After two summer league games — and two DNPs for Mikel Brown Jr. — Nets fans may finally get to see their prized rookie on Monday.
The Nets split their first two contests tilts at the California Classic, dropping their opener Saturday at Sacramento before beating Milwaukee 89-69 the next day.
Brown, Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore all sat out against the Kings, while they had an even more threadbare lineup Sunday. But Brown — the No. 6 pick in last month’s draft — is expected to make his pro debut Monday against Golden State.
Mikel Brown Jr. looks like he may be set to debut for the Nets. AP Photo/Chris Seward
“The approach for the last game, have our roster guys back into the rotation. The hope is that Mikel is ready to play,” Nets summer league coach Dutch Gaitley said. “We’ll see about Danny, see how his back’s feeling.
“But these guys did a great job of setting the tone of ‘this is how we play Brooklyn basketball.’ And we need our guys to continue to strive for what our guys did today. And if our Brooklyn roster can play how our guys played [Sunday], we’re gonna have a lot of success.”
Brown missed a total of 14 games during his freshman campaign at Louisville with a lower back injury — eight games from December to early January, then six at the end of the season.
Now the Nets hope Brown will make his pro debut, though Gaitley wouldn’t put a percentage on the point guard suiting up.
“That is above my pay grade,” Gaitley said. “I think the plan is that he is going to play, but I don’t make the final decisions.”
The Nets held the Bucks to just 32 .324 percent shooting Sunday. Ben Humrichous had 15 points, eight rebounds and shot 5-for-12 from 3-point range. Hunter Sallis — James Harden’s cousin — added 15 points, six assists and six boards while Dion Brown was a plus-27 before limping off at the end.
Brooklyn Nets Mikel Brown, Jr. speaks with the media at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The Nets sat Wolf, Nolan Traore Trarore (knee scope), Egor Dëmin, Ben Saraf, Drake Powell, Tyler Bilodeau and Chaney Johnson.
The trade that brought the Nets rookie Joshua Jackson becomes official Monday. Milwaukee didn’t have rookie Nate Ament available for the same reason.
A fresh week of Major League Baseball is loaded with plenty of opportunities to keep things green, is in front of us, with eight MLB contests to keep us busy on this fine Monday.
Here are my favorite MLB picks for tonight’s MLB slate.
MLB moneyline picks for July 6
Matchup
Pick
Phillies vs Royals
-199
Yankees vs Rays
-108
Astros vs Nationals
+108
Mets vs Braves
-120
Brewers vs Cardinals
-111
Diamondbacks vs Padres
-106
Blue Jays vs Giants
+102
Rockies vs Dodgers
+203
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 7-6.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for July 6
Phillies vs Royals: Phillies (-199)
Phillies win probability: 66%
It is hard to justify laying nearly 2/1 odds, but aside from Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone, the Kansas City Royals' lineup has been lifeless. Over their last 12 games, they own a 71 wRC+, .269 wOBA, and .608 OPS. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies send their ace to the mound and continue to swing the bats well. Lay the run line.
Yankees vs Rays: Rays (-108)
Rays win probability: 52%
I do not give a single hoot that Cam Schlittler is on the mound tonight for the New York Yankees. Their offense owns a 49 wRC+ over its last 12 games. Forty-nine.
There is no more lifeless offense in baseball right now than the Yankees'.
This could end up being one of my biggest misreads; it certainly would not be the first. But the Tampa Bay Rays are one of baseball's hottest offenses, and the -108 odds feel like an absolute steal.
Astros vs Nationals: Astros (+108)
Astros win probability: 48%
This sets up as a battle between two very mediocre starting pitchers in Mike Burrows and Miles Mikolas. Of the two, Mikolas has been the worse arm, both on the season and over his last three starts.
The Washington Nationals' offense has been humming lately, but the Houston Astros have been swinging it well too. When both starters are this shaky, I will gladly take the plus money with the better value.
Mets vs Braves: Braves (-120)
Braves win probability: 55%
They are finally awake. The Atlanta Braves are finally turning things around.
Now they draw a struggling Freddy Peralta, who owns a 10.95 ERA over his last three starts. Meanwhile, Atlanta's offense has posted a 111 wRC+, .329 wOBA, and .743 OPS over its last six games. Take the Braves to beat the New York Mets.
Brewers vs Cardinals: Brewers (-111)
Brewers win probability: 52%
Is there a world where Dustin May holds it down for 5-plus innings against the St. Louis Cardinals? Sure. But we do not live in that world.
May owns an 8.49 ERA over his last three starts and a 5.40 ERA across his last five.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee Brewers southpaw Shane Drohan has been nails over his last five outings, and Milwaukee's offense has been right there with him, posting a 132 wRC+, .362 wOBA, and .819 OPS.
Brew Crew!
Diamondbacks vs Padres: Padres (-106)
Padres win probability: 52%
The Arizona Diamondbacks' offense is still frozen solid, posting an 82 wRC+, .292 wOBA, and .652 OPS over its last 12 games. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres have been humming, posting a 130 wRC+, .354 wOBA, and .806 OPS over their last six games.
With Brandon Pfaadt on the mound for Arizona, this is a great spot for the Padres to feast.
Blue Jays vs Giants: Giants (+102)
Giants win probability: 50%
Yet another frozen offense that needs to be faded. The Toronto Blue Jays have gone ice cold across the board, posting just a 48 wRC+, .237 wOBA, and .522 OPS over their last six games.
Kevin Gausman is on the mound, and he owns a 9.00 ERA over his last three outings. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants have been seeing the ball extremely well over the last week.
Give me the plus money.
Rockies vs Dodgers: Rockies (+203)
Rockies win probability: 33%
Chase the value!!!!
The Colorado Rockies' offense has caught fire over the last two weeks, so getting them at better than 2/1 feels like a fun sprinkle. The Los Angeles Dodgers send left-hander Eric Lauer to the mound, and he owns a 5.63 ERA at home this season.
Meanwhile, the Rockies counter with Kyle Freeland.
It will be sweaty, but I think chasing the value on the Rockies is worth the sprinkle.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
With three wins in their last 15 games, the Mets have all but sealed their fate as sellers at this year’s trade deadline. At this point, they need a miracle to revive their postseason hopes, and the chance for a present-day miracle is not worth surrendering the chance at a more functional future. So the Mets will sell, which is not exactly news.
But what exactly selling looks like for this high-priced bunch is still unclear. Are they tearing this down? Will they start sooner than later? Who will be key to a brighter future and whose departure will clear the way for it?
SNY talked to multiple people familiar with the front office’s thinking to get some answers to these and other questions that will hover around the Mets between now and next month’s trade deadline. The answers, in most cases, appear to be both rational and evolving.
How far will this sell-off go? Are the Mets tearing this down completely?
The Mets plan to contend next year, so they are not approaching this deadline as the first domino to fall in a lengthy rebuild. They are not determined to trade everyone, but they will listen to offers on almost everyone. Players on expiring contracts -- Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter, and Tyrone Taylor – will be available, unless something changes their long-term status with the club. Should the Mets pitch Holmes on an extension, for example, that could obviously change their plans.
