Summer Leagues, preseason schedules finalized

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 25: Zuby Ejiofor #20, Onsi Saleh, Kingston Flemings #4, and Henri Veesaar #13 of the Atlanta Hawks pose for a photo during the Atlanta Hawks New Draft Picks Press Conference and Portraits on June 25, 2026 at Atlanta Hawks Practice Facility in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Your Atlanta Hawks will be busy this offseason with exhibition basketball games. For one, in addition to their usual participation in the Las Vegas Summer League, they will also take part in a smaller, four-team Salt Lake City Summer League joining the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, and of course the Utah Jazz.

As an added bonus, the Hawks also announced their preseason schedule for the 2026-27 NBA season much earlier than usual this week. But, let’s break it down in chronological order.

2026 Salt Lake City Summer League (July 4 — July 7)

Atlanta will play three games in four days with a summer league roster that is expected to include draft picks Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor, Henri Veesaar, reported exhibit 10 signing Isaac McKneely and others. Likely opponents include number three overall pick Cameron Boozer of the Grizzlies, number 12 overall pick Aday Mara of the Thunder, and number two overall pick Darryn Peterson of the Jazz.

All games will be played at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City:

  • July 4 at 5:00 PM EST — Atlanta Hawks vs. Utah Jazz
  • July 6 at 7:00 PM EST — Atlanta Hawks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
  • July 7 at 7:00 PM EST — Atlanta Hawks vs. Memphis Grizzlies

2026 Las Vegas Summer League (July 9 — July 19)

As usual, all 30 teams will participate in the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League. Four games are scheduled for each team. The top four teams after those games will head to a single elimination bracket whereas the other 26 teams will play a fifth and final game to be announced later.

Games will be played at either the Thomas & Mack Center or the adjoining Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV. The Hawks will have a quick turnaround after Utah as part of the second game overall of the entire league in taking on the San Antonio Spurs:

  • July 9 at 4:30 PM EST — Atlanta Hawks vs. San Antonio Spurs (Thomas & Mack on ESPN 2)
  • July 11 at 8:00 PM EST — Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets (Thomas & Mack on ESPN)
  • July 13 at 6:00 PM EST — Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics (Cox on Prime)
  • July 16 at 8:00 PM EST — Atlanta Hawks vs. Memphis Grizzlies (Cox on Prime)

2026-27 Preseason Schedule (Oct. 5 — Oct. 16)

The broadcast (TV and radio) schedules and exact tip off times have yet to be announced. The Hawks will have five games with none at neutral site venues:

  • Oct. 5 — Atlanta Hawks vs. Memphis Grizzlies (State Farm Arena)
  • Oct. 8 — Atlanta Hawks at San Antonio Spurs (Frost Bank Center)
  • Oct. 10 — Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers (Gainbridge Fieldhouse)
  • Oct. 12 — Atlanta Hawks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (State Farm Arena)
  • Oct. 16 — Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks (American Airlines Center)

Rearranging the Sock Drawer: Who could the Red Sox get in an Aroldis Chapman trade?

Boston, MA - June 25: Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman pitches in the ninth inning. The Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on June 25, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

For the next few weeks we’ll be doing some theorizing on optimal returns at the trade deadline as the Red Sox look to do another tear down amidst a hopeless season. This week, we kick things off with the flamethrowing closer Aroldis Chapman.


Ah, rumors. Chris Cotillo heard it from a veteran scout this week: two prospects back for Aroldis Chapman, one of them a top-100 type. That’s only the floor. Bob Nightengale—though we can trust him as much as any bizzaro world character we can—has him rated as the top reliever on every contender’s board. With a 2.08 ERA and 14 saves (not surprising considering how many losses this squad has)— but still 378 in his long career (closing in on the all-time record), the market isn’t treating him like a rental. It’s treating him like the best available. For a 38 year old?! Ok.

The teams making headlines for Chapman are the Dodgers, Mariners, Phillies. In my opinion, there are five realistic suitors. Here’s what Breslow shudder should be targeting from each one.

Dodgers

River Ryan (RHP) + Chase Harlan (3B)

Of course the team that has all the money and continues to assemble super teams in the 2020s wants to add a flamethrower to their bullpen. The problem with the Dodgers is their best stuff is the stuff Boston doesn’t need. De Paula (#8), Hope (#17), Quintero (#34) land as their top three prospects…they’re all outfielders. The Red Sox have an outfield logjam that isn’t getting cleared any time soon between Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran, the list goes on and on.

The package I’d push for snakes past all of that: River Ryan (#75, RHP) as the top-100 piece, plus Chase Harlan, an unranked third baseman quietly posting a 1.025 OPS with ten home runs through the first half. Ryan adds projectable front-end rotation depth the organization can actually use, especially in a right-hander. Harlan is the kind of raw power bat you stockpile when you don’t know who your future third baseman is (yes, I know we have Caleb Durbin, but keeping him at third feels like a giant mistake; I see him at second and slotting Mayer back to SS but that’s another piece). Do you hate trading with the new evil empire, the team that makes EVERYONE ELSE look bad? Yeah. Still, having one of the best farm systems in baseball to root from—and Boston still gets what it actually needs out of it? Fine.

Mariners

Ryan Sloan (RHP) + Luke Stevenson (C)

The most specific package out there has Luke Stevenson at the center. I’d flip it. Make Ryan Sloan (#33 Pipeline, #7 BA) the headliner and let Stevenson come with him. Sloan is a top-35 arm, one of the better pitching prospects in the AL right now. Stevenson fills a specific gap—a left-handed bat behind the plate at a position the Sox are thin at long-term behind Carlos Narváez. Do you really trust Connor Wong and Micky Gaspar long term? I don’t think so. This package does real work: pitching depth plus positional coverage at a premium spot. If Seattle is serious about October, they know the price. They have the system to pay it. Adding in Chapman to Andres Muñoz would be a scary punch.

