Josh Hart, celebrating at the Knicks’ championship parade, says the moves by East competitors have been “crazy” so far this offseason. UPI/Shutterstock
After much speculation surrounding his future in Boston, where he won an NBA title in 2024, Brown has a new home, and it’s with a rival team in the East.
Much of the chatter around Brown came after the Celtics missed out on Giannis Antentokoumpo, who was dealt to the Heat from the Bucks for a haul of players and picks.
Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He had been the longest-tenured Knick and spent eight years with the organization.
“New York Knicks fans and the whole Knicks organization, the past 8 years have been the highlight of my life. I can’t thank you guys enough for the journey and opportunities. I know it’s a lot of emotions going around trust me I feel it myself but I will always have love for where it all started! I love you and will miss you. Once a Knick always a Knick,” Robinson said.
It’s only Day 2 of NBA free agency, so surely there is a lot more to come from around the league.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 30: Marcus Sasser #25 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 30, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks “emerged as the leading suitor” to trade for the services of Detroit Pistons backup guard Marcus Sasser on Tuesday, according to a report.
A day later, reports are that the deal to acquire Sasser is all but done and will be completed on Wednesday as soon as the offseason trade moratorium is lifted.
NBA insider Jake Fischer was the first to report the development, which only really bubbles to the surface of the conversation surrounding the team since the Mavericks desperately need help at guard as free agency kicks into gear. Marc Stein confirmed the deal with additional details on Wednesday.
Sasser grew up in the Dallas area and attended Red Oak High School, just south of Dallas, from 2015-2019. He starred at the University of Houston under defensive-minded head coach Kelvin Sampson after that. His homecoming will also give Sasser more of an opportunity to see consistent minutes than he got in his first three years in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons.
It wasn’t immediately made clear what the Pistons would get from the Mavericks for Sasser, but with Detroit reportedly in the market for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe, both the Sasser and the previously reported Santi Aldama trades could end up lumped into a multi-team deal to help the Pistons get there.
Dallas has now lined up deals to be made official once the moratorium is lifted July 6 to acquire Aldama as well as Detroit's Marcus Sasser and clinched this trade by dealing a 2030 first-round pick via Golden State (protected 1-to-20) also acquired in the Anthony Davis swap. https://t.co/QMYWGytoBW
Sasser was limited to just 38 games during the 2025-26 season and played just 12 minutes per game, after playing more than 19 minutes per game during his rookie year in 2023-24. He has shot right at 40% from 3-point range the last two seasons, though.
He hustles and he defends, like all good Kelvin Sampson products do. His right hip started bothering him during training camp before the start of last year and kept him out about a third of the year, before the hip issue resurfaced in March.
Still, listening to Pistons fans talk about him, you get the sense that this guy is worth at least an extended look. There’s at least something there. He was, after all, drafted with the 25th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was initially thought of as a guy who would do a little more than average five points and two assists per game.
Dallas may be just the kind of landing spot a guy like Sasser needs. If he’s healthy, he should get minutes. He should get the opportunity to make an impression.
When the Winnipeg Jets selected Ville Heinola with the 20th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, they believed they had landed one of the game's brightest young defencemen.
On Wednesday, that chapter officially came to an end as the unrestricted free agent officially locked in on a one-year, one-way contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. Thus ending a seven-year tenure in Winnipeg that never came anywhere near close to matching the promise of its beginning.
Photo by Kirby Lee/USA Today
For the Golden Knights, it's a low-risk opportunity to uncover untapped potential. For the Jets, it's another reminder of a development story that never quite made sense.
The most puzzling part of Heinola's career in Winnipeg is that the organization initially appeared completely sold on him.
As an 18-year-old, Heinola not only cracked the Jets' opening-night roster in 2019, but immediately became a trusted contributor. He averaged nearly 20 minutes per game during his first eight NHL contests, saw power-play time and produced five points. Along the way, he became the first player born in the 21st century to record both an NHL point and an NHL goal.
At that point it was a diamond found in the rough, a needle in a haystack. Likely something that was looking to be a long-term NHL fit between the player and the Jets.
But like Sami Niku and others before him, things just didn't seem to work out between the player and the Jets.
Despite repeatedly demonstrating his offensive instincts and puck-moving ability, Heinola never received another extended opportunity in Winnipeg. He bounced between the Jets and Manitoba Moose, where he consistently produced at nearly a point every other game from the blueline, only to find himself back in the minors or watching from the press box whenever the NHL roster became healthy.
The Jets didn't simply prioritize established veterans over Heinola. They routinely found opportunities for others.
Whether it was Logan Stanley, Colin Miller, Haydn Fleury or a revolving cast of depth defencemen, Winnipeg continually leaned toward experience or size while Heinola waited for another chance that just didn't come his way.
To be fair, circumstances weren't always on the organization's side.
Just as Heinola appeared poised to finally secure a full-time role entering the 2023-24 season, disaster struck. A fractured ankle suffered during training camp required surgery and wiped out what many believed would be his breakthrough campaign. Complications during his recovery only delayed his return further.