As for those players under control beyond this season, the Mets will listen to any offers that might help them long-term without any pressure to accept them. Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and other rookie-aged players are all but completely untouchable, given that those are precisely the type of assets a team intending to contend next year would be seeking in deadline deals. But outside of the true youngsters, everyone from Luke Weaver (under control through next season) to Francisco Alvarez (under control for three more seasons) could draw interest in a market that currently looks like it might have more buyers than sellers.
What will the Mets be prioritizing in return?
The Mets are going to chase the best talent available regardless of position, minor league level, or major league readiness, according to people familiar with their thinking. They will not be prioritizing major league needs (like, say, controllable starting pitching) or any specific position, which does not mean they might not find themselves acquiring it if that is the best talent offered them. A top prospect is as valuable to them long-term as it could be to a potential trade partner as the Mets try to improve their major league roster this offseason.
This approach is emblematic of the way the Mets seem to be thinking about this deadline and roster more broadly: they are not going to overreact to a bad season by giving up on pieces that contributed to it at a discount, and they are not trying to fix all their problems in August knowing how different things could be for them and others by the time the calendar hits November.
Jun 25, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) talks to shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) in the dugout during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
Steve Cohen told the New York Post last week that he does not anticipate trading Soto or Lindor, and that he is happy to have two superstar players to build around. Toss in the money they’re making and the fact that they are two of the most productive players on an unproductive roster, and deals for either seem even more unlikely than a 2026 Mets turnaround – which is to say, highly unlikely, but it is always safest not to rule out anything completely.
People familiar with the Mets' thinking say they still do not have a sense of whether Bichette will opt out of his three-year, $142 million deal after this year. If he finishes strong, he will probably want to take advantage of a weak free agent hitters’ class. If he doesn’t, he will probably want to stay and prove he deserves a long-term deal. In either case, he is an asset on what might be an expiring contract, which means it is fair to ask whether the Mets will explore trading him.
The answer seems to be somewhere between probably and definitely not, though the Mets seem willing to listen on just about anyone in case the market yields unexpected value. But with the money Bichette is making and the fact that he is a former American League batting champ who could remain under control for two more seasons, he is not the kind of player the Mets will feel needs to be moved urgently – particularly when they have not yet seen him at his best for an extended period.
Will they tear down the bullpen?
The bullpen has been the Mets’ best unit by far, and it is loaded with pitchers contenders would love to have. Raley is having one of his best seasons. Weaver is, too. And before his blow-up Sunday, Huascar Brazoban was quietly establishing himself as the kind of versatile, swing-and-miss-capable type that all bullpens would love to have.
Since he has multiple years of team control remaining, Brazoban could be a coveted asset for contenders hoping to bolster their bullpen without making the financial investment in more expensive back-end types. Weaver, too, could be one of the better relievers available if the Mets are willing to part with him. Devin Williams would, too, though two years remaining at roughly $17 million each might scare some teams away.
But as of this week, it seems that while the Mets are open to moving controllable relievers like Brazoban or even Austin Warren, they are not necessarily comfortable starting from scratch in the bullpen in 2027. It seems more likely that one or two of those under team control beyond this season would go, rather than all of them.
May 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; The New York Mets celebrate defeating the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. / Ron Chenoy - Imagn Images
Are there any potential trade candidates on the roster flying under the radar?
As much as Mets fans might wish they could offload struggling young players like Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Ronny Mauricio in exchange for future Mets saviors, none of those three is likely to yield a substantial return. That does not mean they are untradable, and in fact, multiple people with rival organizations said Mauricio’s name was brought up in trade discussions as recently as earlier this season.
Still, some within the Mets front office still believe Baty will emerge as a lineup staple, which means they will not part with him for nothing. Mauricio still hasn’t gotten enough major league playing time to render a final verdict. He could certainly entice another team to take a chance. Vientos has been the most confounding member of that trio. Maybe a change of scenery could help him if someone is willing to take the chance.
But the most likely member of that baby Mets generation to be traded might be Alvarez, who has demonstrated an ability to produce as a designated hitter even if his catching has not necessarily evolved into a defensive asset. Given how rare power-hitting catchers are these days, and particularly in this year’s market, Alvarez would represent a cost-controlled asset to a contending team that could pair him with a better defensive catcher and maximize his at-bats as a designated hitter.
Similarly, Luis Torrens is widely respected as one of the game’s most steady defensive catchers and is now under control through the 2028 season after the Mets signed him to a very reasonable $11.5 million extension earlier this season. Obviously, he would be an asset to a contending 2027 Mets team, too. But if a 2026 contender is willing to overpay, the Mets will listen.
When will the Mets start selling?
While the Mets are no longer within striking distance of a winning record by the trade deadline, they do not seem to be in a rush to start trading away players, either. They, like other teams, are inundated with draft preparation ahead of that event next weekend. Once the draft passes, they anticipate the trade market to solidify and the phone calls to pick up.
In other words, while it is not impossible that the Mets will start trading players prior to the All-Star Break, it would qualify as a surprise. But once the draft is behind them and their competitors, expect the move-making to begin.
Boston, MA - September 25: Bill Chisholm, the new lead owner and governor of the Boston Celtics, listens as Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations, speaks during an introductory press conference at the Auerbach Center on September 25, 2025 in Boston. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Five days ago, the Boston Celtics agreed to trade Jaylen Brown for Paul George and draft compensation. The trade could not be made official until today, so the team hasn’t been able to officially discuss the details or explain the thought process behind the trade. That airspace has invited rumors, inuendo, conspiracy theories, educated guesses (and some uneducated ones), and every opinion under the sun.
At 4PM today we’ll hear from Brad Stevens and Bill Chisholm directly. We’ll get their official statements on the trade and we’ll hear them respond to many questions. I’m just not entirely sure if we’ll hear the full truth of what transpired and what it means for the future of the franchise.
I don’t have a crystal ball, but here are some categories of subjects that are sure to be addressed.
Financial Flexibility
One reason they may have decided to move on from Brown was his contract. Several smart people have pointed out that he’s getting supermax money and probably wouldn’t be ranked by many as a top 5 player in the league (or pick your range). Which makes him a bit overpaid in a league where the 2nd apron is treated as a defacto hard cap. Sure, even the biggest Jaylen Brown fans might accept that, but that’s why you lean into cheaper, high value contracts (like the guys on rookie deals and Payton Pritchard who’s on one of the highest value deals in the league). It also doesn’t explain why you would take back Paul George, widely considered one of the worst contracts in basketball.
I have a feeling that Brad Stevens will talk about flexibility on some level, because flexibility is one of his favorite buzzwords. Chisholm will field questions about how much of this was an ownership mandate, but it doesn’t really come across as a cost cutting move because they didn’t actually cut much cost in the deal.
We probably won’t get the full picture of how much money influenced this deal.
Analytics
One of the most popular topics being discussed in the aftermath of this trade has been the role of analytics in the evaluation of Jaylen’s value. The “well actually” articles and data analysis deep dives have centered around his advanced analytics that can be looked at to paint a pretty negative picture of Jaylen’s value to a basketball team.
I’m not going to go into detail pro or con on those numbers. I think analytics are very much a critical part of the game today and need to be considered as part of the overall analysis. The limitations to Jaylen’s game are well documented and don’t always need numbers to back them up. But it has always seemed to me that his positive impact almost always outweighed his struggles.