Phillies

Gage Wood (RHP) + Aroon Escobar (2B)

The Phillies puzzle me. They always seem to be one or two pieces away and never hit their marks at the deadline. Is that a Dombo issue? Who knows. What Philadelphia does have is Gage Wood—70-grade fastball, tied with Andrew Painter (who isn’t moving), power curve that gives him mid-rotation upside or a high-leverage floor depending on how he develops. Baseball Prospectus has him at 66. He’s at Single-A, so he’s a few years away but a lot of room to rise. Aroon Escobar (2B, Double-A, 21) rounds out the package. Of the five teams in this conversation, the Phillies return is the thinnest and Breslow knows that going in. They can close this deal—just at a discount. I do remember the last time the Red Sox sent pitching pieces to the Phillies at the deadline…I think it worked out better for Boston, eh? (Nick Pivetta for Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree)

Braves

Cam Caminiti (LHP)

Nobody’s writing about Atlanta, and they should be. The bullpen has been inconsistent all year—even with Raisel Iglesias dominating as closer—and Chapman is the kind of arm contenders acquire when they want an answer at the back of a postseason roster—not depth, a second closer who can step in at any time. Cam Caminiti (#44) is the top-100 piece: 2024 first-rounder, touched 98, six-pitch mix, front-of-the-rotation ceiling. His breaking stuff kinda blurs together but the Red Sox pitching lab might be the best place to find that differentiation point. JR Ritchie debuted in April and would have been a piece I wanted: seven pitches, 93-95 mph with two fastball shapes, control refined enough to handle high-leverage innings. Tantalizing. But off the list. Boston already has Early and Tolle as elite lefties, so Caminiti is a depth add rather than a direct need-fill. That’s fine. You can say yes to depth packages like this one.

Padres

Ethan Salas (C) + Kruz Schoolcraft (LHP)

This is the one to watch. Ethan Salas was the eighth-best prospect in baseball before a back injury wiped out his 2025. He’s at Double-A San Antonio this year slashing .320/.396/.546 with five home runs through 28 games, climbing 90 spots in the rankings since the season started. Elite defensive catcher, left-handed bat, real pop. If Boston was drawing up their ideal long-term power piece behind Contreras, this is the profile. Pair him with Kruz Schoolcraft—6-foot-8 lefty, taken 25th overall in 2025, fastball already in the high 90s—and San Diego has assembled the most compelling package in this conversation. A rebounding top-10 talent at a premium position, plus a recent first-round arm who’s going to be very good. I know I just said having a lefty in this package seems redundant with Caminiti, but Schoolcraft intrigues the hell out of me. Only way I would take him out is if the Red Sox draft Brody Bumila in this year’s draft. I also know the Padres have Mason Miller closing, but again, you need all the scary you get come October.


If Breslow is doing this to win, San Diego’s scenario is the one worth chasing hardest to me, followed by Seattle. Salas is a potential cornerstone. The Mariners package is the most balanced return—Sloan is a top-35 arm and Stevenson fills a real gap.

Breslow has the leverage here having the asset everyone seems to want. Is he smart enough to part with it and get the right value back? Less sold on that. Still, this is absolutely worth tracking in the weeks ahead in this lost season.

Dodgers notes: Mookie Betts, Kyle Tucker, Roki Sasaki

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at Petco Park on June 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Two months into the season, Mookie Betts had missed over a month of time due to an oblique issue and was posting by far the worst offensive numbers of his entire career.

While sluggers at the top of the lineup like Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages have mired in a funk over the last two weeks, Mookie Betts has ascended into the same hitter that fans were used to seeing in 2022 and 2023. Betts added his third home run in as many games during the Dodgers’ nine-run sixth inning on Saturday against the San Diego Padres, and over his last 13 games he is slashing .358/.407/.698 with five home runs and nine RBI.

Betts had primarily been the no. 2 hitter in the Dodgers lineup until he was slotted to cleanup on May 26 against the Colorado Rockies and has since remained there. That spot in the Dodgers lineup has been one of the weakest so far, notes Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, and with Betts and Pages headed in opposite trajectories, another mixup could be in store.

Links

Kyle Tucker was an instrumental part of the Dodgers nine-run sixth inning on Saturday, crushing a two-run home run against Randy Vásquez and finishing the game 3-5 with four RBI.

Year 1 as a Dodger has not been kind for the All-Star outfielder, who entered Saturday’s contest with just a .700 OPS on the season, but he proved himself as a viable piece in the lineup and he spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about the three-hit game.

“I didn’t love my swing tonight. The homer, I caught the ball at the right point of contact. The other ones, I got inside the ball a little bit and I got them over to left [field] over the infielder, so it just kind of works out sometimes.”

As soon as Roki Sasaki looked like he was starting to find his stride at the big league level, the ugly habits returned, as the right-hander has posted a combined 8.36 ERA over his last three starts, most recently allowing three runs and five walks against the Padres on Friday.

Sasaki acknowledged that he wasn’t able to execute his pitches in his preferred manner, and with his next start also coming against San Diego, he’ll attempt to create a more effective game plan, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.

“I’m not going to have it every time out, so that’s something I have to improve. And also the gameplan,” Sasaki said. “I was able to execute some of the pitches, but some of the pitches I couldn’t, so that’s something I have to go through before next start.”

Vancouver Canucks Top 10 Prospects: Post-2026 NHL Entry Draft Edition

The Vancouver Canucks are starting to build a strong prospect pool. Whether through the draft, trade or free agency, there are quite a few prospects who could make an impact at the NHL level sooner rather than later. Here is a look at the top ten prospects in Vancouver's system following the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. 

*Note: To qualify for this list, players must be 23 or under and have played fewer than 25 combined NHL regular-season and playoff games. Players are ranked based on age, position, potential, and overall performance during the 2025-26 season.

