On this day in 1997, just weeks after ending a 42-year Stanley Cup drought, the Detroit Red Wings made another franchise-defining move, promoting Ken Holland to general manager.
Holland replaced Jimmy Devellano in the role after seven years as the club's director of amateur scouting and three seasons as assistant general manager. The move ensured continuity for a team already sitting atop the hockey world, and it helped turn Detroit into the NHL's model franchise for more than two decades.
Over Holland's 22 seasons as general manager, the Red Wings enjoyed remarkable success. Detroit won three Stanley Cups (1998, 2002 and 2008), reached another Final in 2009, captured four Presidents' Trophies, 10 division titles and multiple regular-season conference championships.
The Red Wings also posted 13 seasons of at least 100 points and made the playoffs every year of Holland's tenure, extending a franchise playoff streak that stretched to 25 consecutive seasons before finally ending in 2016-17.
From the time Holland took over on July 18, 1997, no NHL franchise won more combined regular-season and playoff games than Detroit did under his leadership. Among Holland's most notable moves were acquiring defenseman Chris Chelios from the Chicago Blackhawks in 1999, trading for Dominik Hašek before the 2001-02 season, and adding veterans Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille to bolster Detroit's 2002 championship roster.
He also retained homegrown stars Nicklas Lidström, Steve Yzerman, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, while keeping Detroit's pipeline for international talent among the best in the league.
One of Holland's greatest strengths was sustaining success through major shifts across the league. After the NHL introduced a salary cap in 2005, he quickly retooled the roster without losing competitiveness, leading Detroit to a Presidents' Trophy in 2005-06 before building the team that won the 2008 Stanley Cup.
Holland had spent 36 years with the organization as a player, scout and executive, capping one of the most accomplished front-office careers in NHL history. Nearly three decades after his promotion, Holland's hiring remains one of the most significant moments in Red Wings history.
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There since has been a bevy of rumors and speculation from sports figures, entertainment celebrities and media outlets all inching for the same thing: to find out James' decision.
There have been trolls fooling fans who want James in their city. James himself has leaned into the trolls, uttering phrases and dropping baseless hints that get fans on the edge of their seats assuming they know where he's headed.
But truth is, no one knows what the final say will be. James has reportedly narrowed it down to three teams: Cavaliers, Heat and 76ers. The Warriors remain a dark horse in the race.
According to USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes, James has all the information he needs from teams and is now weighing his options.
A decision can come at any point now. Here's what people are saying in relation to James' next basketball destination:
Windhorst says LeBron "doesn't care" about holding the league up
09:00 PM ET, July 18 2026, Marcus D. Smith
The wait is ongoing. Everyone is anticipating what LeBron James will choose to do. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has expressed desire for James to make his decision so the league can set the 2026-27 schedule.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, James doesn't care about what the league thinks and will continue to make a choice on his own timeline.
"LeBron does not care about holding the league up with its schedule," Windhorst said. "He will make them wait."
LeBron James Reportedly Does Not Care About Holding The NBA Up Because He’s Taking Too Long With His Decision. Per, @WindhorstESPN
“LeBron does not care about holding the league up with its schedule. He will make them wait.” pic.twitter.com/2ydzazO1CG
ESPN's Dave McMenamin: "Golden State a remote possibility"
08:56 PM ET, July 18 2026, Marcus D. Smith
LeBron James to the Golden State Warriors is picking up steam.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin said he's spoke with people within the last 24 hours who believe the Warriors have a better shot than people have given them credit for.
"From the folks I've talked to within the last 24 hours or so, it seems like Golden State is more of a remote possibility, than maybe we would have said a week ago, or two weeks ago," McMenamin said. "A lot of that has to do with the Eastern Conference and the path that it would provide."
The Warriors Are Becoming More Of A Remote Possibility For LeBron James. Per, @mcten
“It seems like Golden State is more of a remote possibility, than maybe we would have said a week ago, or two weeks ago.” pic.twitter.com/NgIOrP0aBD
ESPN's Marc J. Spears: Warriors believe getting LeBron is "a longer shot"
07:35 PM ET, July 18 2026, Marcus D. Smith
ESPN senior NBA writer Marc J. Spears reported on NBA Today that the Golden State Warriors think landing LeBron James is a long shot, but the only thing going for them is proximity.
San Francisco is less than two hours, by flight, to Los Angeles. In some cases, it could take 50 minutes to go back and forth. Proximity was one of the things James said he'd factor into his decision because he wants to be close to his wife, Savannah, and daughter, Zhuri.