This is going to be a very delicate thing to address at the press conference. How do they justify the deal with numbers without it looking like they are trashing their former pillar of the team going out?
If he is really a net negative on the court, why did the team invest so much into him in the first place? Why wouldn’t they have traded him earlier? What changed and when did it change? Again, I’m skeptical we’ll hear the full truth about how much the numbers influenced this decision.
The Human Element
There are a lot of other theories and rumors that I’m just going to lump together under the heading of “the Human Element.”
Did Jaylen want his own team? It has been reported that he never asked for a trade, so I’m guessing that won’t be a stated reason. We don’t know how much he indicated a desire to the team to move on or if he was planning on demanding a trade later.
Was the team frustrated with the way Jaylen spoke about the past season on his twitch streams? Honestly, this seems weak even writing it down. Many pearl clutching words have been written and spoken about his “favorite season” comments, which were addressed by him and easily explained away. I don’t buy that this was a big issue and I highly doubt that it will be named explicitly by the team as a reason for the trade.
Did Jayson Tatum want to move on? Personally, I doubt this has anything to do with it and even if it was, (for so many reasons) they would never admit it to be true or have anything to do with the trade.
Jaylen was an extremely popular player with the fanbase and in the community of Boston. The team will undoubtably be very careful with anything they say about him. If anything, they could and should lean into celebrating him as a person and beloved member of the franchise. So if there’s anything personal going on behind the scenes, we won’t hear about it today.
Style of Play
This might be the only thing that makes some sense to me, but on the other hand it doesn’t. Maybe Jaylen shoots too many contested two pointers for the analytics team to be comfortable with. Of course, those are sometimes the only shots that you can get in the playoffs when all the better shots are taken away. So it helps to have a guy that can make those shots.
Brad Stevens stressed the need to put more pressure on the rim. Well, Jaylen does a much better job of that than Paul George, who has evolved into more of a deep threat perimeter player than anything else.
Maybe the team wasn’t confident that Jaylen would be ok sliding back into the 1B role he had before (related to the above section on The Human Element) and George will be happy being a 2nd or 3rd option. That’s not a great reason to make this trade either, and most likely won’t be named as a primary reason.
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 6: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 6, 2024 at the TD Garden 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Timing
One big question that should absolutely be addressed is “why now?” The word that keeps coming to mind is “desperation.” By all accounts, it seemed like the team did not have good offers for Jaylen but were urgently motivated to complete a deal now. Why?
In any negotiation, you need to have a feel for what your walking away price is and be prepared to walk away if you don’t get it. Somehow, they either put a much lower value on Jaylen than most would have expected, or they were so desperate to get a deal done that they accepted under market value. Couldn’t they have gotten this same kind of deal later in the summer or even at the trade deadline?
Are there other deals coming? If so when? And why couldn’t this have waited to be combined with those additional moves?
Not sure if we’ll get satisfactory answers for this topic, but it will be interesting to hear their responses.
Must See TV
One thing I know, I will be watching and listening very carefully to what is said (and isn’t said). We need answers from the Celtics leadership. I’m just not sure if the answers will tell the full story or if they will be satisfactory to fans.
The cognitive dissonance of this still puzzles me. Brad Stevens has “won” so many deals over the years and has built up so much trust. It is just so jarring to see him “lose” one of this magnitude. What does that mean for the near and long term future? Is there anything that he can say in this press conference that is going to restore part of that trust? I guess we’ll see.
We will, of course, report on the presser. Feel free to use this post as an open thread for comments below.
Fans were denied thrilling finale as Charles Leclerc won behind safety car but there are no easy solutions
The British Grand Prix ending under the safety car and denying a potentially thrilling finale was a controversial, but also complicated incident. It raised issues from the sport’s past and questions over what it may yet address for the future.
The Silverstone victor, Charles Leclerc, of course said he would rather have done it in more style than with taking the flag behind the safety car. The scenario does not happen often, but whenever it does, almost no one finds it a satisfactory way to conclude a race.
It’s no secret that most Boston Celtics fans aren’t pleased with Wednesday’s trade that sent superstar Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. But what does Brown’s longtime teammate Jayson Tatum think of the move?
Tatum finally broke his silence on Friday with a social media tribute to Brown. On Monday, former Celtics guard Jeff Teague — an ex-teammate of Tatum and Brown in 2020-21 — shed more light on how Tatum feels about the C’s sending his co-star to an Eastern Conference rival.
“I talked to my boy yesterday, my boy JT motivated,” Teague said. “It ain’t no slight because he was legit like, ‘Damn, can’t believe that s— went down.’ You know what I mean? That’s some bulls—, really.
“You know what I said, I was like , ‘S—, what you gonna do? I was like, ‘S—, the pressure’s on now, killer.'”
Tatum has every reason to be irked by the trade. Not only did the Celtics part ways with Brown after 10 seasons, but they also shipped him to the team they blew a 3-1 series lead against in Round 1 of this year’s playoffs. With Brown now on their side, the Sixers will be an even tougher opponent in 2026-27.
Paul George will look to step up as the new 1B to Tatum’s 1A next season. The 36-year-old veteran averaged 17.3 points while shooting 43.9 percent from the floor in 37 games for Philly last season. Brown, meanwhile, set career highs in points per game (28.7), rebounds per game (6.9), and assists per game (5.1) in 71 games to propel Boston to the No. 2 seed in the East.
Tatum will have plenty on his shoulders as he looks to help the C’s overcome Brown’s departure. After missing most of the 2025-26 season with an Achilles injury, he’ll reprise his role as Boston’s No. 1 option.
The real question is, which members of Boston’s supporting cast will step up to help the team exceed expectations yet again?
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 14: Sergei Murashov #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins defends the net during the game against the Utah Mammoth at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Now that the 2026 NHL draft is over, and a new league year has started, let’s reset the organization’ with a deeper dive of contracts beyond the NHL roster.
It can be hard to wrap your head around it all, so think of this as a Top 25 Under 25 primer to place players in certain levels to describe their spot in the pecking order for next season.
We’ll set the stage for the upcoming list of the top talent in the organization by first looking at exactly which young players are around the Pittsburgh pipeline these days, in no specific order and based off players who either have NHL contracts or appear on the Pens’ reserve list.
NHL level (or close)
Ville Koivunen Rutger McGroarty Joel Blomqvist Owen Pickering Sergei Murashov Avery Hayes Tristan Broz Harrison Brunicke
—All of these players should see some time in the NHL next season. It might be temporary and require injuries to other players to receive those opportunities in some cases, but this is the top level of player right on the verge of getting their shot to play in the big league. Then again, this group covers a lot of ground: Murashov could be the NHL opening night starting goalie and Koivunen could be waived in September, with a lot of middle ground in between of players who might get squeezed back to the AHL due to a numbers game of high quantity of NHL bodies.
AHL level
Tanner Howe Bill Zonnon David Gustafsson Oliver Okuliar Melvin Fernstrom Atley Calvert Mikhail Ilyin Jake Livanavage Phil Kemp Chase Pietila Finn Harding Daniel Laatsch Gabriel D’Aigle
—Much of this group will make up the backbone of the WBS team in the AHL for 2026-27. There’s a chance some of these players could get a game or two in the NHL if all the conditions aligned right, but this is mostly the young players who need to develop or the older players who are depth.