Honourable Mention: Ty Mueller- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

C, 5'11", 185 lbs- 105th Overall in 2023

Ty Mueller continues to develop into a late-round steal for the Canucks. The 23-year-old recorded 37 points in 61 games last season with the Abbotsford Canucks while also scoring his first career NHL goal. Mueller will most likely start next season in the AHL, but could be one of the first players called up if injuries or trades occur during the year. 

10. Riley Patterson- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

C, 6'0", 192 lbs- 125th Overall in 2024

Riley Patterson had a strong final campaign in the OHL. The 20-year-old led the Niagara IceDogs with 84 points in 60 games before producing eight points in five playoff games. After his OHL season concluded, Patterson joined Abbotsford, where he scored his first career AHL goal and recorded two points in four games. 

9. Sawyer Mynio- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LD, 6'1", 173 lbs- 89th Overall in 2023

One player who really stepped up for the AHL Canucks in 2025-26 was Sawyer Mynio. The 21-year-old took full advantage of his opportunities and produced 21 points in 58 games. Mynio is projected to be a top-four defender for Abbotsford in 2026-27 and should see time on both the penalty kill and power play. 

8. Ty Young- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

G, 6'3", 181 lbs- 144th Overall in 2022

For the second straight season, Ty Young split the campaign between the AHL and ECHL. He finished with a record of 6-10-1 for the AHL Canucks, while posting a record of 7-5-1 with the Kalamazoo Wings. Based on Vancouver's current goaltending situation, Young should get more opportunities with Abbotsford this year. 

7. Alexei Medvedev- London Knights, OHL

G, 6'2", 178 lbs- 47th Overall in 2025

The 2025-26 campaign was not kind to Alexei Medvedev. He posted a 16-15-3 record, but lost his starting job before the start of the playoffs. Medvedev is scheduled to return to the OHL next year and should be in store for a bounce-back season in 2026-27. 

6. Niklas Aaram-Olsen- Boston University, NCAA

LW, 6'1", 183 lbs- 41st Overall in 2026

Niklas Aaram-Olsen is coming off an impressive season in the J20 Nationell over in Sweden. The 18-year-old scored 20 goals while recording 40 points in 29 games for Örebro HK's U20 program. On top of heading to the NCAA, Aaram-Olsen is projected to be named to Norway's 2027 Division IA World Juniors team. 

Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Entry Draft Selection TrackerVancouver Canucks 2026 NHL Entry Draft Selection TrackerA list with articles on all prospects the Vancouver Canucks select at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, updated throughout the draft.

5. Kirill Kudryavtsev- Abbotsford Canucks, AHL

LD, 5'11", 200 lbs- 208th Overall in 2022

Kirill Kudryavtsev continues to demonstrate why he is the steal of the 2022 draft. The 22-year-old was able to produce 20 points despite being limited to 44 games due to injury. Just like the last two years, Kudryavtsev will most likely receive a call-up to the NHL next season. 

4. Brooks Rogowski- Oshawa Generals, OHL 

C, 6'7", 235 lbs- 33rd Overall in 2026

The Canucks picked up one of the tallest and biggest prospects in the 2026 draft with Brooks Rogowski. The 18-year-old had a solid rookie season in the OHL, producing 42 points in 46 games. If Rogowski can have a strong start to his campaign, he could be in the conversation for Team USA at the 2027 World Juniors. 

3. Adam Novotný- Peterborough Petes, OHL

LW, 6'1", 205 lbs- 24th Overall in 2026

With their second pick of the first round, Vancouver selected Adam Novotný from Czechia. The 18-year-old had a successful rookie campaign in the OHL last year with 65 points in 58 games. Novotný is projected to be named to Czechia's World Juniors team for the second straight year. 

2. Braeden Cootes- Prince Albert Raiders, WHL

C, 5'11", 183 lbs- 15th Overall in 2025

After a dominant season in which he posted 63 points in 45 games and led his team to the WHL final, it looks like Braeden Cootes is ready to make the jump to the pro level. With the new AHL rule, the 19-year-old could be assigned to Abbotsford if he does not make the Canucks full-time. There is a good chance that Cootes at least gets a shot in the NHL and very well could be in the starting lineup when the season opens. 

Oct 9, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Braeden Cootes (80) during a stop in play against the Calgary Flames in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Oct 9, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Braeden Cootes (80) during a stop in play against the Calgary Flames in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

1. Caleb Malhotra- Boston University, NCAA

C, 6'2", 182 lbs- 3rd Overall in 2026

Vancouver's newest top prospect is Caleb Malhotra. The 18-year-old had a season to remember in the OHL as he produced 84 points in 67 games and led the Brantford Bulldogs to the Eastern Conference Final. Malhotra will be headed to the NCAA next year, but it should not be long before he is making an impact at the NHL level. 

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Avalanche Hope To Unlock Stalled First-Round Talent In Fabian Lysell Trade

Fabian Lysell arrives in Denver as the latest low-risk, high-upside swing for a Colorado Avalanche team that has made a habit of betting on talent others couldn’t quite unlock.

The track record is real. Andre Burakovsky turned a fresh start into a Stanley Cup ring in Colorado. Valeri Nichushkin—once written off by some around the league—became an indispensable piece of a championship core despite a turbulent path that included a recent trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the 43rd overall pick in the NHL Draft.

Valeri Nichushkin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday for three draft picks. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images
Valeri Nichushkin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday for three draft picks. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images

Nichushkin’s own path serves as a reminder of what’s possible. After his career stalled with the Dallas Stars for similar reasons—questions about consistency, fit, and whether his game would ever fully translate at the NHL level—he arrived in Colorado and, over time, developed into one of the Avalanche’s most important players and a key piece of a Stanley Cup-winning core.

