Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Nathan Smith stood out for the visitors as they came from behind to win the series
Ben Stokes: 57 runs at 14.3; seven wickets at 21.9
He retired when he was England’s best bowler, best captain and a century away from being worth his place as a batter alone. But, as he acknowledged himself, when the air goes out of the balloon it deflates very quickly – as anyone who has ever retired from any job will tell you.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Purdue fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The NBA Draft has now come and gone with two Purdue players having their names called and two others singing with summer league opportunities after. That puts four new Purdue players with NBA opportunities. You’d always rather be drafted than signing as an undrafted free agent, so it makes sense that both Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn would seem to be the obvious choices here, but maybe you disagree with me. This week, with the holiday coming up it’s a short week and that means just the one question. So this week, take the time to answer who you think will have the best NBA career before loading up on hot dogs, hamburgers, and finding your seat for the fireworks. Results will be posted at the end of the week.
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania and The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, former Buck Malik Beasley has been indicted on gambling charges related to a sports betting scheme—such as point shaving and prop bets—that occurred during the 2023-24 season… when he was on the Bucks!
Federal prosecutors allege that Beasley had accrued millions in gambling debt and was loaned money by Ed Davis—who also played in the league for over a decade, including with Beasley during the 2020-21 season, when the two became friends—to pay it off. It is alleged that Beasley worked off that debt as part of a betting scheme with Davis and at least four other men, who collaborated to manipulate his performance in four games during the 2023-24 season. The games he is accused of manipulating his performance in are as follows:
Put simply, Beasley was instructed to achieve (or not achieve) certain statistical goals within these games, with the group he was working with betting, in some cases, “tens of thousands of dollars” on him following through.
Within The Athletic’s article, Vorkunov described a few examples:
“The bettors wagered on Beasley to hit the ‘over’ prop bet on his rebounds against the Clippers, then celebrated when he collected his fourth rebound in the game’s final seconds, according to the indictment. The scheme went awry, according to prosecutors, after Beasley could not hit the ‘under’ on his rebounds against the Nets.”
If all of this sounds familiar, it’s because Beasley has been under investigation for over a year. If you’re interested in learning more, our Jackson Gross covered the news at the time the investigation was announced. After spending the 2023-24 season with the Bucks, Beasley signed a modest one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, which he thoroughly outplayed. This led to him being offered a lucrative three-year deal with the Pistons, but the offer was rescinded after Detroit was notified of the investigation.
“This is simply an investigation,” Beasley’s attorney Steve Haney said at the time. “At this point, Malik has not been charged with any crime and there has been no formal accusation of wrongdoing. Hopefully, everyone will afford him that same presumption of innocence that everyone else deserves.”
Well, now Beasley has been charged with a crime.
“We’ll review the indictment and vigorously defend the charges and maintain Malik’s innocence,” Haney recently told The Athletic.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass gave the following staement:
“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictment unsealed today involving Malik Beasley and Ed Davis. Beasley last played during the 2024-25 season and Davis last played in the league during the 2021-22 season. We will continue to investigate this matter and cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
The nine-year NBA veteran is expected to voluntarily surrender to authorities this week.
I, for one, am pretty shocked by this news (even though we had some inclination of what might go down a year ago). My overall takeaway is that there was an unacceptable amount of chaos within the org after Bud was fired, Jrue was traded, and so on. I mean, hiring a poor coach in Adrian Griffin, replacing him with someone nearly just as bad… and then this was going on in the background? At some point, you just have to laugh at it all. Do others feel similar?
NBA Free Agency began at 6 PM ET last night, but we were already starting to hear news beforehand. For some players, they could technically make tentative deals with teams before the official window opened, and Coby White was one of the guys that took advantage. It was announced that White plans to a sign a three-year, $74 million dollar deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The announcement took a lot of the drama out of where White could land after entering unrestricted free agency following the 2025-26 season.
White was traded to the Hornets after spending the beginning of his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. The trade drew a lot of criticism in Chicago because it was “too late” to get what they should’ve gotten out of the trade, so the Bulls had to settle for some second-round picks. Perhaps more interesting than the drama in Chicago is the fact that the Hornets just traded star point guard LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, meaning that White will likely slide into a starting role for the 2026-27 season. What kind of starting role? That part is unclear, but what is clear is that the Hornets prioritized him in whatever their future plans look like.
White finished his brief 2025-26 stint with the Hornets averaging 15.6 points and three assists per game. He shot an impressive 39.1% from three, which was a decent jump from his 34% clip that he was shooting at in Chicago before being traded.
To further speculate on what the Hornets’ plans are, it’s worth noting that they received former Duke player Grayson Allen in the LaMelo Ball trade, and they also have former Florida Gator Tre Mann. Should things stay the way that they are, it’s hard not to see White becoming the starting point guard, which was a role he was thrown into at times in Chicago. It’s pretty jarring going from a stellar facilitator like Ball to more of a scoring guard like White, but the Goldsboro native has grown into a capable floor general when he needs to be. The Hornets have to be thrilled to bring White back into the fold, and we’ll have to see how the rest of the roster takes shape over the next few weeks.