Lower non-pro levels (Canadian Junior, NCAA)
William Horcoff Peyton Kettles Brady Peddle Charlie Trethewey Joona Vaisanen Quinn Beauchesne Travis Hayes Carter Sanderson Ryan Miller Jordan Charron Luke Devlin Mac Swanson Kale Dach Zam Plante Liam Ruck Markus Ruck Pierce Mbuyi Parker von Richter Matvei Nikonovich
—A lot of names here go in a “check back in 2-3 years” type area for long developmental, mostly made up of 2025 and 2026 draft picks. Some players on this list should be moving into the AHL segment within time, all dreaming of one day advancing it beyond that. All have possibility and hope but at this point it will take a lot of time, effort and further development to get towards being finished products.
Europe
Kalle Kangas Emil Jarventie Kirill Tankov Tomas Galvas
—The Pens haven’t focused a lot in Europe lately when it comes to bringing on young players via the draft. Assistant GM Amanda Kessel recently confirmed that second round pick from 2026 Galvas would stay overseas for the upcoming season in 2026-27. None of the rest of the list is on the NHL radar at all these days.
The Chicago Blackhawks did not have any players listed among those who filed for contract arbitration. The only player eligible was Drew Commesso, but he decided against it.
Commesso is an RFA, and he will work out a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks without the guidance of an arbitrator. This is a positive, because arbitration can get messy as both sides argue over how much the player deserves to make. A player has to hear why a team thinks they aren’t worth more money, which is never constructive.
Connor Bedard, Kevin Korchinski, and Ethan Del Mastro are also RFA’s, but they were not eligible for an arbitrator this summer. They all received qualifying offers, and only time will tell what the final number looks like.
By not electing for arbitration, Drew Commesso could, in theory, receive an offer sheet, but that won’t happen. He is a promising young goalie, but he has proven nothing over a long period of time in the NHL. The Blackhawks would likely match any offer sheet for him or just let him go for whatever compensation is needed, but it isn’t realistic to expect one.
There is still reason to worry about other Blackhawks receiving offer sheets, specifically Connor Bedard, as they seem to be becoming a trend in the modern-day NHL.
Drew Commesso only appeared in three games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season, but he is expecting to compete with Arvid Soderblom for the backup job coming into the year. Spencer Knight is the established number one.
With the way the league goes these days, it will be important to have three goalies that can be trusted in any situation, which is why the Blackhawks and Commesso must agree. Not filing for arbitration is a great start, as both sides can come together for mutual benefit.
This is the list of players who filed:
Xavier Bourgault - Ottawa Senators
Kirby Dach - Montreal Canadiens
Jamie Drysdale - Philadelphia Flyers
Jet Greaves - Columbus Blue Jackets
Alex Jefferies - New York Islanders
Peyton Krebs - Buffalo Sabres
Connor McMichael - St. Louis Blues
Cole Perfetti - Winnipeg Jets
Jason Robertson - Dallas Stars
Nick Robertson - Pittsburgh Penguins
Akira Schmid - Florida Panthers
Braden Schneider - New York Rangers
Ronan Seeley - Carolina Hurricanes
Cole Sillinger - Columbus Blue Jackets
Trevor Zegras - Philadelphia Flyers
There are some very good players listed there, including Kirby Dach, Jamie Drysdale, and Trevor Zegras. There is even one elite player there in Jason Robertson.
By going to arbitration, as mentioned before, they all forfeited their right to receive an offer sheet. They all, however, could have their rights traded. Would any of them interest the Blackhawks? Surely, but Chicago might have to figure out their own players first.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets got extremely lucky last year with their goalie situation. Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins played in every game of the season and avoided injuries. It's not entirely rare, as it happens every now and then.
The 25-26 season was the first time only two goalies have played in all the games since the 2018-19 season, when Sergei Bobrovsky and Joonas Korpisalo manned the net. That tandem actually did it in back-to-back seasons.
Before those two seasons, it hadn't been done since the 12-13 season when Sergei Bobrovsky and Steve Mason suited up as a tandem during the lockout season.
It's happened seven times in 25 seasons, so don't expect it again.
The Cleveland Monsters are going through some changes next season, and it starts in the net. They lost veterans Zach Sawchenko and Ivan Fedotov, leaving youngsters Evan Gardner and Nolan LaLonde.
With that, the Blue Jackets signed veteran Pheonix Copley to a one-year deal on July 1st. The immediate thought was that he's going to be the vet in Cleveland next season. We'd be fools to think that the CBJ will go unscathed again on the goaltender injury front, so Copley might actually get some NHL time next season.
Let's take a look at Copley and what he's done in his career, and what he could bring.
Undrafted - North Pole, Alaska
NHL Debut - February 17, 2016 (St. Louis)
Career NHL Record - 44-17-8 - .898% sv% - 2.85 GAA - 70 Career Starts
NHL Playoff Experience - 1 Relief Appearance
Career AHL Record - 169-104-30-18 - .909% sv% - 2.52 GAA
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award (AHL fewest goals against) (2021) (shared with Zach Fucale)
Signed as a free agent by Washington, March 20, 2014.
Traded to St. Louis by Washington with Troy Brouwer and Washington's 3rd round pick (later traded back to Washington - Washington selected Garrett Pilon) in 2016 NHL Draft for T.J. Oshie, July 2, 2015.
Traded to Washington by St. Louis with Kevin Shattenkirk for Zach Sanford, Brad Malone and Washington's 1st round pick (later traded to Philadelphia - Philadelphia selected Morgan Frost) in 2017 NHL Draft, February 27, 2017.
Signed as a free agent by Los Angeles, July 13, 2022.
Claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay from Los Angeles, October 2, 2025.
Traded to Los Angeles by Tampa Bay for future considerations, October 15, 2025.
When the deal was announced, many thought this move was to replace Elvis Merzlikins, but I'm here to tell you that that is very unlikely. Unless a deal comes that makes absolute sense, the goalie tandem in Columbus will be Greaves and Elvis.
Copley very well may get his chance due to injuries or other circumstances, but at this point, Copley is set to be the vet in Cleveland to help Gardner and Lalonde start their pro careers.
Next Up For Columbus: Free Agency continues on.
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James reportedly would be much more interested in going to Golden State if they acquire Davis, whom he played alongside on the Lakers for 5 ½ seasons, winning a championship in 2020.
LeBron James is considering several teams, but the Warriors might land him if they also add Anthony Davis. Getty Images
Free agency is flying past them, and they virtually have the same roster they had last season. Curry will turn 39 during the upcoming season. Their only chance to compete for another championship is adding James — and Davis — to their roster.
Acquiring Davis would mean trading Jimmy Butler for salary-matching purposes. It would mean they’d have to give up multiple first-round picks and pick swaps. It would mean they’d dent their future.
But it would also mean the sunset of Curry’s career wouldn’t be wasted.
Curry, who’s widely considered the greatest shooter of all time, is still a top-10 player. The Warriors need to give him a real chance to win his fifth ring. They need to take some risks.
They kept the band together by re-signing longtime coach Steve Kerr. Now they have to give the band a chance to really sing.
For the Warriors, acquiring the oft-injured Davis is widely considered foolish around the league.