Now, it’s Lysell’s turn to try and follow that same blueprint.

The Avalanche acquired the former first-round pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ivan Ivan, a depth forward who spent much of last season with the Colorado Eagles but left a strong impression on teammates and within the organization.

Drafted 21st overall in 2021, Lysell has appeared in just 12 NHL games to this point in his career. The flashes are easy to spot—the pace, the hands, the creativity that once made him a top prospect—but he has yet to find real traction at the NHL level or steady consistency in Providence.

A 50-point season in 2023-24 looked like a potential turning point. Instead, it was followed by 34 points in 52 games in 2024-25 and 42 points in 57 games this past season, leaving his development stuck in neutral rather than accelerating forward.

Part of that responsibility sits with the player, as it does with any prospect trying to establish himself. But there’s also a broader question of fit and development in Boston—whether Lysell was ever given the runway to lean fully into the offensive instincts that made him a first-round pick, or instead asked to adapt before his game was truly ready.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney hinted at that complexity when addressing the move.

“He hasn't fully grasped at the NHL level what it probably requires to play each and every night. He took ownership of that today,” Sweeney said. “We took ownership that, could we have done more and better in supporting him? Probably.”

Now, the reset begins.

When Lysell eventually makes his way to Denver for offseason training and pre-camp preparation, the spotlight shifts to how quickly he can translate talent into trust at the NHL level—and whether the Avalanche can unlock something Boston couldn’t consistently sustain.

Before turning pro in North America, Lysell developed in Sweden, spending parts of two seasons with Luleå HF in the SHL while also starring for Frölunda’s junior program. He posted three points (2G, 1A) in 26 SHL games during the 2020-21 season.

After being selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, he came to North America and found immediate offensive success with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2021-22, finishing with 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 regular-season games. He elevated further in the postseason with 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 12 playoff games, leading the WHL in assists that spring.

Internationally, Lysell has represented Sweden at the 2021 U18 World Championship and back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2022 and 2023, earning bronze medals at both the U18 and 2022 World Junior tournaments.

For Colorado, the talent is the easy part to see. The harder question is whether structure, opportunity, and patience under Jared Bednar can turn it into something permanent.

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Avalanche Hope Fabian Lysell Becomes Next Nichushkin-Type Breakout Story

Fabian Lysell arrives in Denver as the latest low-risk, high-upside swing for a Colorado Avalanche team that has made a habit of betting on talent others couldn’t quite unlock.

The track record is real. Andre Burakovsky turned a fresh start into a Stanley Cup ring in Colorado. Valeri Nichushkin—once written off by some around the league—became an indispensable piece of a championship core after arriving in Denver via a change of scenery.

Valeri Nichushkin's impact on the Colorado Avalanche was undeniable. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images
Valeri Nichushkin's impact on the Colorado Avalanche was undeniable. Credit: Jerome Miron - Imagn Images

Nichushkin’s path stands as the clearest blueprint. After his career stalled with the Dallas Stars amid questions about consistency, fit, and whether his game would ever fully translate at the NHL level, he found new life in Colorado and eventually developed into one of the Avalanche’s most important players.

Now, it’s Lysell’s turn to see if he can follow a similar trajectory.

The Avalanche acquired the former first-round pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ivan Ivan, a depth forward who spent much of last season with the Colorado Eagles but left a strong impression on teammates and within the organization.

Drafted 21st overall in 2021, Lysell has appeared in just 12 NHL games to this point in his career. The flashes are easy to spot—the pace, the hands, the creativity that once made him a top prospect—but he has yet to find real traction at the NHL level or steady consistency in Providence.

A 50-point season in 2023-24 looked like a potential turning point. Instead, it was followed by 34 points in 52 games in 2024-25 and 42 points in 57 games this past season, leaving his development stuck in neutral rather than accelerating forward.

Part of that responsibility sits with the player, as it does with any prospect trying to establish himself. But there’s also a broader question of fit and development in Boston—whether Lysell was ever given the runway to lean fully into the offensive instincts that made him a first-round pick, or instead asked to adapt before his game was truly ready.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney hinted at that complexity when addressing the move.

“He hasn't fully grasped at the NHL level what it probably requires to play each and every night. He took ownership of that today,” Sweeney said. “We took ownership that, could we have done more and better in supporting him? Probably.”

Now, the reset begins.

When Lysell eventually makes his way to Denver for offseason training and pre-camp preparation, the spotlight shifts to how quickly he can translate talent into trust at the NHL level—and whether the Avalanche can unlock something Boston couldn’t consistently sustain.

Before turning pro in North America, Lysell developed in Sweden, spending parts of two seasons with Luleå HF in the SHL while also starring for Frölunda’s junior program. He posted three points (2G, 1A) in 26 SHL games during the 2020-21 season.

After being selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, he came to North America and found immediate offensive success with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants in 2021-22, finishing with 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 regular-season games. He elevated further in the postseason with 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) in 12 playoff games, leading the WHL in assists that spring.

Internationally, Lysell has represented Sweden at the 2021 U18 World Championship and back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2022 and 2023, earning bronze medals at both the U18 and 2022 World Junior tournaments.

For Colorado, the talent is the easy part to see. The harder question is whether structure, opportunity, and patience under Jared Bednar can turn it into something permanent.

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Luis Lara’s Power Surge, Explained

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Luis Lara #89 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the third inning of the spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on February 22, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Luis Lara looked like he had solved the biggest question surrounding his prospect profile.

Through May 6, the recently extended outfield prospect had already hit seven home runs, shattering his previous career-high of four. It looked like he’d finally unlocked his power.

Nearly two months later, he still has exactly seven home runs.