Those injuries undoubtedly altered his trajectory, but they don't explain why a player who looked NHL-ready at 18 finished his Jets career with just 58 regular-season games.
Yes, read that again: 58 NHL games over his seven years in town.
When he was first called into action, the Jets trusted him enough to play nearly 20 minutes a night. Years later, after dominating stretches in the American Hockey League and gaining additional experience, those same opportunities never materialized again. It seemed as though Heinola's leash actually became shorter, not longer with experience/age.
Perhaps Heinola simply wasn't destined to become the top-four defenceman many projected on draft day.
That's entirely possible. But that's also what makes this story frustrating for the team, managerial staff, coaches, fans and the player himself. The Jets never truly found out.
Rather than giving their former first-round pick 40 or 50 consecutive NHL games to determine exactly what they had, Heinola spent years in hockey's version of limbo—too good for the American Hockey League, yet never trusted long enough in the National Hockey League to establish himself.
In all fairness, Heinola was a press box regular, despite his clear talents. Now it is Vegas' turn to figure out his place.
The Golden Knights have built a reputation for identifying overlooked talent and putting players in positions to succeed. At 25 years old, Heinola still possesses the skating, vision and puck-moving ability that made him a first-round selection. If he finds a regular role, few around the league will be surprised. He has always lacked size, but really hasn't made that an issue anywhere - except for its perceived issue in Winnipeg.
If Heinola carves out a meaningful NHL career in Vegas, the conversation won't simply be about a player who needed a change of scenery. It will instead be about a talented first-round pick whose greatest opportunity never came with the team that drafted him.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 01: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates hitting a solo home run in the third inning during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Truist Park on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello, July. Hello, elusive win No. 50. Hello and safe travels to Mexico, English World Cup fan contingent. Braves Country, there was a lot to like about tonight’s 5-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.
But first, the wink heard ‘round the world.
The offense would eventually come alive late after being pretty dormant (again), but for seven whole innings, the Braves’ lead was courtesy of Ozzie Albies. Ozzie is more than worthy of being this year’s starting second baseman for the NL at the All-Star game. Our petit sparkplug deserves the world.
Ozzie was doing it all himself versus starter Michael McGreevy, starting with an RBI double in the first to drive in Drake Baldwin. We don’t talk about what else happened there because Ozzie then made up for it with a go-ahead solo homer in the third inning to make it 2-1 Braves.
And thus the score would stay for the majority of the game.
This was a sorely needed outing for Reynaldo López. He was fired up as he left the mound for the final time tonight, and rightfully so. Giving us a sense of deja vu, he had yet another shaky first inning. He gave up a ground rule double to Iván Herrera, who would come home to score on a Jordan Walker single. But he held the Cardinals to those two hits in his five innings of work. The only other baserunner allowed was JJ Wetherholt, who worked a walk in the top of the third. The velocity returned, the locations were better, and he ended the night with six strikeouts. It was a beautiful glimpse of the Reynaldo we’ve been missing.
And thankfully, we can appreciate the outing all the more since they didn’t succumb to the temptation of having him go back out for the sixth after throwing 69 pitches. The call to the bullpen was to bring in the D’s: Didier Fuentes was sandwiched between our two lefty Dylans, and all three threw perfect innings to preserve the slim one-run lead.
Michael McGreevy got Chris Sale’d by his offense: pitching a quality start, but being charged with the loss. He departed after six innings of two-run ball and was followed by Max Rajcic, who worked around two walks to keep the score 2-1. But reliever Justin Bruihl was not so lucky. Facing the top of the order, he walked Drake Baldwin and Ozzie reached on a fielding error by Blaze Jordan. Matt Olson’s flyout allowed Baldwin to advance to third. Michael Harris II then came through with an RBI single for a much-needed insurance run.
Gordon Graceffo came in to get the remaining two outs and immediately allowed an inherited run to score as Mauricio Dubón hit a sacrifice bunt sans the sacrifice. Cue the Ozzie wink.
Dominic Smith wanted in on the action and singled to right, but Jordan Walker made an unbelievable throw to cut down Harris II at the plate. This allowed Dubie to get to third.
Friends, rejoice. Your eyes do not deceive you – that’s is Austin Riley at the plate in the highlight below. And he does hit an RBI single to make it 5-1 Braves.
While it was no longer a save situation in the ninth, he was up, so Raisel Iglesias jogged out and promptly slammed the door. Braves, and I cannot emphasize this enough, win.
Maybe the problem really was June… only time will tell. In addition to a month-opening victory, López’s great start and the bullpen usage here means they were able to stay away from Hurston Waldrep, who could make the start in tomorrow’s rubber match / series finale. But that’s a tomorrow problem. For tonight, just enjoy this win. We really needed it.
Sometimes, we build something up in our mind for weeks or months or years, and then the moment comes, and it's over in a flash. The Lakers' summer of 2026 felt like that.
Before Luka Doncic fell into their laps and gave a direction to a roster retooling, the Lakers were pointing to the summer of 2026. That was when their books would be clean, they would have some draft picks to trade and they could take a big swing. The summer of 2026 was when the Lakers would reshape the roster for the future.