He’s 33 years old. He appeared in just 20 games last season for the Mavericks before being traded to the Wizards in February. His contract is worth $58 million this season and a nearly $63 million player option for 2027-28. In other words, it’s gigantic.
But what other option do the Warriors have to vastly improve their roster and compete for a title?
As for giving up first-round picks, yes, that’s a tough pill to swallow. But it’s the only way they can complete this blockbuster deal. Not pulling the trigger means they’re going to tread water for another season. It means mediocrity.
Steph Curry is widely considered the greatest shooter of all time, is still a top-10 player. Getty Images
Other teams are taking big risks.
Look at what the Lakers paid for Walker Kessler: $130 million over four years AND two first-round picks and two swaps. Was that a great deal? No way. Was it worth it for them to give Luka Doncic his dream center and a shot at competing in the West? Clearly.
As currently constructed, there’s no way the Warriors can get past the elite teams in the West. If they convinced James to come aboard and traded for Davis, they’d have a shot.
Even though James will turn 42 next season, he’s still capable of being the best player on the court on any given night. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists. He pretty much single-handedly carried the Lakers past the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.
James changes the Warriors’ ceiling. He’d bring so much business to The Bay. Imagine how much people would pay to watch James and Curry share the court? They’d be the hottest ticket in the league.
As for Davis, he’s vastly underrated here.
Let’s not forget that when Davis is healthy, he’s an absolute force on both ends of the court. He’s a 10-time All-Star, five-time All-Defensive Team selection and a three-time league leader in blocks.
He arguably should’ve won a Defensive Player of the Year award as well.
Davis’ stock plummeted when the Lakers traded him to the Mavericks for Doncic in February 2025. Since then, he has been injury-riddled. He has been the butt of jokes.
Next season, Davis is going to be out for revenge, especially if you put him alongside James, Curry and defensive wizard Draymond Green. If each of those guys believed they had a real shot to win, they’d each elevate their games. They’d be dangerous.
Davis would help boost the Warriors, especially if he reunites with LeBron James. Getty Images
The Warriors must go all in.
And they must act fast.
It’s clear the Warriors are falling out of the James sweepstakes.
James’ agent, Rich Paul, is a mastermind at controlling narratives. In an episode of his “Game Over” podcast that aired Friday, he showed a whiteboard that listed the 10 teams that could land James in free agency.
The Warriors were tucked into the top left corner of the board as though they were an afterthought, while the 76ers, Heat, Timberwolves, Nuggets and Cavaliers were featured front and center.
When asked if the Warriors’ placement on the board meant something, Paul balked.
“You can think whatever you think,” Paul said. “This is my board. You decide what you want to think.”
It was cryptic. It was confusing.
But above all else, it was a warning.
If the Warriors want to compete, they need to take a big risk.
They need to get Davis so they can get James.
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 03: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics warms up before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s easy to understand why the average NBA fan or analyst thinks Jaylen Brown is an elite player. He helped power the Celtics to 56 wins last season while Jayson Tatum was recovering from a torn Achilles, finishing No. 6 in MVP voting in the process. He helped the Celtics win the 2024 championship, and was named NBA Finals MVP for his efforts.
How could the Celtics possibly trade a guy like that for two first-round picks and an even worse contract in Paul George? Well, it’s because Boston’s front office thinks Brown is massively overrated by fans and media. Apparently the rest of the NBA agrees, considering the Celtics reportedly shopped him to the entire league, and this was the best offer they could get.
The sticker shock was real when the deal was announced. That’s all the Celtics could get!? The trade grades industrial complex was not kind to Boston. ESPN gave the Celtics a D+ and the Sixers an A-. CBS Sports gave Boston a D- and Philly an A+. The Sporting News gave the Celtics a C- for the deal. I gave the Celtics a C+ and the Sixers an A- in my instant grades, which somehow made me one of the highest media members on the deal. Other smart basketball writers were immediately calling me out, asking if I was okay and touting this as the most “lopsided trade since Luka.”
not sure how there's a way to interpret jaylen brown for paul george and 2 firsts as anything besides an F minus considering the haul they could've gotten if they had just traded him a few months earlier
By the next morning, I wish I had been a lot higher on the deal for Boston. I would give both sides a B now if I regraded it. I think there’s a strong chance the Celtics actually won the trade.
The simple version for why the Celtics traded Brown is because he’s a good player, but a bad asset. He’s owed $180 million over the next three years, and the Celtics decided their team wasn’t good enough right now with him on that deal to win a championship. In this version of the CBA, it’s hard for teams to have massive contracts like that on their cap sheet if the player isn’t elite. By Steph Noh’s salary model, Brown is worth $41 million while making $57 million, bleeding $16 million per year in value. The Celtics opted for more long-term flexibility with the draft picks and George, whose contract is a year shorter.
Who’s to say Brown isn’t elite? He averaged 29-7-5! He won NBA Finals MVP! Well, if you’re reading this article, you already know this is a conversation about “analytics.” Brown simply doesn’t grade out very well in the advanced metrics that have now overtaken NBA front offices. This trade feels like a watershed moment for the analytics movement, and if Boston is still very good next season (which they should be) and if Philly falls short of an NBA Finals berth (which is likely to happen), this trade will be remembered as the moment when basketball analytics went fully mainstream.
Why did the Celtics trade Brown? I don’t think it’s because he believes he’s the smartest guy in the room, or because they couldn’t repair the relationship. It’s more because Brown finished with a -1.6 RAPM last season. By time decay RAPM, Brown ranks No. 270 in the league. What’s RAPM? It stands for “regularized adjusted plus-minus,” and it’s a metric that doesn’t consider traditional box score numbers like points and rebounds, instead measuring a player’s individual impact on their team’s scoring margin per 100 possessions. It’s adjusted for the strength of teammates and opponents, and features “ridge regression” to filter out statistical noise.
What this essentially comes down to is that the Celtics are better with Brown off the court. If it happened in one or two years, that might be a fluke. Instead, Boston is better with Brown on the bench when accounting for his entire 10-year career.
Regardless of where you fall on the Jaylen Brown debate, it is pretty remarkable that the Boston Celtics were better with him off the court than on the court over his entire 10-year tenure with the team pic.twitter.com/J2dUkBU8vr
Why have the Celtics been better with Brown off the floor? It’s because Brown negatively impacts Boston’s turnover rate and second chance points on offense, while also negatively impacting their opponent’s true shooting percentage, takeaway rate, and second-chance points given up on defense. Through this lens, the advanced metrics are easier to understand: it’s bad to turn the ball over and give up offensive rebounds. There are simply a lot of holes in Brown’s game that are covered up by this scoring.
The turnovers are a major issue. Brown’s “scoring turnover percentage” was 10.3 percent last season, which ranked in the 1st percentile of the league. His “creation adjusted turnover percentage” was 9.6 percent, which ranked in the 36th percentile . Brown isn’t a good playmaker for his teammates, either. He averaged 1.9 potential assists per minute, which ranked in the 15th percentile of the league. His assist-to-turnover ratio of +0.92 was ninth-best on the Celtics and No. 150 league-wide.
