the organization's deepest postseason runs in recent years.
His departure creates another vacancy within Colorado's development system while strengthening the coaching staff of the team that eliminated the Avalanche from the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Before taking over the Eagles, Letestu spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Monsters. During his time there, Cleveland reached the Calder Cup Playoffs twice, captured the North Division title in 2023-24, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals that same season.
The 40-year-old transitions to Vegas with plenty of NHL familiarity. Letestu played 11 seasons in the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets, appearing in 567 regular-season games while recording 93 goals and 117 assists for 210 points.
His connection to the Golden Knights extends beyond his coaching résumé. Letestu and Craig were teammates with the Blue Jackets during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, reuniting them on Vegas' coaching staff.
Letestu originally signed with Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent after one season at Western Michigan University and four years with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He also appeared in 255 AHL games during his professional playing career.
For the Avalanche organization, the move represents another offseason change following Colorado's run to the Western Conference Final. While the Golden Knights eliminated the Avalanche on the ice, they've now added one of the coaches who helped develop the club's next wave of talent.
Yankees pitcher Yovanny Cruz (96) throws against the Blue Jays in his MLB debut.
Yovanny Cruz’s latest call-up was deadly serious.
With the Yankees still searching for solutions to solidify their bullpen, Cruz received his second call-up of the season Tuesday — though the righty reliever initially thought he was being pranked.
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“Yeah, very grateful to be back. Obviously, it’s a great opportunity to be up here,” he told The Post through a translator. “I was just in my room last night, and I got the call — I thought it was the guys playing a joke on me. But obviously it was the manager telling me I was going to the big leagues again.”
For Cruz, 26, this will be another audition to stake a spot on the Yankees’ pitching staff after a promising couple of performances in the spring.
After being brought up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Cruz made his MLB debut May 20 against Toronto and pitched 2 ¹/₃ scoreless innings across two games. In a larger sample size in SWB, he produced a 3.18 ERA in 24 appearances. Cruz could prove to be an asset for the Pinstripes with his ability to top 100 mph.
The next step is his command.
Yankees pitcher Yovanny Cruz (96) throws against the Blue Jays in his MLB debut. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
“It’s something that gave me a little bit of trouble last year, and I think commanding the strike zone has improved much more this year,” he said.
Aside from his rapid fastball, Cruz is also armed with a slider that can reach 90 mph. At the same time, he’s walked 4.1 batters per nine innings in Triple-A and knows he will have to clean things up in the big leagues.
Cruz thought his latest Yankees call-up was a joke — it wasn’t. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“Besides the velo, to be effective up here, you just gotta be able to use all of your pitches and command very well the strike zone,” he said.
Cruz’s most recent call-up coincided with Yerry De los Santos being optioned back to Triple-A and comes as the Yankees have lost five consecutive games.
Though the bullpen is considered a relative strength, the Yankees could be in the market for relief help ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
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Cruz spent eight years in the minors and played in the Cubs, Padres and Red Sox organizations before getting his shot with the Yankees. He would certainly love to stick around and provide general manager Brian Cashman with an internal solution.
“Seeing how close-knit the group is here, definitely feels like a family, like a team,” he said.
Imagine how upset Kirk Herbstreit would be if he were a Mets fan?
The ESPN college football analyst went off on his beloved Reds and the state of Major League Baseball in posts on X after Cincinnati blew a 3-0 lead to the Brewers on Monday night and eventually lost 5-3 to Milwaukee for their 44th loss of the season.
It was enough for Herbstreit, an Ohio native, to explode in response to one Reds fan who was railing on the franchise’s current state as well.
ESPN sportscaster Kirk Herbstreit is seen on the field before the 2026 CFP National Championship between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Getty Images
“Bro. After 13 STRAIGHT years of this bulls–t you need to realize you’re pissin into the wind,” he wrote on the platform. “It will not change. The Reds baseball season is mid February to early to mid May. Thats it. This season was over weeks ago. I feel bad for you with all these tweets. Go watch some soccer. Get some preseason football magazines. Go on a summer trip. Anything but deal with this nonsense on a daily basis. It’s over. Time to move on.”
It’s easy to understand Herbstreit’s demeanor toward the team.
The Reds are sitting in the basement of NL Central and are 5.0 games back of a wild card spot in the National League.
Cincinnati has made the postseason just twice in the last 12 seasons, including last year, but has not made it past the wild card round in either of those appearances.
But Herbstreit didn’t stop there in his anger.
Elly De La Cruz #44 of the during the Cincinnati Reds looks on game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, June 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. MLB Photos via Getty Images
“THANK YOU!!!!! Where did the athletic ability go?” Herbstreit asked in a post, responding to comments made by former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. “Clutch hitting in the 8th and 9th inning? Starting pitching that goes 8 or 9 innings? Base stealing-hell just good base running and SPEED?!? Sac bunts-moving runners over late in a game?