March 27–May 6: 7 HR, 4 2B, 1 3B

May 7–June 27: 0 HR, 5 2B, 1 3B

The initial surge vaulted Lara up prospect rankings. Baseball America now ranks him No. 52 in all of baseball, while MLB Pipeline has him No. 89. Yet Pipeline still grades his power as just a 40 on the 20–80 scouting scale, well behind his 70-grade defense and 60-grade arm and speed.

So which version of Lara should Brewers fans believe? Was his early-season power surge real? To answer that question, we need to look beyond the home run totals and into Lara’s underlying Statcast data.


As the Brewers saw during their recent series in Las Vegas, Triple-A environments can be considerably more favorable for hitters than major league parks. Home run totals alone don’t necessarily tell the whole story. To determine whether Lara’s early power surge represented a legitimate change in skill, we need to look beneath the results.

Thanks to the recent expansion of Statcast to Triple-A, we can do exactly that. Lara’s batted-ball data provides four useful indicators of raw power: average exit velocity, maximum exit velocity, 90th-percentile exit velocity, and hard-hit rate.

Average Exit Velocity: 80.68 mph

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 99.4 mph

Maximum Exit Velocity: 109 mph

Hard-hit Rate: 20.72%

At first glance, Lara’s Statcast profile doesn’t scream plus raw power. His average exit velocity is below average, and his 90th-percentile exit velocity is solid rather than elite. On the other hand, his 109-mph maximum exit velocity shows the raw strength is there when he squares the ball up.

The disconnect is consistency. Lara’s 20.7% hard-hit rate is well below the roughly 33% major league average, suggesting he currently doesn’t produce loud contact often enough to project as a true power hitter.

Statcast defines a hard-hit ball as one struck at least 95 mph because that’s where offensive production begins to spike. Leaguewide, balls hit at least 95 mph produce dramatically better results than those hit below that threshold. In 2023, hitters batted .506 on hard-hit balls compared to just .221 on all other balls, which is why hard-hit rate has become one of the most useful indicators of a hitter’s ability to consistently drive the baseball.

Lara’s hard-hit rate sits at just 20.7%, well below the roughly 33% mark that represents a typical major league average. In other words, while Lara has demonstrated that he can hit the ball exceptionally hard, he simply hasn’t done so often enough for the data to suggest a meaningful change in his underlying power profile.

The ideal comparison would be Lara’s Statcast profile this season versus last season. Unfortunately, he spent all of last year in Double-A, and Statcast data from that level isn’t publicly available.

Instead, we can compare the two very different halves of Lara’s 2026 season: the six-week stretch in which he hit seven home runs and the seven-week drought that followed. That split offers the clearest window into whether anything actually changed beneath the surface.

March 27 – May 6:

Average Exit Velocity: 83 mph

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 100.2 mph

Maximum Exit Velocity: 109 mph

Hard-hit Rate: 28.25%

May 7 – June 27:

Average Exit Velocity: 80.05 mph

90th Percentile Exit Velocity: 98.9 mph

Maximum Exit Velocity: 108.5 mph

Hard-hit Rate: 18.34%

Lara’s average, 90th-percentile, and maximum exit velocities didn’t change drastically.

What jumps out is his hard-hit rate, which dropped by roughly one-third. Combined with his average exit velocity falling nearly three mph, it suggests that while the shape of Lara’s contact remained largely unchanged, the quality of that contact declined. But why?

My first thought was that perhaps Lara’s launch angle had changed. It hadn’t. His average launch angle fell from 19 degrees before May 7 to just 18 degrees afterward — a negligible difference.

Next, I wondered whether Lara had changed his approach at the plate, sacrificing power for contact. The numbers don’t support that idea either. Through May 6, he struck out 18 times in 123 plate appearances (14.6%). Since then, he’s struck out 25 times in 172 plate appearances (14.5%). His batting average also remained remarkably consistent, dropping only from .333 to .324.

Finally, I considered whether the power outage could simply be the product of bad luck. If that were the case, one would expect fewer balls in play to fall for hits. Instead, the opposite happened. Lara’s BABIP actually increased from .347 before May 7 to .391 afterward, suggesting that balls in play were becoming hits more often, not less.

The biggest change appears to be in Lara’s approach at the plate. His first-pitch strike rate — the percentage of plate appearances that began with an 0-1 count — rose from 38.9% to 44.8%, almost exactly mirroring the increase in his overall swing rate (38.3% to 43.2%). His chase rate climbed slightly, his contact rate dipped slightly, and his in-zone swing rate jumped from 57.6% to 63.9%.

All things considered, those numbers suggest Lara became more aggressive after his power surge. Pitchers weren’t attacking the strike zone any more frequently, and aside from a modest decrease in fastballs, they weren’t pitching him that differently. Instead, Lara appears to have expanded his swing decisions. Because he’s such a good contact hitter, that added aggression didn’t translate into more strikeouts or a lower batting average. It may, however, have led him to swing at pitches he was less likely to drive.

If that’s the case, the issue isn’t that Lara’s raw power disappeared. It’s that he stopped getting to it as consistently. The underlying strength is still there; the challenge now is being selective enough to access it more often.


As I wrote about last week, even if Lara never develops into a 20-home-run hitter, extending him was still a good idea. A plus defender in center field with elite speed, excellent bat-to-ball skills, and an above-average on-base profile has plenty of value on his own.

The encouraging part is that the raw power doesn’t appear to be missing — it simply isn’t showing up consistently. Lara has already demonstrated that he can drive the baseball at 109 mph, an exit velocity that few players reach by accident. The challenge isn’t adding strength; it’s learning to produce that kind of contact more often by continuing to make quality swing decisions.

That’s one reason the extension makes sense. Milwaukee has built one of baseball’s strongest player-development systems by helping talented hitters maximize the tools they already possess. Lara already has the bat speed to produce 109-mph exit velocities. If the Brewers can help him pair that raw power with more consistent swing decisions, there’s another level for his offensive game to reach. And if they can’t, his defense, speed, and contact ability still give him the profile of an everyday major leaguer.