What do you think of White resigning with the Charlotte Hornets? Let us know in the comments below.
The Spurs are heading into free agency with their roster almost full. On Monday, they re-signed Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes to keep their rotation players from last season in place, and will head into Tuesday with 12 standard contracts, including the rookie deals for their two recent first-round picks.
The moves were not surprising at all. San Antonio reached the NBA Finals last season, after all, and can count on internal development from their young players. The team didn’t have cap space, so securing a deep roster before adding the final touches with some additions was always the likely outcome.
Let’s take a look at where the roster stands now and what’s likely to happen when free agency officially starts.
Before looking ahead, it’s important to note that the Spurs didn’t have to overpay their own free agents.
Champagnie had a team option on the last year of his deal, but the front office declined it and got him paid a summer sooner than he would have had they waited. They essentially gave them the equivalent of the full mid-level exception worth $15 million a year on a contract that declines in value, which is another smart detail. As a result, they locked down a 25-year-old wing who shot 38 percent from outside on high volume and is a solid defender. Just a good deal for a good player.
Barnes lost his starting spot to Champagnie last season, and even in the playoffs, he occasionally saw Carter Bryant leapfrog him in the rotation, so he could have decided to leave to try to get more playing time elsewhere. Instead, the veteran agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal to stay in San Antonio, which shows that he’s comfortable with the organization. A case could be made that he likely would have made less in the open market, but the short duration of the contract makes up for it and gives the front office a tradeable expiring piece if the two sides decide to part ways during the season.
A very quick look into the Spurs’ cap situation reveals that they have around $181 million in committed salary, counting the rookie scale contracts for their two first-round picks. The cap is expected to be set at an estimated $165 million, and the tax line at around $201 million. Again, these are estimates, but the picture is clear: San Antonio can use the entire mid-level exception worth $15 million and not venture into tax territory, mostly because they remained disciplined in the past trade deadline.
There was a good case to make back in February for the Silver and Black to use the expiring contracts of Kelly Olynyk, Jeremy Sochan, and Barnes to make an upgrade at forward. The problem is that most teams trading for expiring deals are trying to shed long-term money. Had the Spurs traded, say, Olynyk for someone making eight figures in the upcoming season, it would have been hard to retain Champagnie and Barnes while still having enough room under the tax to add someone else now. It seems like the plan was to prioritize flexibility to keep the rotation intact and potentially make an addition in the summer.
The Spurs have the full mid-level exception at their disposal and enough room to use it fully on one player while still being under the tax line to round out their roster. They have been linked to most shooters with size, a list that includes Tobias Harris, John Collins, Dean Wade, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Rui Hachimura. Some of those players might sign for less than $15 million a year, but even in the best circumstances, they would command most of the exception. And they could definitely help a San Antonio team that was a man short in the playoffs. The problem is that while San Antonio has money to offer, it might not have playing time in the regular season.
The Spurs’ depth chart stands as follows:
PG: Stephon Castle – Dylan Harper
SG: De’Aaron Fox
SF: Devin Vassell – Carter Bryant
PF: Julian Champagnie – Keldon Johnson – Harrison Barnes
C: Victor Wembanyama – Luke Kornet – Jayden Quaintance – Tarris Reed Jr.
The frontcourt is crowded. Players will miss time, but there’s just not a lot of playing time when everyone is healthy. Even while assuming Barnes will be out of the rotation and Carter Bryant will get a bump in floor time by eating into Johnson’s minutes, there are still too many bodies at the forward spots. It would make no sense to pass on a clear upgrade if the front office thinks there is one, but if they don’t, spending big on another forward might not be wise. Keeping the mid-level exception to use during the season or using it on several players shouldn’t be out of the question.
The Spurs made two smart signings on Monday, and they set themselves up to have the chance to spend this offseason on an upgrade if they can find one by being disciplined in the past. Hopefully, the right player will be available to help take this group to another level, but if not, the front office made sure that Mitch Johnson will have the depth he needs in the regular season.
The NHL’s annual free agency period begins tomorrow, the Penguins enter the official start of the 2026-27 league year with a ton of cap space. They’re not expected to be overly-aggressive by targeting players who will command significant salaries and term on those contracts, per their very own general manager making the decisions.
However, they can still use the signing period to their benefit. Pittsburgh signed some under the radar players last summer like Parker Wotherspoon and Justin Brazeau who were instrumental to their success. They found the player who would lead them in goal scoring during 2025-26 in Anthony Mantha for just a $2.5 million guaranteed salary. Last year proved the possibility to find quality adds at decent costs to the team, just because it’s not one of the flashier or bigger signings of the summer doesn’t mean it can’t serve up some importance.