Then everything happened in a span of an hour on Wednesday — a blockbuster trade, a rapid succession of free agent signings — and with that, the Lakers have pushed all their chips into the middle of the table, going all-in on what happened in that hour. This is their core.
The foundation for that magical hour was laid in two steps. First, the Lakers re-signed secondary shot creator, fan favorite and Doncic's friend Austin Reaves to a four-year, $184.8 million extension. That was more than the Lakers had hoped to spend, but Detroit was lurking with a max offer, so to keep Reaves that was the price.
The second step was finalized Tuesday when LeBron James made official something that had felt like it was coming since before Christmas — he would not be returning to the Lakers. The exit of someone who brought the Lakers back to relevance and earned them banner No. 17is underappreciated by too many of the team's fans, but it also was time — and the Lakers needed the cap space his exit created.
Then, in the span of 45 minutes, the Lakers changed everything.
Walker Kessler
First, the Lakers traded for Walker Kessler, the 24-year-old, 7'2" center that everyone around the league expected the Jazz would hold on to long-term. However, the lure of essentially four first-round picks — two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033) and two first-round pick swaps (2028 and 2030) — was too much for Utah to pass up.
Kessler is exactly the kind of force at the rim that the Lakers need on both ends of the court. Most importantly, Kessler is a high-level shot blocker — and the Lakers are going to need that with Doncic and Reaves out on the perimeter. Kessler has averaged 2.4 blocked shots per game over his career, and he is one of the few centers who will block shots with either hand.
— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) June 30, 2026
He is also a big body who sets a good pick, rolls hard to the rim, and knows how to finish. Consider how good Luka Doncic has made players like Daniel Gafford and Deandre Ayton look at points, and now imagine how that looks for a high-level finisher like Kessler.
Kessler is someone the Lakers fans can truly rally around after spending years trying to talk themselves into Deandre Ayton or Christian Wood or whoever the Lakers rolled out at the five.
Mamukelashvili, Grimes, Sexton
While the basketball world was still reeling from the Kessler trade, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka sprang into action and signed three free agents: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton.
• Mamukelashvili is a 6'9" power forward who shot 38.9% from 3-point range last season. He spaces the floor and is coming off a quality season in Toronto, where he earned Sixth Man of the Year votes. (It wouldn't be surprising if he ends up a starter.)
• Quentin Grimes brings the kind of two-way, defense on the perimeter play — and grit — the Lakers need. And he is ready to come to Los Angeles.
• Collin Sexton is a bucket getter, and that matters. The Lakers were 29th in the NBA in bench scoring last season, 29.3 points per game, and Sexton will step that up.
Lakers all in
This is the Lakers' core.
The Lakers emptied the treasure chest to buy this team — they have nothing left. The only draft picks they can trade are a 2032 first-round swap and a 2033 second-rounder. That's it.
They are about to get expensive, too. There won't be a ton of flexibility.
Doncic has proven he can lead a team to the NBA Finals. Reaves and Kessler are now part of the core but have yet to truly be tested in the playoffs. This is a nice group of role players, but can JJ Redick bring them all together?
There are a lot of questions, but the Lakers have done what they promised in 2026 — they have taken a home run swing. Now we'll see if they connect.
The U.S. men’s national team squared off against Bosnia Herzegovina in the World Cup’s Round of 32 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Folarin Balogun put the USMNT on the board with a goal in the 44th minute, giving the Americans a 1-0 lead just before halftime.
Balogun did James’ famous silencer celebration after scoring the goal, and the four-time NBA champion noticed.
Folarin Balogun did LeBron James’ iconic silencer celebration in the USMNT’s showdown versus Bosnia Herzegovina. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
James reacted to the celebration on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“LFG!!!!!! The (silencer) has (landed) at the World Cup! Helluva goal there Young (king). Go (USA),” James wrote in a post with several emojis.
Balogun has emerged as a key star for the USMNT, and he likely will be elated to find James’ shoutout on social media.
Balogun has emerged as a key star for the U.S. men’s national team. AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Though the World Cup knockout stage is in full swing, NBA free agency has also dominated the sports world this week. James is a central figure on the free agent market this summer after he informed the Lakers he would not return to the team.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 01: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the middle game of a three-game series in Kansas City, with the Rays looking to secure the series win after last night’s 10-4 win over the Royals. Shane McClanahan takes the mound tonight against Seth Lugo, who allowed seven runs to the Rays last week inside of Tropicana Field.
Jonathan Aranda singled with one out in the top of the first to put a runner on for the scorching hot Junior Caminero, who is on a five-game home run streak coming into tonight’s game. On the first pitch he saw, he extended that streak to six games, sending a ball 425 feet over the left field wall and giving the Rays an early 2-0 lead.
McClanahan took the mound in the bottom of the first and struck out leadoff hitter Lane Thomas to start the inning. He worked a scoreless first, and did so again in the second, allowing a leadoff single but striking out Carter Jensen and getting a double play to end the inning.