Phillies on the Pharm: 6/28/2026

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 16: Tanner Banks #58 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during a game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 8-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Let’s dive into the action!

Lehigh Valley 8, Syracuse 6

The IronPigs score six runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to take the 8-6 lead that would go onto be the final score. Kolby Allard threw 5.1 innings of 6-hit, 3-run ball. Old friend Tanner Banks struggles in his 1.1 innings of ball with 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. The offense had the long ball working with Dylan Moore (3), Bryan De La Cruz (12), Dylan Carlsson (5), and Rene Pinto (1) all mashing one. Shockingly Felix Reyes DID NOT hit one tonight, go figure.

Reading 14, Altoona 5

In one of Jean Cabrera’s best outings of the season, he goes 4 innings giving up only 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks. Progress! Like the IronPigs, the ball was flying out of the park up in Altoona with Luke Ritter (1,2), Bryan Rincon (11), Raylin Heredia (14), Alex Binelas (18) and Bryson Ware (13) all sharing in the glory.

Brooklyn 9, Jersey Shore 1

A rough one all-around for the BlueClaws as Tanner Gresham and Titan Kennedy-Hayes combine giving up 8 runs (6 earned) over 6.1 innings. Devin Saltiban was 2 for 4 on the night and Tyler Pettorini had the only extra-base hit for Jersey Shore.

Clearwater 17, Jupiter 6

Somehow the Threshers scored 17 runs and only had one homer (a two-run shot from Griffin Burkholder, his 7th). They had 7 run first inning and a 6 run 7th innings. Ryan Degges started the game on rehab, giving up 1 run in 2 innings of work. Zuher Yousuf pitched the bulk of the game with 4 innings of work, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks.

Chicago Cubs news — Suzuki, Palencia, Milner, Brown

Today’s Reflections

Jacob Misiorowski. Sheesh. Why can’t the Cubs find and develops guys with just 80 percent of his ability (because there’s no possibility of hitting 100 percent because he’s a freak (respectively)).

Kudos to Seiya Suzuki for picking out a 90 mile per hour slider and sending it over the wall. And for Colin Rea’s yeoman performance by finishing five innings of work, allowing just one run out of eight baserunners and striking out four.

But – the bullpen. Ethan Roberts blew a save (in the sixth) and Jayden Murray allowed a home run to blow the game open. These men would be used in mop-up duty in a normal Cubs bullpen, but it is what it is. They need help here as much as starting pitching.

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Stories from Friday’s game:

Let’s see if there are any injuries on the Cubs’ pitching staff, shall we?:

Assorted Stories:

Food For Thought:

Albert Collins (October 1, 1932 – November 24, 1993) was an American electric blues guitarist and singer with a distinctive guitar style. He was noted for his powerful playing and his use of altered tunings and a capo. His long association with the Fender Telecaster led to the title “The Master of the Telecaster”.

Robert Cray (born August 1, 1953) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He has led his own band and won five Grammy Awards. By the age of 20, Cray had seen his heroes Albert Collins, Freddie King and Muddy Waters in concert and decided to form his own band. Two albums on HighTone Records in the mid-1980s, Bad Influence and False Accusations, were moderately successful in the United States and in Europe, where he was building a reputation as a live artist.[4] In 1985, he released the album Showdown! with his hero Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland.

John Copeland (March 27, 1937 – July 3, 1997) was an American Texas blues guitarist and singer. In 1983, he was named Blues Entertainer of the Year by the Blues Foundation. He is the father of blues singer Shemekia Copeland. In 2017, Copeland was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

This Week in Purple: A Good Man

Jun 26, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) celebrates hitting a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Hunter Goodman is having a fairly different season than he did when he was an All-Star in 2025. He’s chasing and striking out more and hitting less for average. The trade-off is that the 26-year-old catcher is obliterating baseballs at an alarming pace.

Between Friday and Saturday, Goodman hit four home runs. He hit home runs in three straight at-bats, and hit three home runs on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. He became the 21st player in Rockies history to hit three home runs in a game.

What’s more wild about Goodman’s season is that the bulk of the damage is coming away from the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field. After Saturday, his 18 home runs on the road prior to the All-Star Game are the most in franchise history. This sets him above Larry Walker, who hit 16 home runs before the break in his 1997 MVP campaign.

Goodman now has 25 home runs this season. He is the fourth catcher in Major League history to have 25 or more home runs before the All-Star Game, and the first to do it since Hall of Famer Johnny Bench in 1970 with 28. There are 15 games left for the Rockies to play before the break, and Goodman will have the chance to pass catchers Iván Rodríguez (26) and Bench for their pre-break home run totals. He can also become the first Rockies player in franchise history to hit 30 or more home runs before the break.

Recently we explored the idea of trading Hunter Goodman as part of the Rockies’ rebuild. However, fans were in agreement that Goodman is one to keep and build around for the future. With him proving his 31 home run season in 2025 wasn’t a fluke and performing more than adequately behind the plate–and getting excellent results from ABS challenges while doing so–Hunter Goodman might be proving a perfect piece to build around.

With that being said, here’s what our staff here at Purple Row had to say this week:

To Read: Rockpiles

To Read: News

Weekly Discussion Topics

Back near the end of 2022, I praised Hunter Goodman as an unsung prospect who could even stick around as a catcher if the Rockies didn’t choose to move him to first base or the outfield. Nearly four years later, Goodman is one of the Rockies’ most valuable players and appears to be on track to become a franchise great.

Who is a prospect you ended up being right about–for better or for worse–in Rockies history? Let us know in the comments!


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Draymond Green jokingly calls out Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg over ‘lies'

Draymond Green jokingly calls out Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg over ‘lies' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors don’t have their hilarious in-house back-and-forth between Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield anymore, but a new frenemies situation might be developing in its place.