That’s just offense. Brown is even worse on defense, where his spacey off-ball defense leads to tons of breakdowns. People have been noticing Brown’s bad off-ball defense for years, but they can usually point to his strong on-ball defense to show his value. If you think about defense on a team level, defending off the ball is a lot more important than defending on the ball, because every player spends a lot more time doing it. At its core, defense is a team accomplishment. Being able to guard at the point of attack is obviously a valuable skill, but over a long sample, breakdowns off the ball hurt the team a lot more than staying strong on-ball when teams go at you.
The other important point about Brown’s departure is that the Celtics are simply redistributing his touches to other players. People have laughed at the idea that Payton Pritchard can be the Celtics’ Jalen Brunson, but one similarity they both have is elite turnover suppression. Pritchard’s assist-to-turnover ratio was +7.2, which was No. 1 in the entire NBA. By replacing Brown’s time on ball with more Pritchard, the Celtics are immediately gaining a turnover advantage they didn’t previously enjoy. It will also be interesting to see if Derrick White can shoot the ball better now, assuming he gets to play in better rhythm without such a high-usage teammate. Brown’s impact on his teammates sure wasn’t great.
No player in the NBA lowers the points that his teammates score, while on the court with him, more than Jaylen Brown
He lops off 4 points, per 100, from each of the 4 teammates that share the court with him pic.twitter.com/ZgVlCppSHE
— Jeremias Engelmann (@JerryEngelmann) June 28, 2026
It’s understandable if you think this all sounds like bullshit. The thing is, the Celtics are widely considered to have a top-2 front office in the NBA alongside the Thunder, and they apparently believe in it. In ripping Boston for the trade, there’s a lot of people who believe they’re smarter than Brad Stevens, Mike Zarren, and Dave Lewin. I respect having conviction in your takes, but chances are those guys are going to beat the NBA consensus more times than not, because they’ve already proven to be really, really good at this whole team-building thing.
The Celtics are probably going to be damn good next season. In fact, in early July, I think they have a pretty good chance to be the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They’re essentially replacing Brown with a full season of Tatum while adding Mitchell Robinson and Paul George, and maybe even getting some additional growth from their young players like Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman. With the Brown trade, the Celtics are leaning even further into their identity of chucking threes and crashing the offensive glass. George is a better spot-up three-point shooter than Brown. Robinson is one of the game’s best offensive rebounders. Eliminating all of Brown’s mid-range jumpers — he ranked in the 98th percentile of midrange frequency, per Cleaning the Glass — is one way to help the Celtics address another problem that has constantly plagued them: the need to get to the rim more.
You win basketball games by getting more scoring chances than your opponent, and by being more efficient with your scoring chances than your opponent. Through that lens, the idea of the Celtics improving without Brown really isn’t that hard to believe.
A good front office makes a trade a year early rather than a year late. That’s what the Celtics did here. In the process, they’ve saddled one of their biggest rivals with another bad contract while gaining more future draft picks from them. My quick list of the “least team friendly” contracts in the NBA right now would include Joel Embiid, De’Aaron Fox, and Brown. The Sixers have two of those guys. This better work for Philly quickly, because if it doesn’t, the bill is going to come due really quick.
If basketball is played on spreadsheets now, why even watch? The thing about analytics is they’re designed to capture truth over a long, large sample. In the NBA, championships are determined over a much shorter sample called the playoffs. Anything can happen in the playoffs, when the old axiom of “it’s a make or miss league” takes on greater importance. The Celtics might math-ball their way to a lot of regular season success, but they will have different issues come playoff time. I’d be shocked if they make the 2027 NBA Finals even if I think they may end up as the No. 1 seed.
When the Celtics lose in the playoffs, the people who bashed the Brown trade will take a victory lap. I’m not sure that will be deserved considering the Celtics just lost in the first-round as a favorite with Brown as their best player this past season. When the Sixers lose in the playoffs, the analytics crowd will say they were right, and that taking on Brown wasn’t worth it. This is how most things end, with both sides declaring victory and no true winners having been decided.
On a broader level, I think the Jaylen Brown trade will mark the moment when more fans and analysts fully embrace analytics. The end game here is probably the league office deciding to make some rule changes to make the game more watchable as teams continue to buy into what the numbers are telling them. Baseball has already done this to great effect.
I understand the hesitancy to embrace some of this stuff for fans and media. Listen, I think I have a pretty good eye test too after covering high school, college, NBA, and WNBA basketball for this site since 2012. I’m not smart enough to build one of these fancy data models, but I’m also not stupid enough to discount them. Basketball has been slowly building toward embracing analytics for the last 10 or 15 years. Something tells me the Brown trade will accelerate the movement.
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.
This week, please join us in welcoming Zenzino as the newest member of the Fantable!
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: Because of his past, the acquisition of Miles Bridges has not been accepted well by many fans. Do you think it was a mistake by the front office?
Zenzino: It was jarring, to be sure. After all the talk about ‘character first’, this seems, at first glance, to be out of alignment.
At this writing, the trade is not official yet. I’m guessing we’ll be getting a press conference on or after the 6th. My opinion on this will depend on two things: how BG addresses Miles Bridges’ character and how Miles works to fit in during the season.
You can’t change the past. You can only move forward. Bridges has completed his mandated probation, domestic violence classes, parenting classes, and community service. For the past 2 years, he’s stayed out of trouble and worked to redeem himself in Charlotte. Sounds like he was largely successful. As I stated in a previous discussion, he’s going to have to do it again, probably to a lesser degree.
I’m a big believer in earning second chances, emphasis on ‘earning’. The stain can never be completely removed, but the FO addressing it head-on and Bridges demonstrating that he has learned from his mistakes will go a long way.
Ashton: I am already on the comment record for grading this trade as an F. I really have not let up in my criticism of this trade inside further comment remarks.
Let me point out the positives of the trade.
(Throws up in mouth)
Sorry all, I can’t do it. I am not really sure what benefit the Suns got in return. Cap space?
But seriously, what was the Front Office thinking? The Suns were supposed to be rehabilitating…er…rebuilding. That was the plan, and it was reasonable. Instead, they massively overpaid for a rehabbing project. I really hope the change of scenery does it, but it gets back to “do Zebras change their stripes?”. Can FO executives not make bad decisions on the golf course when the beverage cart rolls out in the summer?
I am going to stop here as I was looking for a bar of soap to wash my mouth out for the rest of my post and it turned out to be a coffee-flavored bar of soap. Somebody gave it to me as a stocking stuffer, so it could work? But the idea of coffee-flavored soap is as stupid as this trade.
To sum it up, I lost a lot of faith in the FO with this trade.
OldAz: For starters, it’s hard to blame any fan that does not want to root for accused wife-beaters, child abusers, or even just hot-headed bad dudes. Mr. Bridges has certainly earned every bit of being in that category with his on and off-court issues, regardless of what context or how much the others might have contributed to those incidents. His exploits have far too often spilled over onto innocent bystanders like the 16-year-old fan hit in the face by his mouth guard in his 2022 on-court tantrum, and the children who witnessed the incident with Bridges and their mother. At a minimum, we are talking about a dude with massive self-control and anger issues in his past.
With all that said, I tend to avoid these conversations in all areas of entertainment. I don’t look to athletes to be role models, just like I don’t look to actors or performers for advice on life or politics. If we are honest and had consistency in not rooting for or supporting bad people, then our sporting entertainment options would probably be limited to youth sporting events (where even some parents are not allowed to attend) or watching pick-up games at the Y (and even then, many of those dudes would be disqualified if we knew all their darkest acts).