“Where’s Tony Gwynn? Rod Carew? Wade Boggs? Ichiro? Those guys wouldn’t exist in today’s ridiculous HR or K ‘launch angle’ game! The game has been dying with the youth of America for YEARS and now is losing the core fanbase as well with this ridiculous product we’ve had to digest for the last 7-10 years. Bring back Small Ball and athleticism…this s–t dreadful!!!”
The 4-time NBA MVP provided the Lakers with their 17th NBA championship – second behind the Boston Celtics – in 2020 during the COVID-19-impacted season. He also reached several individual milestones, including becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer.
In return, the Lakers catered to James by drafting his son, Bronny James, in 2024 and appointing JJ Redick as head coach.
Redick and LeBron co-hosted a podcast before Redick was hired.
James decided to move on from Los Angeles, and thanked the team with a heartfelt post on social media, Tuesday, June 30, writing, "Truly a honor to wear the (purple and gold) while trying to continuing the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint."
When it comes to what teams James will consider ahead of his 24th NBA season, the superstar has reportedly told his agent to talk with teams around the league and learn what everyone’s interests are so he can make an informed decision, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Golden State was rumored to have strong interest in signing James as a free agent and working out a trade to acquire Anthony Davis from the Washington Wizards to join Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. But ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported that the Wizards were not interested in trading Davis and were not listening to offers.
If Davis is not available, the Warriors could potentially keep Jimmy Butler, who would still need time to recover from the ACL tear in his right knee.
James has spoken highly of Curry when the pair played in the 2024 Olympics together for Team USA and won a gold medal.
Will Cavaliers welcome LeBron James home?
James is also said to be interested in a potential reunion with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavs could welcome home the star that brought the team its first NBA title in 2016 when he returned to the franchise for his second stint.
James was drafted by the Cavaliers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. He spent the first seven years of his career in Cleveland, winning two MVP awards. His second stint started with the 2014-15 season, spending four years with the team.
In a potential third stint, he would be joining a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2026, has Donovan Mitchell under contract for next season and intends to re-sign James Harden.
Will LeBron James take his talents back to Miami Heat?
Much like with Cleveland, there’s a potential for James to land with his other former team.
James won back-to-back titles in Miami in the middle of his four-year stint from 2010-2014 after forming a super team with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade as a member of the Heat.
If James decided to head to South Beach, he would form a new threat in the Eastern Conference alongside Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 28: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 28, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers have open roster spots to fill, and ideally those players will be centers or wings.
These are two areas the Lakers need to improve on to help elevate Luka Dončić. He wants a big to play off of and good wings give him players he can pass to that can shoot from the perimeter and apply pressure on the rim.
Kelly Oubre Jr. is a player who fits the latter profile. According to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports, the 6’8 wing plans to meet with the Lakers.
Free agent wing Kelly Oubre Jr. plans to meet with the 76ers, Pacers, Blazers and Lakers among others, sources tell @YahooSports.
While landing a player like Jalen Duren is difficult for the Lakers since he’s a restricted free agent, Oubre Jr. doesn’t have that roadblock. He is an unrestricted free agent, so if his reported meeting with the Lakers goes well, he can easily join the team.
Oubre Jr. was a productive player for the Sixers this past season, averaging 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds per game and shot a career-best 36% from 3-point range.
While his numbers are solid, Oubre Jr. did have some breakout games. He scored 20-plus points on nine occasions. His most explosive game during the regular season came against the Grizzlies. In that contest, he had 30 points and 12 rebounds.
In the playoffs, Oubre Jr. had a strong series against the Knicks. He averaged 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot 42.9% from 3-point range.
Health could be a concern. He played a career-low 50 games this season and had some key injuries, including a sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his left elbow and a left knee LCL sprain.
If he can stay healthy, though, he could be a quality player for the purple and gold. He made $8.3 million last year and this is a tough market, so we’ll see what kind of deal he signs and whether it’s with the Lakers.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 03: Cole Wilcox #43 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on May 03, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners attempted to prop up their flagging bullpen today, trading out lefty Josh Simpson for righty Cole Wilcox.
With the Mariners past the Oops! All Lefties Guardians lineup, there’s no need for an extra lefty in the ‘pen, but Simpson didn’t make a strong argument to stay, providing the bottom bread in the disaster sandwich that was the Mariners’ meltdown eighth inning in one of the most unpleasant games I’ve recapped yet this season. For Simpson, the issue remains command. Wilcox hasn’t been the picture of pinpoint command – or he has, if that picture was drawn by someone who’d consumed ten double espressos while riding a Gravitron – but the thing Wilcox does bring is an ability to work multiple innings, something that’s useful for the bullpen-impoverished Mariners, down a man due to the fluctuating piggyback strategy.