Golden State star Draymond Green and No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Yaxel Lendeborg attended Michigan State and Michigan, respectively — two schools that don’t exactly like each other.

And it appears that college rivalry isn’t lost on these two new teammates, who already have an ongoing beef on social media.

Here’s how it started. During Lendeborg’s introductory press conference on Friday, the first-round pick was asked if he had already talked to Green and Steph Curry yet.

“Steph actually welcomed both of us in the group chat the night of the draft, so when [Lajae Jones] got drafted and I got drafted,” Lendeborg told reporters. “And I reached out to him yesterday. I asked one quick question, and then I reached out to Draymond as well. I haven’t got that response back yet from Draymond, but …”

Lendeborg laughed, while general manager Mike Dunleavy interjected to add, “Don’t worry, [Green] doesn’t respond to me, either.”

However, Green then pulled out some receipts, posting a screenshot of texts between him and Lendeborg in an Instagram story. The four-time NBA champion also added some commentary of his own, saying “Rookie Hazing heating up for these lies Rook,” as well as a barb at Michigan.

Lendeborg then refuted Green’s attack in an IG story of his own; it seems to be all in good fun, though, based on the amount of laughing emojis from both sides.

Hopefully, this teasing between rookie and veteran is a good sign of things to come as far as their chemistry going forward.

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Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson breaks silence on free agency: ‘Very a possibility’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 24: Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks looks on during a break in the action during the first quarter of the game against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 2022 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After spending a week, if not two, celebrating the 2026 NBA championship nearly non-stop, the New York Knicks are back in business.

New York and Jose Alvarado pacted a delay to his player option, and on Friday, Alvarado finally rejected it only to, reportedly, sign a three-year deal. Up next, things will get a bit more serious as the Knicks will need to deal with the free agencies of many players, most importantly, sixth-man and backup center Mitchell Robinson.

The uncertainty about Mitch’s future in New York has grown in recent days, with the big man expected to depart and sign elsewhere once he becomes a free agent on June 30, if only because James Dolan wants it like that.

Now, we’ve heard from Robinson himself. In an interview with WGNO (h/t New York Basketball, Robinson was asked about the possibility of returning to New York and building on the franchise’s first title in 53 years.

“We can see what happens. It would be great, try to do it, try to run it back again, try to go back-to-back… Defending champs, so we’ll, that’s very a possibility.” — Mitchell Robinson.

Robinson’s comments arrive as multiple reports continued to emerge throughout Saturday, all of them doubting whether a reunion is financially realistic, and pointing toward the center’s days in New York being numbered.

According to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy, Robinson is “unlikely to return to the Knicks next season,” with the decision tied directly to Dolan’s stance against crossing the NBA’s second apron.

That self-imposed restriction will inevitably shape the Knicks’ offseason approach and New York’s roster for the upcoming season. The front office already traded out of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft to avoid adding guaranteed salary, signaling an obvious intent to preserve flexibility under the apron, and ended up taking a couple of second-round fliers.

Even with those moves, and following the Alvarado news, retaining Robinson remains complicated. Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, New York has only about $14 million to fill four roster spots before hitting the second apron, set at $222 million. For context, Robinson just completed a four-year, $60 million contract with an average annual salary of $15 million per year, already more than the Knicks can offer, let alone leaving room to fill the rest of the roster.

SNY’s Ian Begley was optimistic in writing that the Knicks may be able to keep one of Robinson or Landry Shamet, but “not both.” It’s actually going to be hard to even bring Shamet back at a reasonable price, given his market is expected to be good following his title run with the Knicks, and still have enough money to build a competitive bench.

At the same time, Robinson’s market appears strong. League-wide interest has already surfaced, with teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings linked as potential suitors.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst summarized the situation earlier this week, noting: “There is a real possibility that they won’t keep Mitch Robinson… I would say Mitch Robinson is 50/50… maybe 51/49 to come back.”

Front Office Sports later confirmed Bondy’s report and cited Robinson’s injury history and free-throw struggles as additional factors in New York’s reluctance to commit long-term money at a higher cost.

Fred Katz, meanwhile, wrote a story about the Knicks’ second-apron saga, revealing that New York’s front office, led by Leon Rose, wants to get into the second apron while Dolan is simply refusing to allow them to.

Despite all of the reports, rumors, and speculation, Robinson’s own stance suggests he has not closed the door to a return. The 28-year-old center, the longest-tenured Knick after being drafted in 2018, remains open to returning to the title-winning Knicks, as impossible as that looks from the outside.

Free agency is set to open on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.

Swanson: You're up, Rob Pelinka. To avoid Ned Colletti's fate, the Lakers' GM has to deliver this offseason

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' general manager and president of basketball operations, glances to his left during a news conference
Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' general manager and president of basketball operations, glances to his left during a news conference. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

If only. If Rob Pelinka could use the Dodgers’ blueprint to renovate, Lakers fans wouldn’t even be sweating this summer.

But, you know. Baseballs and basketballs, apples and oranges.

The windup and sales pitch are the same, though: Deliver a sustainable, high-rising, championship build. On time and … about that budget. One team has none. The other’s is tight.

In baseball, they wear caps. In the NBA, they’re compelled to stay under them.

In baseball, they can swing freely (for now). In basketball, they’re hamstrung by aprons.

Ned Colletti had it easier, and he lasted only two relatively successful seasons in his role as Dodgers general manager after Mark Walter’s Guggenheim Baseball Management group bought the ballclub in 2012.

Read more:Cameron Carr on Lakers acquiring him draft night: 'It didn't feel real'

Pelinka has it tougher as the Lakers’ general manager and president of basketball operations. But like Colletti before him, with Walter having purchased the majority stake in the Lakers, Pelinka is going to have to crash the hourglass and build a winner with haste. Er, the winner.