As for the Suns’ decision, I will just say that it is a huge gamble. This is a franchise that has been to the precipice of winning it all with an overly likable team, and was there before with a team that (at the time) had Charles “I’m not a role model” Barkley, whom everyone loved because his on-court impact was greater than his (again, at the time) off-court antics.
It is also a team that shipped out good players who went on to have long and successful careers over far less than what Bridges has been accused of.
Grayson Allen and Dillon Brooks came with a lot of negative attention and became fan favorites, but all of their “negativity” was based on hard-nosed basketball within the game. Bridges brings that and a whole lot more for fans to “get over”.
In my opinion, fans will end up being forgiving for the most part if he plays well and shows a modicum of contrition and desire to grow and be a better person. However, no one really believes that Bridges is the final missing piece that puts them back playing deep into the playoffs, so this bar for playing well may be impossibly high. As I said, I think this is a huge gamble by the Suns, and as a fan, I hope it works out well for the team and Bridges.
Rod: I’m taking a wait-and-see position on this one. Yes, there’s been a good amount of backlash from many fans, but I’m willing to wait until the season gets underway before calling it a mistake or a win or something in-between. While some fans are likely never going to view this as anything more than a mistake, I want to see Bridges’ fit with and impact on the team before calling it that. Like it or not, he’s a member of the team now, and what he does on the court is how I’ll measure this trade as a mistake or not.
Q2: In your opinion, from a pure basketball point of view, have the roster changes the Suns made (so far) actually improved the team?
Zenzino: Short answer: I don’t know.
How do we define ‘improved’? Better record? Higher seed? 2nd Round of Playoffs? Finishing stronger? I was a very vocal ‘run it back’ supporter. I felt that they would get better with the same roster. The injuries to Green and Brooks were anomalous. I expected to see more of the ‘rookies’. A more experienced Ott. More time playing together. The list goes on.
On paper, they have improved. But, I have concerns.
Chemistry – In addition to the grit, one of the big things that was a breath mighty wind of fresh air was how this team obviously liked each other and loved playing together. That locker room chemistry was a huge part of what made them so much fun to watch last season. My hope is that this environment is something that Bridges embraces and thrives in.
Shot Distribution – Green and Brooks averaged around 17 shots per game last season, and Booker and Bridges averaged around 18. That’s almost 80% of shots per game from only 4 players, and no one should be averaging close to what Booker averages. I would like to see offensive-minded Book from the pre-KD trade this season. Brooks came here wanting to prove he has an offensive game, so I don’t see him backing off and Green and Bridges are volume scorers; they need those attempts.
Playing Time – I was thinking that Man Man and Rasheer would get some solid minutes in the rotation this season and maybe Sheer even cracks the starting lineup. Now, I don’t see that happening. More than ever, it looks like the Suns are working the ’two timelines’ game, and I’m not sure if that ever works out.
The trade brings with it more questions that can only be answered throughout the season. If Green and Bridges can work some downhill chemistry, they could be devastating with rim pressure, not to mention highlights. That pressure could open up Book to be the mid-range assassin he built his reputation with. Kennard was a great (and improbable) signing. He’s definitely going to have to get his shot attempts up.
All that being said, I am cautiously optimistic. Despite all the angst during the playoffs, this coaching staff and FO have earned my trust this past season. We spend a lot of time thinking about the goal, but the journey is what keeps us entertained, and I’m here for it.
Ashton: Losing RO and GA hurt, but Kennard was a good pickup to fill the shooting vacuum.
But this whole buzzword of being a 50-win team is ludicrous. 45 wins last year was ludicrous, and I would caution against expecting any more than 40 wins in a rebuilt Western Conference. I want to see how the final trade cycle ends, as well as Summer League viewing to give my final prognostication on the Suns win total.
But, for the most part, I like the direction that the Suns have taken with keeping the roster intact. Until, whatever Q1 was.
OldAz: I 100% think they will be better (although it may take some time to see it). The one area that they have stepped back is obviously shooting. Kennard helps there, but only when he is on the court. And even then, Kennard is 2″ taller than Allen, who was often playing in the front court last season.
By swapping Royce O’Neale for Bridges, many point out that Bridges is almost the same size, but they ignore that Bridges has played both forward positions his entire career, whereas RO was clearly out of his depth when he was matched up with the 2nd largest player for the opponent. In this way, Bridges is a lot like Brooks as both are undersized when playing the “power forward” role, but both are strong enough and athletic enough to pull it off. When the Suns were going well last season, all of Brooks’ minutes were at the PF position.
Also, by reducing the log jam of guards at the top of the rotation, Fleming should have a clearer path to earn playing time if (or when, from my perspective) he proves worthy. One of the centers flanked by ANY combination of Brooks, Bridges, Fleming, Dunn, or even Highsmith is superior to what Ott was running out there for long stretches late last season, which was a center surrounded by Allen, O’Neale, or Goodwin along with 2 smaller guards. Yes, they have to solve the shooting, and yes, on paper this is a lot of high-volume, low-efficiency scorers, but they did what I and many fans were asking for by getting longer and more athletic and clearing the way for some of the youngsters to contribute more. In the long run, I think this will make them better.
Rod: Yes, I believe they have. They lost a bit of their downtown shooting but have picked up some bigger bodies and added more quality depth to the roster…especially if we see even small jumps by Fleming and Maluach this season (which I have no reason to bet against). Last season, this was a tough team to beat…IF their threes were falling. If those threes weren’t falling, they faltered. They had no one other than Green (who missed most of the season) who really attacked the basket. They weren’t balanced offensively, but this season they have moved to correct that.
I don’t expect the Suns to be a far better team than last year, but still better. I believe the key to just how much better will rest upon Ott’s shoulders and his ability to best use the new tools he now has on the roster.
And there are some other teams in the West that are still in the process of making changes this summer. Some of them might look good on paper, but who knows how they’ll actually look on the court. What other teams are doing now will play a part in the Suns’ degree of success — or lack thereof — in 2026-27.
Q3: The Suns have moved early on everything this offseason. They could stand pat until training camp, but do you think they should do so?
Zenzino: I think they are done for now and I’m good with that.
They have a(n over) full roster (the news just broke about Pat Spencer). I don’t think there are any margin moves at this point that would make a difference. And I am absolutely in the camp of let’s see what a full season of Jalen Green looks like before we give up on him.
From the looks of it, they did everything quickly on purpose. They didn’t wait around for the FA market to develop. They went after what they wanted straight out of the gate. Ever since the season ended, the whole team was ready to get back to work, and I think they wanted to solidify the roster asap so they could do just that.
Ashton: Yeah, that works for me. BG gets an early vacation, and everyone else gets to gel with teammates over the summer. There are still a lot of NBA teams trying to finalize their rosters, and who the heck knows where LeBron ends up. Not interested.
No further movements needed other than to finalize the two-ways. Pat Spencer has one. That does seem like a good pick-up. There are two spots left, and they can only play 50 games on the “extended audition” for the regular roster.
OldAz: This totally depends on what opportunities arise. I think they are set and can totally go into the season with this roster and hope to be competitive and even build on what they did last season. This isn’t predicting any championships, and even second round of the playoffs would be a total stretch, but they are moving forward and not making themselves worse IMO. However, they have to stay engaged with what else is out there.