With that in mind, here are some potential targets for the Pens. For this list, we will not consider players in-line for expected contracts of three years or more, since Pittsburgh hasn’t signed an outside free agent for 3+ years since the summer of 2023. Most of those decisions (including the Ryan Graves contract) did not work out and the team doesn’t look like they’re going to try that again at this point. That means the best of the free agent class, like Mason Marchment, Jacob Trouba, Mario Ferraro, Ryan Shea, heck even Andrew Peeke and Logan Stanley are pushed off to the side as options that would require more of a contractual commitment than it seems the Pens will be looking to make.
AFP Contract Projection: $1.934 million AAV for two years
The Penguins don’t really need any more forwards, but that’s never stopped them from loading up on depth in the past in similar situations. Regenda has a lot of intriguing elements going for him: he’s young as far as free agents go (26), he’s a big winger (6’3″, 215 pounds), he’s showed a little bit of scoring touch at the NHL level (nine goals, one assist in 24 games last year with San Jose), he’s physical (59 hits last year for a 11.0 hits/60 rate). He’s played in the Olympics with Slovakia. A lot within his profile to like, the Pens have the space and opportunity to offer that maybe others can’t. The team wouldn’t turn down a Mantha-esque type of replacement, not that Regenda would or should be expected to score 30+ goals and 60+ points next year.
AFP Projection: $2.36 million AAV for two years
van Riemsdyk turns 35 next month, not sure how much appetite the Penguins would have with a two-year contract for him but he’s got some size (6’3″, 210 pounds) and 751 games of experience that would add some depth to shore up the right side of their defense with skating ability and a history of strong defensive impacts. The Penguins don’t currently have that many defenseman in a ‘5/6’ type of role that could shade more into being used as a ‘5’, van Riemsdyk could be a nice short-term patch and insurance if 20-year old Harrison Brunicke needs more AHL developmental time.
AFP Projection: $2.15 million AAV for two years
A player like Soucy, turning 32 soon, works as a potential good fit for the Pens as a stay-at-home left shot defender who might help the team out similar to the way Brett Kulak briefly did last season. The issue might be that Soucy isn’t quite the caliber of a matchup defender, using him with someone like Kris Letang could be a bigger ask than what Soucy can deliver at this point. Still, Soucy could add size (6’4″, 211 pounds) and some PK and provide the type of legitimate NHL caliber depth that has been lacking for the Pens on the blueline these days, though his puck moving deficiencies might not align with team preferences for the spot they’re looking to fill.
AFP Projection: $1.36 million AAV for one year
Bean, 28, is a former first round pick whose career has been riddled with injuries. His 2025-26 season ended with an undisclosed injury leading to surgery in December that limited him to 16 games. In the six seasons that he’s been a full-time NHL player he’s appeared in: 42, 67, 12, 72, 64 and 16 games in each year. Availability has been a major concern, but it’s also a player whose trajectory with defensive impact has been trending up when he’s been able to play.
Bean is a smart puck mover and would represent a risk but could fill in nicely on a third pair for a team like the Penguins. The risk of being on IR for a significant stretch of the season is real, but also reflected in a very manageable contract.
AFP Projection: $1.2 million AAV for one year
Talked a lot about Reilly recently, his profile does fit for the types of players that the Pens have brought in recently. However, he’s also turning 33 next month and has failed over the past few years to establish himself firmly in a niche of keeping a consistent lineup spot with several different teams. The ceiling might be what it is for him at this point as more of a swing player and depth rather than a regular third pair option the team would truly be looking for.
AFP Projection: $866k AAV for one year
If the Pens are searching for the next Wotherspoon, Jordan Harris might fit the profile in this free agent cycle. The soon-to-be 26 year old had a lost season in 2025-26 after a fractured ankle in October limited him to just eight NHL games. Harris is a player, who earlier in his career with Montreal in the 2022-24 timeframe looked intriguing.
Harris has decent puck moving ability but has a falling stock – he hasn’t been given a qualifying offer the last two years. He would probably be in a position to need to compete for a spot and prove it, rather than being penciled into a huge role like Wotherspoon was, but this is another case where the lack of quality options at the bottom of the depth chart could find an answer with enough pieces thrown in the mix to see what happens. Sign Harris and if worst comes to worst that he doesn’t outshine someone like Ilya Solovyov, he can be waived. That course wouldn’t solve the need that comes along with it, making Harris more of a complimentary shot than a sole target.
AFP Projection: $850k AAV for one year
Saving perhaps the best for last, Carlile gives off some young Ryan Shea vibes with a similar size (6’3, 190) and being a late-bloomer who spent a handful of years toiling in the AHL before getting a chance with Tampa last year in a depth role (42 games and two more in the playoffs) and making a decent accounting on the PK. Carlile might be redundant for Pittsburgh, since they have a similar player in Ilya Solovyov as a depth option, but this could be a projection along the Shea/Wotherspoon area. At only 26 years old, Carlile’s future might be worth taking a low-risk flyer on at a position of need if the Pens think he potentially could stick on their third pair next season if given the opportunity to grow, just as a player like Shea did in recent years. Shea has graduated into big money now, targeting Carlile would reset the cycle back to a younger and less expensive option.