The game was fairly quiet through the middle frames, with McClanahan not allowing a run through five innings, and Lugo, despite allowing seven hits, recovering to keep the Rays off the board after the Caminero home run. In the top of the sixth however, Cedric Mullins got the eighth hit off Lugo, launching a solo home run over the right field wall to extend the lead to 3-0.
McClanahan worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth, throwing only his 69th pitch of the game after six frames. Matt Strahm was brought in for the Royals to replace Lugo, who allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings of work.
Shane’s day was also done after six innings of work, with Cole Sulser being brought in to replace the lefty. McClanahan allowed only three hits and struck out four, bouncing back in a big way from a loss against the Royals last week. Sulser allowed a leadoff single, but kept the score at zero with a groundout and two strikeouts to end the seventh.
Garrett Cleavinger entered in the bottom of the eighth, and was a little shaky, allowing a walk and a single, so Kevin Kelly was brought in to get out of the inning and did just that.
In the bottom of the ninth, Kelly stayed in, and he allowed a leadoff single to Jac Caglianone, but worked a double play and flyout to end this one for the Rays.
Two home runs provided the four runs on the board, and the Rays take the series in Kansas City with a sweep opportunity tomorrow. Stephen Kolek will get the start for the Royals against a Rays pitcher to be determined, first pitch set for 7:40 pm.
What were you expecting? I was expecting a pitchers’ duel, and so were you, probably. Paul Skenes vs. Zack Wheeler, a heavyweight bout. I had a whole plan for this recap: take each inning like a round of a prize fight, load it up with boxing references. You can see the beginnings of that below. But I had to abandon the idea quickly because Skenes got TKO’d in the second. So it goes.
In round one, Wheeler and Skenes were evenly matched, each getting one strikeout, and each allowing one base runner via walk and no other damage. It almost wasn’t so: Brandon Marsh took a pitch deep to center, but Bucco centerfielder Jake Mangum, befitting his team’s nickname, robbed him.
Wheeler blinked first, with Nick Gonzalez sending a grounder through the right side of the infield for the game’s first hit. But he nimbly dealt with the rest of the Pittsburghs, and Gonzalez stayed where he was until it was time to trudge back to the dugout for his glove. Skenes plunked Alec Bohm, then allowed a single to Bryson Stott. Round two thus went to Wheeler, and before Skenes even recorded an out. Adding insult to injury, J.T. Realmuto proceeded to force Skenes to throw 10 pitches in his at bat before striking out on a low changeup. Skenes loaded the bases on a walk of Gabriel Rincones Jr. aided by a missed call in the upper outside corner that should’ve been strike three. Justin Crawford chopped one to third base, and Gonzalez tossed it home for what ought to have been an easy out. But his errant throw struck Bohm on the hand and scooted away, scoring two. Rattled, perhaps, Skenes tossed a sweeper that Trea Turner was able to get all of. It sailed into left field; fireworks before it even got dark. 5-0, a joy to Phillies fans, and a disappointment to anyone hoping for a proper pitchers’ duel .
Had that bottom of the second not happened, Wheeler’s surrendering of a solo shot to nine-hole hitter Henry Davis would’ve been a disappointment, and Turner’s bobbling of a grounder as he charged for it would’ve been heartburn-inducing, even more so after said bobbled grounder became Pittsburgh number two. But in light of that triumphant five-spot, they seemed less bothersome than usual.
And even less so after Brandon Marsh, on a heater that made the temperatures in Philadelphia look positively arctic, knocked a pitch into the right field seats in the bottom third. And it would get worse for young Skenes. In the fourth he allowed a pair of base hits to Rincones Jr. and Turner, and then with two outs induced an opposite-field line drive ball from Harper. A few inches more and it would’ve been the end of the inning. Instead, it slipped right under the glove of Tyler Callahan and scooted away as two more Phillies scooted home and scored.
The Pirates plated another with a a trio of consecutive two-out singles in the fifth; Wheeler’s night ended. It wasn’t his best night, but the fact that one can say that about a night where tossed 10 Ks says a great deal about him. Kyle Backhus came in to get the final out of the frame. Two consecutive HBP loaded the bases and scored one, respectively; the inning came to an end with a backwards K of the next batter.
Skenes’ day was over after the fifth, and thus both teams were into their bullpens. There was some traffic on the base paths for both clubs in the sixth, but no more runs.
The same was not true of the seventh. Seth Johnson walked two and allowed a double to Jared Triolo, bringing the Phillies’ once mighty lead down to two. Orion Kerkering was tasked with cleaning things up, and did. He was aided in that mission by Bohm, who got the final out of the inning on a beautiful diving catch.
But he was not content to merely assist in keeping the lead. Instead, he chose to expand it, sending a ball into the verdant batter’s eye in the eighth to give the Phillies their ninth and tenth runs. And it was thus that Jhoan Duran came in with a four-run lead to defend. He did. What were you expecting?