If someone talks themselves into wanting Green or Brooks or any of the current roster and it brings back an upgrade (starting PG who can also shoot/score, or a bigger PF/wing), then you have to be ready to move. This probably does not look like what fans throw out there on Twitter/X, as fans often get infatuated with older players who are beyond their primes and are stuck seeing them through the lens of that player’s no-longer-existent prime. This may look more like swapping young players who both need a new start, but fit a different role in roster construction.
If that opportunity presents itself, they need to be ready always. If it does not, they should stand pat and go into the season comfortable that they executed on what they wanted to accomplish.
Rod: I don’t think they will and believe they shouldn’t. They may not actually make any more moves, but they shouldn’t take the rest of the offseason off and should be continuously working the phones in search of any possible upgrade over what they already have. What that move might be, I won’t speculate on, but you never know what might pop up between now and the beginning of the 2026-27 season.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“It’s special being from the Valley. Just watching [the Suns] through the years, seeing how much better they’ve gotten. To be part of that journey now is a super special moment for me. I’m just blessed to be in this position. That next morning, I was still trying to take it in and still couldn’t believe I’m a Phoenix Sun. Still can’t believe it, honestly. I’m just super excited.” – Koa Peat
“The most important thing for us, with Koa, is that he plays with passion, he plays with energy. There’s a juice about him when he’s on the court. I know he brings that every single day. The impact he has on the court with winning basketball is critical.” – Brian Gregory
Suns Trivia/History
On July 5, 1988, the Phoenix Suns officially signed power forward Tom Chambers, formerly of the Seattle Supersonics, to a 5-year $9 million contract. This was the first unrestricted free agent signing in NBA history.
7/2/88 – Jerry Colangelo met in person w/Tom Chambers and his agent Howard Slusher in LA. During the meeting, Colangelo offered Chambers a 5yr, $9M deal, then said he had 15min to decide or Colangelo will walk. TC agreed. The contract would become official on 7/5/88. pic.twitter.com/nFZd8y6Gah
— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) July 2, 2026
On July 7, 1982, the Suns traded PF Truck Robinson for PF Maurice Lucas of the NY Knicks. Truck had been with Phoenix for three seasons, averaging 18.4 points and 9.6 rebounds as a Sun but had struggled in the 1982 NBA Playoffs and criticized head coach John MacLeod for a lack of minutes.
On July 11, 2012, Steve Nash was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for a 2013 1st round draft pick (Nemanja Nedovic was later selected), a 2013 2nd round draft pick (Alex Oriakhi was later selected), a 2014 2nd round draft pick (Johnny O’Bryant was later selected) and a 2018 1st round draft pick (Mikal Bridges was later selected). In 2015, the 2018 1st round pick was traded to Philadelphia as part of a three-team trade that brought Brandon Knight to the Suns from Milwaukee. Many fans were upset when that draft pick was traded but later delighted when they still got the player selected with it (Bridges) in a draft night trade with Philadelphia in 2018.
On July 11, 2015, Devin Booker made his NBA Summer League debut for the Suns in Las Vegas against the Washington Wizards. He had 12 points and 4 rebounds on a disappointing shooting night making only 4 of 11 shots and missing all four of his three-point attempts. Booker’s teammate-of-the-future and fellow rookie, Kelly Oubre Jr., also had his Summer League debut that night and led the Wizards with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Archie Goodwin led Phoenix in scoring with 22 points in the 86-77 Summer Suns win.
Important Future Dates
July 6 – Moratorium ends, official free agent contract signings can begin July 9-19 – NBA 2K Summer League 2026 in Las Vegas July 10 – Suns vs. Trail Blazers 8:00 PM (local), 11:00 PM (ET) ESPNU July 12 – Suns vs. Pelicans 12:00 PM (local), 3:00 PM (ET) ESPN2 July 13 – Suns vs. Bucks 7:00 PM (local), 10:00 PM (ET) Prime July 15 – Suns vs. Pistons 3:00 PM (local), 6:00 PM (ET) ESPNU The Suns will play a fifth game based on the results of their first four. Late September (dates TBD) – NBA Training Camps open
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 16: Colorado Avalanche Left Wing Matt Nieto (83) battles Ottawa Senators Defenceman Christian Wolanin (86) during third period National Hockey League action between the Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators on January 16, 2019, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
Christian Wolanin has followed in his father’s footsteps to Denver, seeking a roster spot with the Avalanche after a long journey through the AHL. [The Hockey News]
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today the team has signed defenseman Noah Juulsen to a two-year contract through the 2027-28 season. [The Colorado Avalanche]
Avalanche development camp recently concluded, here’s some observations. [Mile High Hockey]
News Around the League
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare says he’s retiring from hockey at age 41. [ESPN]
How the Leo Carlsson offer sheet changes everything in the NHL. [Sportsnet]
Ovechkin to return for 22nd NHL season in Washington with a one-year deal worth up to $9M. [TSN]
Did Connor Bedard really get injured in a summer training skate session? The Chicago Blackhawks are holding their breath. [Pro Hockey Rumors]
Ottawa Senators offer discounts on new threads if fans want to ‘Chuk’ those Tkachuk jerseys. [Ottawa Citizen]
Now the deadline has passed, 15 players to file for salary arbitration. [Sportsnet]
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 5: Maliq Brown #15 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors during the California Classic Game on July 5, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In his second NBA Summer League game, the former Blue Devil didn’t offer much offensively, but his defense is what Duke fans have come to expect, and then some. And that, he had plenty of.
One play in particular is going to get lots of oohs and aahs from fans and probably some from his teammates and the San Antonio management team.
Take a look. Former Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg looks like he’s going to get an easy layup, but Brown comes rushing into the frame and absolutely soars to flick it out of bound.
This is not the clever defense we saw at Duke, where Brown mostly outsmarted you on the ground. This is some surprising hang time. If he had jumped just a little later, he would have had to have kept one eye on the rim, because his head would have run into it.
It was probably pretty sweet to do that to Lendeborg, since Duke beat Michigan late in the season and missed a chance to do it again in the Final Four.
Boston Celtics fans are still looking for answers following Wednesday’s stunning trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. C’s president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and owner Bill Chisholm will look to quiet some of the uproar when they speak to the media on Monday afternoon.
The Celtics scheduled a 4 p.m. ET press conference to address the Brown trade. Stevens and Chisholm will presumably tag-team a plethora of questions about Brown’s departure, including what led to the decision to send the 2024 NBA Finals MVP to Philly, and why they chose the Sixers’ trade package.
Brown recently opened up about the trade during his Twitch live stream. Monday’s press conference will give Stevens and the Celtics a chance to share their side of the story and explain what the move means for the franchise’s short- and long-term futures.
Here’s how to watch Monday’s press conference…
When is the Celtics’ press conference?
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and owner Bill Chisholm are expected to address the media on Monday, July 6.
What time is the Celtics’ press conference?
The press conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
How to watch the Celtics’ press conference
The press conference will air live on NBC Sports Boston at 4 p.m. ET during Felger & Mazz. You can also watch the press conference live on NBC Sports Boston’s YouTube channel or via the YouTube video player below:
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