–
As one can tell, we spent the majority of time on defensemen since that appears to be the biggest need for a team that looks likely to lose Shea and lacks a natural internal replacement for the important role he filled last season as one of the team’s steadier players. Going shopping in the bargain bin comes with inherent acceptance of dealing with flaws and limitations, but there is enough quantity to pick through that a team like Pittsburgh should be able to find a decent enough option or two to help round out their team in an affordable and relatively low cost manner.
LeBron James will play next season but plans to leave Lakers: Reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
LeBron James isn’t retiring — but he reportedly will be on a new team next season.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is expected to leave the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, according to multiple reports.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that James informed the Lakers that “the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere.”
James, 41, spent eight seasons with the Lakers after previous stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18) and Miami Heat (2010-14). He led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship in the 2019-20 season, which ended in the bubble in Orlando due to Covid.
Over his Lakers tenure, James became the league’s top all-time scorer, made eight All-Star appearances and seven All-NBA teams. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game in the regular season with 63 postseason games played.
Things have changed in recent years for James, though, since the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic. The younger superstar became the face and future of the franchise, leaving James to play in a secondary role alongside Austin Reaves.
Last season, the Lakers went 53-29 and lost in the second round to the Oklahoma City Thunder. James played just 60 games, causing him to miss out on All-NBA for the first time since his rookie year.
Now a free agent for the fourth time in his career, James’ next move could be his last. He will enter his 24th NBA season as the league’s oldest player.
James’ next team has been speculated as the Golden State Warriors, who reportedly could look to pair in-house stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green with James and his former teammate Anthony Davis. Other teams pursuing James could include his former homes in Cleveland and Miami, though they’ll have less money to spend compared to Golden State.
NBA free agency officially opens at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, June 30.
LeBron James will play next season but plans to leave Lakers: Reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
LeBron James isn’t retiring — but he reportedly will be on a new team next season.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is expected to leave the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent, according to multiple reports.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that James informed the Lakers that “the franchise can move on without him because he will play elsewhere.”
James, 41, spent eight seasons with the Lakers after previous stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18) and Miami Heat (2010-14). He led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship in the 2019-20 season, which ended in the bubble in Orlando due to Covid.
Over his Lakers tenure, James became the league’s top all-time scorer, made eight All-Star appearances and seven All-NBA teams. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game in the regular season with 63 postseason games played.
Things have changed in recent years for James, though, since the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic. The younger superstar became the face and future of the franchise, leaving James to play in a secondary role alongside Austin Reaves.
Last season, the Lakers went 53-29 and lost in the second round to the Oklahoma City Thunder. James played just 60 games, causing him to miss out on All-NBA for the first time since his rookie year.
Now a free agent for the fourth time in his career, James’ next move could be his last. He will enter his 24th NBA season as the league’s oldest player.
James’ next team has been speculated as the Golden State Warriors, who reportedly could look to pair in-house stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green with James and his former teammate Anthony Davis. Other teams pursuing James could include his former homes in Cleveland and Miami, though they’ll have less money to spend compared to Golden State.
NBA free agency officially opens at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, June 30.
The Houston Rockets’ brass has drawn a good bit of criticism this offseason for a lack of activity. Understandably, as we’ve seen other teams make moves, either to load up and bolster their roster or to set themselves up for future flexibility, as in the case of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
We haven’t seen that from Houston, outside of a trade on draft day, in which Houston traded up from 39 to 31 to select Bruce Thornton.
(Technically, the Rockets made multiple trades on day two of the draft).
Perhaps the Rockets are also saving their stockpile of assets for a future move, as well? Which isn’t a bad idea, if Anthony Edwards becomes available down the line.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Edwards has been frustrated ever since the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon offered an additional nugget.
“The NBA vultures are swirling around Ant in anticipation of him potentially becoming the next superstar who’s available in the trade market.”
Which prompts the question of whether the Rockets should be positioning themselves to make a run at Edwards. Well, that’s not much of a question.
At least, it shouldn’t be. Edwards is still just 24 years old and is under contract through 2029. Exactly the type of situation that the Rockets should be angling for.
And it doesn’t matter the asking price. Again, he’s young and under contract long-term. And he’s already immersed as a top-five player in the league.
Granted, holding out for the eventual hope of a trade is risky. And it likely means passing on other ready-now options and players currently available (or at the deadline). But would any of those options be better players than Edwards?
Certainly not. Do we think anyone on the Rockets will become better players than Edwards? Surely not.
Does Edwards make the Rockets a better team? There’s not a question about that, either. Again, the risk of waiting for Edwards to ask out of Minnesota and that either not happening or it happening and Houston falling short of landing him is all the cost of doing business.
If Houston has any semblance of intel that Edwards could become available in the near future, there’s only one course of action to take.
Happy Tuesday, Predators fans.
If you spent the week settling into summer mode and getting out on the golf course, or were on vacation, you missed a busy stretch of Nashville Predators news. From early trade rumours to high-profile roster shakeups, the front office is wasting no time reshaping the lineup for the coming season.