The Phillies are 49-38. They’ll conclude the series against the Pirates tomorrow at 12:35.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 01: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Junior Caminero is really good at hitting home runs. At the moment he does it every night. Seth Lugo got a strikeout to start the game before Jonathan Aranda singled in front of Caminero. Junior then smashed the first pitch deep to left and gone to get Tampa Bay an immediate two run lead. That is his sixth game in a row with a home run and he is the youngest to reach such a streak passing another Jr. of the Griffey variety. Caminero turns 23 on Sunday and already has 76 career homers.
Lugo settled in after that tough first inning and looked pretty sharp. That 2-0 lead for the Rays stayed for much of the game as Shane McClanahan was also dealing. He also got out of a couple of innings where the Royals got something started and then hit into double plays. The Rays did nearly score a run in the 4th when Chandler Simpson led off the inning with a single. He then tried to swipe second base with Taylor Walls up and one out. Carter Jensen was having none of that and gunned him down for his second caught stealing of the night. He has now thrown out more than 40% of runners at 15 for 36 and is only one caught stealing behind the MLB leaders at 16 William Contreras and Shea Langeliers. Walls hit a double that would have scored him if Jensen had not thrown him out.
Seth did get the quality start for the Royals but also gave up one more run in the 6th before he exited. Cedric Mullins came up with two outs in the sixth and hit a flyball to right that seemed to have a balloon-like ability to float forever. He got enough backspin on it and then let the hot air do the rest. It was 98 mph off the bat. So, Lugo out with a line of 6IP, 9H, 0BB, 6K, and 3ER. He was going to need the offense to get going to avoid taking the loss. McClanahan also went six with 3 hits and no walks. The Royals bats hit a couple of loud flyouts to the track, but he was mostly in control the whole game. They are limiting his throwing lately and pulled him after just 69 pitches.
One nice thing from this game was another good outing for Matt Strahm. That’s five outings in a row without giving up a run and he has only had one hit and two walks in those five innings. Newly arrived Jose Cuas took the 8th and did not have as clean an inning. He did look okay but gave up an RBI single to Mullins to push the lead to 4-0. Cuas did come back out for ninth and that inning went smoothly.
Kansas City finally got a threat going in the 8th against Lawrence, Kansas native Garrett Cleavinger. Nick Loftin walked to start things off. Then Tyler Tolbert popped out on a bunt to first base. Why is he bunting when the team is down 4? Michael Massey got a bloop to drop and move Loftin into scoring position. Now with two on and one out, Lane Thomas got frustrated getting rung up on what he thought was a check swing ball four. Instead, it was a strikeout and the end of the day for Cleavinger as the Rays brought in Kevin Kelly to face Bobby Witt Jr. It looked like the bases might be loaded again when Bobby hit a weak grounder to the left side. With his speed that is often an infield single. Kelly got to it quickly and threw a strike to barely beat him and end the inning.
The Royals final chance started well with Jac Caglianone getting a lead-off single. Kameron Misner pinch hit for Starling Marte and hit what looked like a nice easy fielder’s choice, however, Richie Palacios at second base made an error to make it first and second with no one out. Salvador Perez promptly grounded into a double play, the third of those on the night, and Jensen lined out to center to end the game and his hitting streak.
Now with the worst record in the American League, the Royals are starting to make a run at Colorado for the worst in all of baseball. The dog days of summer indeed.
Chris MacFarland has made clear his plan for the future of the Nashville Predators following the start of NHL free agency.
On Wednesday, he traded for Dallas forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and signed Utah center Alex Kerfoot, Colorado defenseman Jack Ahcan and St. Louis defenseman Hunter Skinner.
That's also on top of signing center Jack Drury to a five-year, $22.5 million contract after trading for him on June 24, sending Zach L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov.
"We want to surround our young NHL players with character builders, guys that have seen winning, have touched winning, that know what it looks like," MacFarland said. "They can teach these young guys what goes into that on and off the ice.
"Some of the players that we've added, like Jack Drury, Maverick Bourque and Ross Colton, they've seen what winning looks like, and they can certainly impart some things to our young guys."
Bourque's acquisition was MacFarland's biggest win of the day. The Stars center logged 41 points in 82 games last season from their third line. His addition gives the Predators a massive boost from the middle of the lineup.
MacFarland said that they are still hammering out the details on Bourque's contract. He was previously signed to a one-year, $950,000 contract.
He's an attractive, aged player who's proven in this league at 24 years old," MacFarland said on Bourque. "We believe he can play and be a good player in the middle of the ice. And I think that was probably the biggest draw for us...
"He's a smart, heady hockey player. He's a good two-way guy that we think the arrow is still pointing up for. We intend to give him every shot at playing in the middle."
MacFarland also hinted at that the Predators are not done making roster moves.
So far, Nashville has 15 forwards under contract and seven, possibly eight, defensemen. The Predators are likely looking to shrink some of those numbers and add more depth on the backend.
Ahcan and Skinner will likely play in Milwaukee. Lyubushkin is the only defensive acquisition that will likely earn a roster spot.
"The back end is something that we want to find a little bit more puck skill and a little more transition as part of our game," MacFarland said. "It's not easy to do, right? As you can see by free agency, there weren't a lot of those defensemen available. There's a reason for that. Those are the hard-to-get assets."
What the Predators have gone out and done so far is build more stability in their bottom six.