If the Lakers lay anything but an 18th brick on their championship foundation in the next couple seasons, Pelinka’s story probably is going to go a lot like Colletti’s.

When free agency opens Tuesday, Pelinka is just going to have to show us how creative he can be, how clever and cunning.

He already hit a grand slam with the Luka Doncic trade in 2025. In one of the NBA’s all-time heists, Pelinka brought the then-25-year-old Slovenian superstar to L.A. from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for essentially an aging and injury-prone Anthony Davis and just one first-round draft pick.

Before that, Pelinka hit another home run with Austin Reaves; a four-bagger so deep that Doncic’s undrafted backcourt-mate has now procured the proverbial bag. (Four years, $185 million worth of baggage to the Lakers.)

With those pillars cemented, Pelinka’s job is delivering the A-list center Doncic reportedly desires.

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, left, talks to reporters during the introductoy news conference for Luka Doncic, right.
Lakers GM Rob Pelinka pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic. Can Pelinka build a winner around Doncic? (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Doesn’t matter that all the perceivable candidates — from the Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler to the New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Myles Turner, the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jarrett Allen, the Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford, even old friend A.D. — sit on a spectrum of unlikely to unwise.

Still, the best plan: Make Doncic happy; make a run at Kessler.

He’s a 24-year-old, defensively adept big man who would be a great pickup, just hard to get. But whether it’s overpaying in restricted free agency or working out a sign-and-trade deal, pry him away from the Jazz.

After nailing down a center, Pelinka also needs to really hit on the margins. Because in the modern NBA, the marginal is major.

The current contenders have depth borne of seasons spent tanking and loading up in the draft on athletic, affordable young talent or, in the case of the recently crowned Knicks, having a leading man take $113 million less than he was eligible for, as Jalen Brunson effectively did, to be able to play with his best buds.

In L.A., the Lakers don’t really have the first option and shouldn’t ever expect the second.

But Pelinka doesn’t have to swing for the fences every time; he doesn’t need to wow us now, he needs to have wowed us later. Take swings like he did trading for Rui Hachimura or netting sharpshooter Luke Kennard.

Former Laker Pau Gasol, right, speaks with GM Rob Pelinka during a Lakers practice in 2025.
Former Laker Pau Gasol, right, speaks with GM Rob Pelinka during a Lakers practice in 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

No one bats 1.000, of course, not even Andrew Friedman, the architect of the Dodgers’ three World Series titles since taking over as president of baseball operations in 2014.

But for the Lakers’ potential $51 million of cap space, for all of this summer’s much-hyped optionality, Pelinka’s competitive new boss isn’t the type to forgive errors that are forever front of mind for the Lakers’ faithful.

Pelinka can’t strike out on free agent signees like Gabe Vincent and Kendrick Nunn. Can’t let someone like Alex Caruso walk. Can’t whiff on draftees like Dalton Knecht or Jalen Hood-Schifino — and better hope he hasn’t on this year’s selection, Cameron Carr, who fell to the Lakers at No. 24.

The wrinkle, this offseason: Last year’s Lakers — 41-year-old LeBron James, Hachimura, Kennard and, if he opts out, Marcus Smart — will be among the most attractive free agents on the market, and they’re proven fits for a team that reached the second round of the playoffs.

But merely re-signing those guys won’t improve the Lakers’ odds of getting past the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs.

And simply outspending those teams isn’t an option, either. So Pelinka is going to have to go bargain hunting, he’s got to find some hidden gems, pull some tricks out of his sleeve. Surprise us, like great general managers are supposed to do.

This is Pelinka’s opportunity to show us his blueprint for bringing another title to Los Angeles, to build a case for himself.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

NHL Rumors: 3 Penguins Featured On New Trade Board

NHL insider Frank Seravalli released his latest trade board for Hockey 24/7, and three Pittsburgh Penguins were among the players featured on it. Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust all made the cut. 

Novak was given the No. 23 spot on Seravalli's trade board. The 29-year-old forward is entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27 and will be a pending UFA. With this, he could be a decent trade chip for the Penguins to dangle if they do not view him as a long-term part of their plans. He is a solid top-nine forward, as evidenced by his 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games last season. 

Rakell was given the No. 24 spot, and it makes sense when noting that he has created plenty of chatter in the rumor mill for a long time now. With this year's UFA class not being strong, the Penguins could get a significant return for a top-six forward like Rakell. In 60 games last season for Pittsburgh, he had 24 goals and 48 points.

As for Rust, he landed the No. 37 spot on Seravalli's trade board. Like Rakell, he has been a popular name in the rumor mill for a while now. The Penguins trading Rust would be significant, as he has spent his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh. However, it could be worth dealing him if they get a significant offer. In 72 games last season, he had 29 goals and 65 points. 

Former Duke Star Amile Jefferson To Coach Boston’s Summer League Team

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Assistant Coach Amile Jefferson and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics embrace after the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 27, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Things have seemed somewhat quiet lately for former Duke star and assistant coach Amile Jefferson since moving from Durham to Boston to be an assistant with the Celtics, but that’s from the outside.

He’s an assistant. By definition, he’s a background figure for the team, at least as far as the public is concerned. That will change soon, however.

When Boston starts Summer League play starts on July 10, they’re entrusting their roster to Coach Jefferson.

Among other things, this will be their first time seeing draftee Chris Cenac on the court, and Jefferson might be the ideal guy to mentor him.

When he was a freshman at Duke, injuries forced him into action too soon, and he took his lumps.

After that, he bulked up, and emerged as a force for the Blue Devils, and was a key to Duke’s 2015 national championship. That should resonate with Cenac, who arrives after just one year at Houston.

It’s not clear who else will be on the roster yet, but if Cenac is smart, he’ll listen to Jefferson, because that guy can really help.

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