Grab a coffee, settle in, and catch up on everything you may have missed.
Nashville Predators Goalie Pekka Rinne Elected To Hockey Hall of Fame The 18-season veteran becomes the first lifelong Predator to join hockey’s legends, cementing a legacy defined by a Vezina Trophy and Nashville's historic 2017 Stanley Cup run.
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THN Archive: The Blue Paint Is Going GreyThe vast majority of starting goalies are into their 30s, and there isn’t a deep wave of replacements in the pipeline. What’s the NHL crease going to look like in five years?
THN Archive: No Knocks On WoodDuring another difficult season in Nashville, Matthew Wood has been a bright spot. Blessed with a sense of wisdom well beyond his years and a plethora of veteran mates to learn from, Wood looks poised to be a staple for the Predators for the long haul.
Nashville Predators Trade Fedor Svechkov, Zach L’Heureux to Colorado AvalancheNashville secures veteran depth by landing elite face-off specialist Jack Drury and prospect Chase Bradley in a bold swap sending two former first-round picks to the Avalanche.
MacFarland Makes Second Straight Deal With Avalanche, Here's Another He Can MakeAs Colorado’s cap crunch intensifies, Nashville GM Chris MacFarland is capitalizing on his former club's desperation. Targeting Valeri Nichushkin could provide the Predators a high-impact, top-line offensive spark.
THN Archive: Looking The PartMolendyk is already dressed like an NHLer. And his game isn’t too far away from being at that level, either
Predators' 2026 Preseason Schedule Released Nashville faces a condensed four-game slate against the Lightning and Hurricanes as the NHL shifts its calendar, marking a pivotal first step toward the upcoming 84-game season.
THN Archive: 2005 Draft Revisionist HistoryImagine Carey Price in Carolina and Anze Kopitar anchoring Anaheim. We wield a crystal ball to reorder the legendary 2005 class, transforming franchise failures into hypothetical dynasties.
Nashville Predators' 2026 Draft GuideArmed with 11 total picks and a new GM, Nashville faces a pivotal crossroads. Discover the full draft order as the Predators decide between a retool or rebuild.
Nashville Predators Hoping 'To Grab A Good One' With 10th Overall Pick In NHL DraftArmed with a rare top-ten selection, new general manager Chris MacFarland targets elite depth down the middle to bolster a roster hungry for a franchise-altering defensive spark.
Nashville Predators Select forward Wyatt Cullen With 10th Overall Pick In NHL DraftThe Smashville legacy continues as playmaking forward Wyatt Cullen joins the ranks, bringing a hard-nosed offensive style and deep NHL roots to the Predators’ promising young core.
Nashville Predators Select Defensemen Tommy Bleyl After Acquiring Pick 31 From HurricanesNashville bolstered their thin prospect pool by trading back into the first round, securing a high-scoring, mobile playmaker poised to become the future anchor of their blue line.
THN Archive: Roman EmpireThe latest in a long line of superb Predators defensemen, Rosi arrived in Nashville a decade ago as a virtual unknown from Switzerland. But he’s gone country, and now the team’s unassuming all-star captain rules the ice in Tennessee
Predators Select Dmitri Borichev In The Third-Round Of The 2026 NHL DraftNashville bolsters its goaltending pipeline by snagging Europe’s top-ranked netminder, a poised 6-foot-3 standout defined by technical control, elite puck-tracking, and a dominant glove hand for the future.
Predators Acquire Adam Edstrom From The New York RangersNashville adds massive size to its bottom six, landing the 6-foot-7 forward in a low-risk draft day trade to bolster depth and physical presence for the future.
Here Is Every Pick, Trade The Nashville Predators Made On Day 2 Of The NHL DraftNashville bolstered its future by drafting top-ranked international talent and adding massive size to the roster through a strategic trade for forward Adam Edstrom in Buffalo.
THN Archive: Predators Take Shape General Manager David Poile navigates the 1998 expansion draft, securing David Legwand and prioritizing speed to build a foundation for Nashville’s future from the ground up.
Nashville Predators Release 2026 Development Camp RosterTop prospects and hungry invitees descend on Smashville this week for high-stakes practices, culminating in the Future Stars Game as the next generation of talent fights for notice.
Nashville Predators Sign Jack Drury To 5-year, $22.5 Million ContractGeneral manager Chris MacFarland secures a defensive anchor for his new roster, betting big on the former Avalanche center’s elite shutdown capabilities and veteran locker room presence.
Predators Complete Trade With Canucks Nashville gambles on 25-year-old winger Nils Höglander, acquiring the relentless forechecker for a distant draft pick to revitalize his scoring touch and bolster their middle-six depth.
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THN Archive: Trading PlacesShock for Jones and relief for Johansen turned into good times for both as two of the NHL’s best young players crossed paths at the airport after being dealtThings are only going to get busier in Smashville as free agency officially opens this week. Stay tuned as we continue to track every roster move, contract signing, and trade rumour surrounding the Predators throughout the rest of the summer.