Wilcox is carrying a rough-looking ERA of over five in Triple-A, but his peripherals are good: his FIP and xERA are both about half that, and he’s striking out over a third of batters faced while keeping his walks in check. It’s the walks that were the pain point for Wilcox in his first go-round with the big-league club in April, when he flashed solid strikeout stuff but also walked almost as many hitters as he struck out. That issue has calmed down significantly in his time at the notoriously hitter-friendly PCL, where he’s also collected a pair of saves.
Wilcox was my Pile Pick this spring training but his command issues caused Alex Hoppe to leapfrog him in the pecking order. Hoppe had his own struggles, however, and was optioned down to Triple-A three days ago. With Hoppe ineligible to be recalled from Triple-A for at least another week, Wilcox has some runway for another audition to the big-league club as they continue to search for consistency in the bullpen. And as a fun bonus, Wilcox has brought along a good luck charm this time that he keeps in his locker: a bobblehead of former Georgia teammate Emerson Hancock given away at Foley Field this May – a reminder from one Bulldog to another that the path to a big-league career doesn’t always run smoothly.
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 23: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers now have lots of money and lots of holes to fill heading into free agency without LeBron James on the roster. While it might be the right time to move on from him, it’s a lot of production to replace.
The team is going to replace him in the aggregate and will need a number of new faces to come in and help do so. Reports have already come out about them looking at Quentin Grimes or Sandro Mamukelashvili, but another name the team could target is Tobias Harris.
On Tuesday afternoon, Dave McMenamin of ESPN appeared on SportsCenter and reported that the team has discussed Harris as a forward option.
The Lakers Are Interested In Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes, And Dean Wade. Per, @mcten
“Lakers have mulled over internally are Tobias Harris from the Detroit Pistons, Quentin Grimes of the Philadelphia 76ers, who was a teammate of Luka's in Dallas in the past, and also Dean… pic.twitter.com/Mi2f9paJKi
Earlier this season, McMenamin reported Harris as a name the team had considered as a potential free agent signing. So, this isn’t the first time he’s been linked to the Lakers for this offseason.
Harris is certainly a polarizing player. In Philadelphia, he was a lightning rod for the team’s shortcomings. However, his time in Detroit has been far better and, in the playoffs last season, he was one of the few players for the Pistons who showed up.
Last season, he averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 36.8% from the 3-point line. Generally speaking, those are a tick below his career marks in each category, though he has been a career 36.6% shooter from range.
In the postseason, his numbers jumped to 18.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game on 42.5% shooting overall and 29.2% from range.
If Harris is seen as a replacement for Rui Hachimura, who certainly has suitors across the league, then it’s clear that he’s a notable downgrade. If he’s seen as another wing to add to the roster along with Rui and others, then he makes more sense.
But there are a lot of moving pieces the Lakers are going to have to juggle in the opening hours and days of free agency.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 30: Noah Cameron #65 of the Kansas City Royals smiles prior to making his MLB debut during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on April 30, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jac Caglianone is back in the lineup, but he’s only at DH, so Salvador Perez is batting sixth at first base. Nick Loftin is back, too, so at least the Royals have their second-string 3B in there again. The Royals already lost to this starter last week, and after a brilliant stretch where Noah Cameron was one of the best pitchers in baseball for a few weeks, he’s gone back to looking pretty meh again. Fingers crossed this game goes better than last time.
May 31, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tanner Gordon (29) pitches in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Tonight, they will even things up in Game 2 of a four-game stand with the Fish. As a reminder, the Rockies were swept in Miami to open the 2026 season, losing each game by one run.
given that it’s the final day of June, it’s worth noting that the Rockies are 11-14 overall this month, holding a 4-4 series record. Their eight series wins match last season’s total. In addition, the eight series wins pre-All-Star are their most since winning 10 first-half series in 2023. In 2025, a season in which the Rockies were historically bad, they only won two series pre-All-Star break (both on the road).
Starting for the Marlins is Eury Pérez. This will be his 14th start for the Marlins in 2026. He has made three previous starts against the Rockies, owning a 1-1 record with a 3.31 ERA (6 ER/16.1 IP), 10 hits (2 home runs), four walks, and 17 strikeouts. Pérez last faced Colorado in his first start of the season on March 28 where he yielded three earned runs on five hits (2 home runs) with one walk and eight strikeouts over 7.0 innings in Miami’s 4-3 victory.
In 2026, the righty has a 4.41 ERA in 67.1 IP. He’s struck out 73, walked 28, and given up 12 home runs. Pérez has a 1.22 WHIP.
Taking the mound for the Rockies will be RHP Tanner Gordon. This will be his third start (10th appearance) of 2026. His last start came on May 31 against the San Francisco Giants. That game was 19-6 Rockies loss during which Gordon allowed four runs on six hits across three innings in what was his first loss of the season.
Currently, he has an ERA of 6.37 in 35.1 IP. He’s struck out 35 while giving up eight walks and six home runs with a 1.57 WHIP. Gordon’s 5.1% walk percentage ranks in the 94th percentile among MLB pitchers.