Moving players like Erik Haula, who signed with the Kings, L'Heureux and Svechkov out made room for the Predators to trade for and sign veteran players who can give Nashville that spark from the third line.
Early projections have Drury centering Colton and Matthew Wood and Bourque centering the second line of Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault. On the fourth line, Kerfoot would be centering the newly acquired from the Vancouver Canucks Nils Hoglander and Joakim Kemell.
"You're gonna need depth, right? This is a really hard league and injuries happen," MacFarland said. "You're gonna need a lot of players to get through a National Hockey League season. From (Jason) Blakey to Jamie Langenbrunner in the front office, competition is really, really important. It's healthy. It raises the bar for everyone.
"The players are gonna tell us in training camp (who will make the roster), and then players are gonna have to tell us, again, in October and November, by their play."
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics shoots a three point basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaylen Brown is no longer a member of the Boston Celtics.
After three rumored blockbuster swings — for Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, and then Giannis Antetokounmpo — Brown was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday evening. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens followed through this go-around, and it amounted to netting the organization an imbalanced return for its 29-year-old homegrown 2024 NBA Finals MVP.
Now… it’s time for Stevens to explain himself.
Stevens and majority owner Bill Chisholm need to answer the floodgate of questions that trading Brown will most certainly prompt. Last week, Stevens dodged questions centered around the organization’s standing with Brown following the failed Giannis pursuit. This time, Stevens and Chisholm owe the fanbase transparency after taking a notable step back just two years after the franchise sat atop the league as champions.
Last offseason, the roster demolition was accepted. Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet left Boston, and the reasons were clear. Jayson Tatum had just suffered a ruptured Achilles, so maintaining a Louis Vuitton-priced roster made little sense to ownership’s benefit, even if the end of the tunnel was a postseason miss.
That didn’t happen, and Brown was the reason.
Boston, MA – April 19: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown dunks in the third quarter. The Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Brown made the Celtics competitive by maximizing his surrounding cast. His leadership kept the ship from sinking after the team’s 0-3 start last October, and it helped remove any and all pressure from the ownership group’s motives. Because of Brown, there was no focus on the departure of a championship rotation, and instead all eyes were drawn to the development of Boston’s young and inexperienced core.
Stevens received credit as the NBA’s Executive of the Year — due in large part to Brown’s career-best 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Through the ups and downs of the campaign, Brown remained composed despite the team’s learning curve or his own personal run-ins with league officials. Brown performed, and he ensured the Celtics would perform up to standard in a year when they weren’t expected to, nor would they have been blamed for not doing so.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
Brown vocalized his frustrations 24 hours after Boston choked a 3-1 lead to the Sixers in the first round this past postseason. His comments, while up for interpretation, never suggested a concrete commitment to moving on from Boston. Brown had three years left on his contract with eligibility for a two-year, $142 million option this month, and had been a long-invested fixture in the Boston community ever since being drafted third overall in 2016.
He challenged the media, challenged the league’s officiating, and even challenged basketball analytics. But throughout every stream or postgame press conference, Brown never once insinuated that Boston itself was a problem. As outspoken as he is online or in-person, Brown never uttered the words “I’m done with the Celtics.”
“My understanding is Jaylen Brown, throughout all of this, never requested a trade,” Charania said on SportsCenter shortly after Brown’s trade to Philadelphia. “He never asked out of Boston. This was all the Celtics.”
For weeks, the most prominent and trustworthy voices in basketball media have suggested that Boston’s front office had been searching for a divorce. A willingness to do so for Giannis made sense. However, a willingness to maintain the aggression to trade Brown for a downgraded return from Giannis is going to be a tough sell.
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 21: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy during the 2024 Boston Celtics championship parade on June 21, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by China Wong/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The reality is Tatum’s prime can’t go to waste. George will turn 37 next May and has dealt with persistent knee and lower-body issues, most recently limiting the nine-time All-Star to just 37 games with the Sixers last season. It was difficult enough for Celtics fans to rally behind the idea of a Brown-for-Giannis swap, so there’s virtually no chance that Causeway Street will be embracing this move as a step in the right direction anytime soon.
Offloading Brown and replacing him with George reeks of the intention to trade Brown this offseason, no matter what. It suggests Chisholm is leaning on the trust Stevens has built with the fan base to justify a decision that does little to help the team’s title chances right now.
George is pushing 40 and is no longer the PG13 of the past.
Keeping Brown together with Tatum, at the very least, keeps Boston in the hunt for a championship. They’ve reached the NBA Finals twice, have won once, and have been a formula capable of making trips to the Eastern Conference Finals routine. So why bring it to an end? If the Celtics weren’t willing to go the extra mile for a Giannis deal, at the risk of plummeting Brown’s market value, then what’s the sell here?
The truth is simple: Stevens screwed up. He screwed up big time, and the entire organization — particularly those in the locker room — will live with the consequences.
Boston’s additions of Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley address critical needs, but they are far from enough to mask the void of removing Brown from the equation.