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Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week, the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — gives their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
GuarGuar: I liked the Peat pick and feel like he’s a great value for where we got him and what we had to give up. This team needs athleticism and size, and he certainly brings that. He’s another guy who is a jumpshot away so we will see if this one finally hits for us, but I love the upside with Koa. 100% approve of the pick and am looking forward to seeing him in Summer League.
Ashton: BG and the Suns went to the NBA draft bargain bin clearance sale and ended up with a lottery pick at half price with pick number 30. Good job.
I am actually not sure where some of the angst is coming from, the Suns posters or even national pundits that wildly graded this pick as an A, B, or a C. Full disclosure, I am an Arizona alum, and I watch all the games. Let’s discuss some of the issues.
Prove me wrong. The last time I defended an Arizona pick in DA, my arse was kicked. Koa Peat is different and will be rostered due to his work ethic and coaching ability. A starter? No. And an end-of-the-bench PF that will wow you at times in his rookie season. And an Arizona Son.
OldAz: I don’t watch a ton of college ball outside of the tournament, and I certainly don’t indulge in nearly as much draft prep as others. As a result, my opinions are limited to seeing which talking heads liked their pick and which ones hated it.
I tend to ignore the Twitter (X?) trolls that post a few clips to show that he sucks just as much as the fanboys who post highlights against the college of the blind. For the most part, the voices I trust see a kid with a ton of natural talent, incredible upside, and high basketball IQ that needs to learn to shoot.
Considering his age, I have no reason to question if he can develop a more consistent shot and trust that they will develop him into a positive contributor that will end up a bargain for the late first round.
Rod: Honestly, I just trust Brian Gregory’s judgement on these things…for now anyway. I don’t watch college ball much at all anymore, so I’m limited in my knowledge of the players in the draft, so I have to rely on second-hand info…which has been all over the place on Peat.
I do really like what he said in the presser about him always trying to get to the rim, always attacking the basket. More players with that attitude are something this team has needed to balance out all the three-point attempts. When the threes weren’t falling, this team was usually in trouble last season and I see this as a sign that the FO recognized this and is attempting to fix a flaw in the construction of their roster.
GuarGuar: I think that’s a totally fair and reasonable price to move up for Koa. 2nds are not that valuable, and while we are limited in draft assets, it’s not a big deal to me. It’s very hard to hit on 2nd rounders, and the chance of us hitting on a late first is definitely better (albeit still small). Good move overall in my book.
Ashton: This question hurts. I have maintained that those second-round picks could be valuable. 2027 mock drafts have the Suns in an unflattering position on the pick swaps, which simply means that pundits (and gambling sites) think they are on the decline. The Suns owned the 2029 and 2033 second-round picks, which could have been low 30’s. They are gone.
But now I know the price of what it takes to move into the first round. And the price is not that bad. And from Q1, the return was quite good.
It should be mentioned that both Jaden Bradley and Henri Vessar were available with the 2026 47th pick. The Knicks chose Tyler Nickel. I know nothing about this guy, but I could have talked about the other two. So did the Suns overpay?
And while we are talking mocks, Suns would get the least favorable probably get the least favorable from Cleveland in the first round in 2027. Mocked at 21. B.S. – Cleveland is better and the Sun’s first round pick that can be traded is probably more mid-twenties.
Regardless, it was a good trade.
OldAz: First, I don’t look at it as giving up 3 picks because they would have made a much later selection with one of those 3 picks. So they gave up 2 future 2nd round picks and still ended up with 1 player out of this draft. I also like when they move with conviction to get the player that they want and can reasonably acquire.
If Gregory continues to show a better eye for talent and mind for development compared to past Suns front offices, then we won’t care about those extra two 2nd round picks. However, the Suns once got exactly what they wanted and drafted both Marquis Criss and Dragan Bender in the same draft class, and we all know how poorly that worked out. Even if this evaluation of talent is just as bad as those extra seconds are far less costly than the 4th and 8th picks overall.
Rod: I’m good with it because they used them to get what they wanted (Peat). For the most part, 2nd round picks are like the spare change in my pocket. Individually, they aren’t often worth that much but the more you have, the more you can get in exchange for them…and the Suns just cashed in those 2nds for a late first. Was it an overpay? Only time will tell on that one. It all depends on how Peat turns out as an NBA player so it’s way too early to place judgment on it right now.
GuarGuar: I doubt either will play a single meaningful minute for the Suns, especially Hoiberg. But you never know what can happen, and if either of these guys breaks out in Summer League we could have an interesting roster conundrum come September. If one of these guys were to break out, I would say Campers based on his skill set and frame.
Ashton: I have no problems with Exhibit-10 contracts. Camper Jr. is not someone I have watched. Nevada was trying to win the Mountain West Conference late in the season (why do I follow college BB?) and were probably screwed by the selection committee, but they made the NIT and quarterfinals (loss to Auburn). The NCAA tourney field will expand next year, but they want more losing power conference teams. I am not sure if that helps the group of 6. I really do not get this invite.