Consider this: if the Celtics tried to ride it out with Brown, barring an irreparable rift between the franchise and the player, why accept a trade now? Why not wait it out until the trade deadline or into next offseason? It’s hard to imagine that if this return was the best Boston was going to get, it wouldn’t be waiting for the team in the future because it doesn’t get a whole lot worse than this.
It can’t get worse.
Celtics fans are smart enough to acknowledge that. Even at the fan base’s most stubborn, Boston’s faithful will be skeptical of Stevens, Chisholm and the entire organization — and for good reason. The Celtics jeopardized their trust four years ago when they called the Brooklyn Nets; they did it again this offseason after whiffing in the Giannis sweepstakes against the Miami Heat, and it’ll be up to them to explain.
But right now, Stevens and Chisholm did not live up to their commitment to assembling the best possible product, ready to chase Banner 19 next season — as currently constructed. They’ve instead given Boston every and all reason to stare deeply at them with doubt.
That was a choice, dating back to years of irritation for a franchise cornerstone willing to do everything to put Celtics basketball first — even after he was welcomed to a TD Garden that hurled him with boos on draft night a decade ago.
More than 24 hours into NBA free agency, the Celtics are not better than they were when their season ended in Game 7.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 30: Jaden Schwartz #17 of the Seattle Kraken is congratulated by Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche after their 2-1 loss in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t expected to be a big free agency day for the Colorado Avalanche as the calendar flipped to July 1st and the beginning of the 2026-27 league year but GM Joe Sakic was able to get a couple cheaper contracts inked before closing shop for the summer.
Enter Jaden Schwartz , a 34-year-old left wing most recently of the Seattle Kraken but was part of the St. Louis Blues 2019 Stanley Cup team. Colorado inked him to a three-year deal at a $3.25 million cap hit per year. He scored 26 points and 11 goals in 50 games last season as he was limited with injury. Sakic mentioned Schwartz as having a top nine role and will likely be utilized all over the lineup.
The #GoAvsGo signed 34 y/o F Jaden Schwartz to a 3 year $3.25M cap hit contract
There was just enough money left over to make one more addition to the Avalanche roster and that is in right shot defenseman Noah Juulsen who is most recently of the Philadelphia Flyers where he played 52 games and scored 10 points last season. He signs for two-years at $1.1 million in each year. This feels like a classic seventh defenseman addition and gives Colorado a depth option with size. They have a plethora of right handed defensemen again but are used to working with that type of personnel.
The #GoAvsGo signed 29 y/o D Noah Juulsen to a 2 year $1.1M cap hit contract
Joe Sakic met with the media and reiterated the plan is to mostly start with this group and then accrue cap space for the trade deadline. Barring something they can’t pass up, the organization seems comfortable with the moves made this offseason. More minor league signings will follow and new acquisition Fabian Lysell needs a contract extension but until the Cale Makar contract is (hopefully) executed, this feels like a quiet summer ahead.
The Philadelphia 76ers just pulled off a massive trade, shipping Paul George and two first-round picks to the Celtics for Jaylen Brown. However, it appears they're not done trying to revamp their starting lineup. Tony Jones, who covers the 76ers for The Athletic, reported shortly after the Jaylen Brown trade that the 76ers were interested in signing free agent LeBron James.
SOURCES: The Philadelphia 76ers have reached out and are expressing interest in acquiring LeBron James. The story, is here. Please read - https://t.co/x3dKMkMj3l
After the trade for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers' starting lineup would be:
PG: Tyrese Maxey SG: VJ Edgecombe SF: Jaylen Brown PF: Dean Wade C: Joel Embiid
Dean Wade is a solid floor spacer who's shot 36.7% from beyond the arc during his seven-year NBA career, but he's not a strong rebounder and has averaged 5.3 points in 20 minutes per game in his career. He is a strong defender, which is an area of need for the 76ers, but he fits best as a rotation piece and not a starter on a potential title team. Of course, with Maxey and Edgecombe leading the way, the 76ers don't need another primary scorer in their starting lineup.
This presents an interesting question for LeBron James. At 41 years old, James will certainly welcome not having to shoulder a huge burden. He played in just 60 games this season, his fewest since 2022-23, and he attempted just 15.3 field goals per game, his lowest total ever. Obviously, playing next to Luka Doncic meant that James wasn't needed to initiate offense as much, but that would likely be the same situation while playing alongside Maxey, Brown, and Edgecombe. LeBron remains a strong facilitator, who had 7.2 assists per game last season while turning the ball over just 3.0 times per game, his fewest since 2012-2013. LeBron would have to be OK filling even more of a facilitator role among a group of younger scorers who are going to push the pace in a way that James may be unable to keep up.
Moving Wade to the bench would also deepen a bench unit that is a major weakness right now, with just Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti, Dominick Barlow, and Labaron Philon as likely contributors.
What Other Teams are Interested in LeBron James?
The Warriors still remain at the forefront of the James sweepstakes, along with teams like the Heat, Cavaliers, and Nuggets. The Spurs seem to be out of the running after signing Tobias Harris, but all cards are on the table when it comes to LeBron James. We should have some resolution in the next few days.