Sam Hoiberg comes from a great pedigree, and it is simply amazing what Nebraska was able to accomplish last season. I never thought I would say that about a Lincoln-based team since the 90’s. So, I am interested in what he can do in the Summer League. If he brings the same fire that he made for a moribund Huskers basketball team in the Big 10, so this could be a good pick-up.
Still, I think the Suns could have done better. So color me unimpressed.
OldAz: We’ll, I have heard of Hoiberg at least. Oh, wait, that’s probably his father/coach whose name I recognize. Well, that probably means he has a high basketball IQ, which is a nice thing, especially for a point guard, and I even think his dad played in the league, so there’s that. That’s about all I can come up with for players I have not watched and are probably just camp bodies anyway at this point.
Rod: I actually like both of these guys…for the Valley Suns. I expect that’s where they’ll both wind up this year, but Hoiberg might have the potential to be a fair backup PG someday, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see his E-10 contract converted into a two-way later on. One thing I like about both is that they’re supposed to be good defensive players, too. This fits into what Gregory seems to want in his players so there might be a place for them other than the G League eventually.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
“Every day, the character piece comes into play. Because what we’re asking guys to do, is do stuff that not everybody is willing to do. We gotta make sure these guys have that character piece, have that work ethic, the tireless competitiveness where they’re never satisfied.” – Brian Gregory
“You can’t predicate your game on scoring. You’ve got to do other things to help your team win.” – Koa Peat
“Ever since a young kid, I’ve always been trying to get to the rim. My parents have always told me not to settle when I get on the court. Trying to get to the rim, draw fouls and get other teams in foul trouble and try to go in there and dunk on people.” – Koa Peat
On June 28, 1988, the Suns drafted Dan Majerle in the 1st round (14th pick) of the 1988 NBA Draft. Most fans booed the pick as it was made.
On June 28, 2008, the Suns traded Malik Hairston, cash, and a 2009 2nd round draft pick (DeJuan Blair was later selected) to the San Antonio Spurs for Goran Dragic.
During game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals in 2010, Dragic led a Phoenix Suns comeback against the team that originally drafted him, the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 23 of his total 26 points in the fourth quarter. Dragić scored his points on 10/13 FG attempts, including 5/5 three-pointers and a 4-point play, as the Suns overcame an early 18-point deficit to defeat the Spurs 110–96 and take a 3–0 lead in their best-of-seven series in the Western Conference Semifinals.
In 2014, Dragic won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He is one of three Suns players to have won the award, with the other two being Kevin Johnson (1989) and Boris Diaw (2006).
On June 30, 1999, the Suns drafted Shawn Marion in the 1st round (9th pick) of the 1999 NBA Draft with the draft pick they acquired from the Dallas Mavericks for Steve Nash the previous year.
In his 9 seasons with the Suns, Marion scored 12,134 points (4th on the Suns’ All-Time leaders list), grabbed 6,616 rebounds (2nd most All-Time), dished out 1,332 assists (17th most All-Time), had 1,245 steals (2nd most All-Time), blocked 894 shots (3rd most All-Time), and made 652 three-pointers (5th most All-Time). In the playoffs, his total of 706 rebounds is the highest in franchise history.
On July 3, 1992, the Suns signed 33-year-old, 11-year NBA veteran Danny Ainge as a free agent. Ainge would play his final 3 seasons in the NBA with the Suns before retiring in 1995. One year later, Ainge would return to Phoenix as the Suns’ head coach for three full seasons and part of a fourth before abruptly resigning after 20 games in 1999 citing a need to spend more time with his family. He was replaced by assistant coach Scott Skiles. The Suns made it to the playoffs each of Ainge’s 3 full seasons as HC but were eliminated in the 1st round all three years.
June 30 – Teams can begin negotiations with all free agents
July 1 – Official start of the 2026-27 league year and moratorium period
July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin
July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas
Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open
The news of Deandre Ayton exercising his $8.1 player option for the 2026-27 season to stay with the Lakers wasn’t surprising.
Even with him outplaying the $8.1 salary he made from the Lakers in 2025-26 (he gave up $10 million of his $35.6 million contract in his buyout with the Trail Blazers last summer before signing with the Lakers), Ayton picking up his option for next season was the expected outcome.
And during an offseason the Lakers have prioritized optionality, they’ll still have options on how to improve the roster regardless of Ayton’s decision as they look to build a championship-contending group around superstar guard Luka Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves.
Even with Ayton on the roster, the Lakers could still open up $45-$52 million in cap space depending on what they do with the rights (and cap holds) with their own free agents (LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber).
They’ll still have several roster spots to fill.
And they’ll still have plenty of needs, with the biggest one being the type of center Doncic has long expressed his desire to play alongside in Los Angeles.
There may not be many attainable “A-list center” options on the market this summer, which is Doncic’s biggest desire now it’s known that Reaves will re-sign on a four-year, $185 million deal.