It just keeps getting worse for Paul Skenes. Not only has he not won a game in nine starts, but on Wednesday, July 1, the Phillies made it sting. Philadelphia battered the Pirates' ace for a career-high seven earned runs, and eight total, in an outing that lasted just four innings.
Trea Turner put a three-run homer in the seats, Brandon Marsh tacked on a solo shot and the Phillies had an 8-4 lead before most fans had finished their first hot dog and beer.
Skenes hasn't picked up a win in a start since May 12 and Pittsburgh hasn't won a game he has started since then, either. That last win was against the Rockies and five days later, the Phillies started his spiral. They tagged him with five runs in five innings on May 17.
During this slide, Skenes has allowed 28 earned runs and seven homers in 47 innings, good for a 5.36 ERA. In his first two seasons, Skenes never finished with an ERA over 1.97.
It's a jarring stretch for a pitcher with Skenes' talent and resume.
He won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and then followed that up with a Cy Young Award in 2025. Lately, however, his numbers just haven't looked as dominant.
Jul 1, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) reacts after hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves have been one of the best teams in the National League for the first half of the 2026 season, but the St. Louis Cardinals have shown they can compete and Tuesday night was no exception at Truist Park at least for the first 7 innings. Michael McGreevy kept the Cardinals close through the first half of the game. However, the Cardinals bats were deadly silent and the bullpen let the game escape in the late innings.
The St. Louis Cardinals grabbed an early lead starting in the top of the 1st inning. After JJ Wetherholt flied out to deep center, Iván Herrera turned a 95 mph four-seam fastball into a ground rule double. Two batters later, Jordan Walker hammered a sharp single to right scoring Herrera who made a great slide into home getting his hand over the base just before the tag making it 1-0 Cardinals. Spoiler Alert: St. Louis could just not spark any kind of real rally against Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez. Would you believe these would represent the only Cardinals hits of the game?
That lead would not last long unfortunately. The Atlanta Braves answered in the bottom of the 1st inning a single from Drake Baldwin who scored on a double by Ozzie Albies tying the game at 1-1.
The Braves took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning and it was Ozzie Albies fault again. He ripped a 92 mph four-seam fastball from Michael McGreevy into a 380 foot home run to right-center making it 2-1 Braves and that’s the way it would remain until the late innings.
Michael McGreevy overall had a solid outing as he gave the Cardinals 6 full innings allowing just 3 hits, 2 earned runs while striking out 3 and walking just 1. He simply had no run support from the Cardinals offense. Max Rajcic entered the game in the bottom of the 7th inning. He walked Mauricio Dubon to lead off the Braves 7th, but was then able to get Smith to ground out and he struck out the slumping Austin Riley. Dubon advanced to third on a wild pitch by Max before Rajcic walked Mike Yastremski to give Atlanta runners on first and third. Fortunately, Mateo would pop out to Blaze Jordan at third to end the scoring threat and keep the Cardinals within a run.
José Fermín would ALMOST tie the game in the top of the 8th inning off of Braves reliever Dylan Lee as he came within an eyelash of homering to left field, but left fielder Dubon made a leaping grab against the wall to deny him. Dang.
Justin Bruihl entered the game in the bottom of the 8th inning with the sole purpose of keeping Atlanta from adding an insurance run. He would not be successful. The defense behind him was not supportive of his cause either. After Bruihl walked Drake Baldwin, Blaze Jordan botched what looked like an easy groundball from Ozzie Albies that could have been a potential double play starter. Instead it was E5 with Matt Olson at the plate with runners on first and second with nobody out. Olson flew out to deep right which allowed Baldwin to advance to third, but Albies did not advance to second even though Jordan Walker’s throw went to third instead of second. Michael Harris II made Bruihl (and the Cardinals) pay for that leadoff walk as he singled into left-center scoring Baldwin and giving the Braves a 3-1 lead. That would cause manager Oli Marmol to remove Bruihl and bring in Gordon Graceffo to stop the bleeding. He sadly couldn’t. Dubon executed a sacrifice squeeze that Alec Burleson made a great effort on, but his throw was too late to home as Albies slid home safely making it 4-1 Braves. It nearly got worse when Smith singled to right, but Jordan Walker threw a laser beam to home and Pedro Pages made a great tag for the second out. It wasn’t enough to stop the Braves from continuing to pile on. Austin Riley would single to left on the first pitch he saw scoring Dubon and giving Atlanta a commanding 5-1 lead. That would be the score going into the top of the 9th.
The St. Louis Cardinals 9th inning would feature the top of the order starting with JJ Wetherholt. He would end the game 0-3 with a weak groundout off of Braves reliever Iglesias. Iván Herrera then struck out and then Alec Burleson ended the game with a weak flyball to left field representing one of the Cardinals poorer offensive efforts of the season so far.
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their visit to Atlanta with a Thursday night game against the Braves. Dustin May will make the start for the Cardinals. Atlanta has not yet named their starter for Thursday’s game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15pm central time with the game TV broadcast being handled by Cardinals.tv.
HAS 
at the World Cup! Helluva goal there Young 
! 
. GO 