But the Lakers will continue to pursue Jazz restricted free agent Walker Kessler, who turned down a five-year, $140 million contract with Utah.
Kessler, who’s been one of the league’s best rim protectors since entering the league in 2022, fits the archetype of the kind of big man Doncic likes to play alongside.
He fits that mold in the ways Ayton, who Doncic recruited last summer to the Lakers, didn’t consistently: rim-running, shot-blocking, high-motor and stays engaged even when the offensive touches aren’t consistent.
It’s clear that Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA draft who’ll turn 28 next month, won’t develop into that kind of center.
Ayton’s talents have been evident since he entered the league, including last season with the Lakers when he averaged 12.5 points on a career-high 67.1% shooting and 8 rebounds in a career-high 72 games.
His value was displayed during the Lakers’ first-round series victory over the Rockets.
Ayton is clearly a starting-level caliber NBA center. He’s just not the starting center the Lakers need.
Which is why they’ll continue to pursue other options when free agency officially opens at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, with Kessler toward the top of the list alongside Pistons restricted free agent Jalen Duren.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson and Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III are among the unrestricted free agent options for the Lakers, while Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford is among the trade options.
And with Ayton opting into his deal, the Lakers could include him and his $8.1 million salary as part of a trade to upgrade the roster – whether that’s at center or another position of need on the wings/forward positions.
There could be worse outcomes for the Lakers than having Ayton open the 2026-27 season as their starting center.
But Doncic has made his desires for an upgrade clear.
Which is part of the reason why the Lakers will continue to exhaust their options in making it happen.
They know they must.
Especially during an offseason there’s a considerable amount of pressure for the Lakers, led by president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, to build a better-fitting roster together around Doncic.
Ayton is good, but not what the Lakers need.
Which is why his decision to opt into his deal won’t stop the team from searching for what they – and Doncic – want.
It didn’t take Memphis long to shut down the Ja Morant era: on Monday, they essentially gave him away, trading him to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. They didn’t even get a second-round pick out of this.
What it underscores is how much faith they have in their star rookie, former Blue Devil Cameron Boozer.
For his part, Boozer is embracing the focus, telling Chris Vernon on his show that “[w]e are a team who is going to really surprise people this year. We are going to be shockingly good to people. I think people don’t really understand that just because obviously it was kind of a rebuild, but you look at the players we have, the roster [and] who were are bringing in this year, and I think we are going to have something pretty special.”
One more question left to answer for Boozer: with Morant off to Portland, his number 12 is now available. Boozer had already taken #27, but there’s no real reason we know of why he couldn’t change it, except for the jerseys that have already been printed with #27.
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NBA free agency always feels like more of a sprint than a marathon, and the offseason action is already well underway as the moratorium lifts on Tuesday evening. Ja Morant is now on the Portland Trail Blazers in a deal no one could have seen coming. Giannis Antetokounmpo is suddenly a member of the Miami Heat, LaMelo Ball is somehow on the Minnesota Timberwolves, and suitors are circling Kawhi Leonard for a potential deal. There might even be a Jaylen Brown trade before this week is over.
Read our long list of this summer’s best free agents. There’s plenty of intrigue around LeBron James, Jalen Duren, and Norman Powell as free agency gets underway, but that’s just the start of this year’s available talent.
We’re keeping track of every trade and free agency signing in this post. Bookmark this story and refresh it often, because we’ll be adding the deals reported around the league as they happen.
Here is the Summer League schedule for Duke’s NBA rookies for those who need a hoops fix and a break from World Cup play. We formatted it for our purposes, but credit to @BeardedBlueDevl for pulling it together over on X.
Don’t read too much into these games, though. Look at what ESPN said about Cooper Flagg’s debut last season.
California Classic (July 3–6)
Fri., July 3 • 7:00 PM CT
Sun., July 5 • 6:00 PM CT
Mon., July 6 • 6:30 PM CT
Salt Lake City Summer League (July 4, 6–7)
Sat., July 4 • 2:00 PM CT
Mon., July 6 • 8:00 PM CT
Tue., July 7 • 6:00 PM CT
Las Vegas Summer League (July 9–19)
Thu., July 9 • 2:30 PM CT (Prime Video)
Thu., July 9 • 3:30 PM CT (ESPN2)
Fri., July 10 • 7:00 PM CT (Prime Video)
Sat., July 11 • 5:00 PM CT (ESPN)
Sat., July 11 • 6:30 PM CT (Prime Video)
Sun., July 12 • 8:00 PM CT (ESPN)
Mon., July 13 • 6:00 PM CT (ESPN)
Mon., July 13 • 10:00 PM CT (ESPN2)
Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers (Isaiah Evans)
Tue., July 14 • 6:00 PM CT (ESPN)
Wed., July 15 • 2:30 PM CT (Prime Video)
Wed., July 15 • 8:30 PM CT (Prime Video)
Thu., July 16 • 7:00 PM CT (Prime Video)
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