"They have told me they think it’s a longer shot, but it’s also a shorter flight," Spears said. "He could be back there in 50 minutes to be back to his daughter’s volleyball game."
The Warriors Believe It’s A Long Shot To Get LeBron James, But Realize He Would Still Be Close To His Family In LA. Per, @MarcJSpears
“They have told me they think it’s a longer shot, but it’s also a shorter flight. He could be back there in 50 minutes to be back to his… pic.twitter.com/MhlKPPxvwH
Cleveland radio personality is annoyed with the wait
07:12 PM ET, July 18 2026, Marcus D. Smith
Everyone is waiting on LeBron James to make his final decision to which team he'll play for next season. It's been determined that the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat are at the top of James' destination list.
Anticipation is growing, but so is frustration. People are tired of waiting. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly requested for James to make a decision so the league can set the schedule.
The latest to express their irritation is radio sports host and personality Aaron Goldhammer of ESPN Cleveland.
"Boy is he having fun with this... And boy (Chris) do I find it annoying," Goldhammer said. "I think I speak on behalf of Cleveland fans when I say this has gotten annoying. This isn't fun. You're not dreaming anymore about him coming back and winning a championship and the amount that he loves Cleveland. I don't know what the heck this guy is gonna do."
"He is the greatest of all-time, at a bunch of things. But what he's really the best of all-time at is this. Sucking up every last bit of oxygen in the sports universe and making it all about him," he added.
“I think I speak on behalf of Cleveland fans when I say this has gotten annoying,” - @HammerNation19 on LeBron James not making a decision yet. pic.twitter.com/8YVXKFQanA
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson knows his role and plays it well. Maybe he's feeling himself a bit, and deservingly so. Brunson helped lead the Knicks to their first title in 53 years on his way to earning a Finals MVP.
Coming off that championship, Brunson was one of the many athletes in New York City for Fanatics Fest. He made an appearance on a live recording of Night Cap with Shannon Sharpe, Joe Johnson and Chad "OchoCinco" Johnson. Brunson was asked if he'll make a pitch to lure LeBron James to New York. His response essentially was that it's not his job.“My job is to put the ball in the hoop. Try and play a little defense," Brunson said. "There’s people who are above me who determine who’s on the team and who’s not. I’ll leave the pitching to them.”
Jalen Brunson asked if he’s tried to recruit LeBron to the Knicks:
“My job is to put the ball in the hoop. Try and play a little defense. There’s people who are above me who determine who’s on the team and who’s not. I’ll leave the pitching to them”
Timberwolves four-time All-Star Anthony Edwards got in on the LeBron James-sweepstakes. It's kind of hard not to. It's quite literally the only thing NBA fans are discussing at large, at this point in time.
Edwards gave a pitch to James, in a joking manner. Edwards was hanging out at Fanatics Fest in New York City where he stopped to check out Topps trading cards. He noticed a James card and the pitch began.
"Bron Bron, come to Minnesota. We got your card," Edwards said.
"Bron Bron, come to Minnesota. We got your card man.”
But in all seriousness, Edwards knows that it's not happening. In a separate video, Edwards was asked about James' shortlist and potentially joining the Timberwolves. He shut it down quickly.
"I have nothing to say about it because I’ve seen his top 3 teams, we’re not in it," Edwards said.
Anthony Edwards was asked about his thoughts on Minnesota being on that short list of teams that LeBron is interested in:
“I have nothing to say about it because I’ve seen his top 3 teams, we’re not in it so…” 😏 pic.twitter.com/cCq5eVzuHP
Athletes were all over New York City during Fanatics Fest as the fans got to interact with their favorite players from their favorite teams.
One of the latest to get in on the LeBron James sweepstakes was his former teammate Anthony Davis.
Davis, who joined the Wizards in a multi-team blockbuster deal in February 2026, was approached by a "die-hard Washington Wizards fan" who asked him about the chances of James joining Davis in D.C.
"Uhh. Maybe," Davis said with a wide smile. "We had some conversations."
Wizards fan: “Any chance LeBron James comes to DC?”
Anthony Davis: “Maybe. We had some conversations.”
James and Davis won a championship together with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic in February 2025 and to the Wizards a year later.
It was reported that James and Davis could once again join forces in the Bay Area on the Golden State Warriors, if the Wizards were willing to trade him. Washington has said they do not intend to trade Davis.
Jul 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of the field after the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium was postponed. Mandatory...
NEW YORK — Saturday night’s Dodgers-Yankees game was postponed because of rain, setting up a split doubleheader Sunday.
Sunday’s first game is scheduled to begin at 12:35 p.m. Eastern (9:35 a.m. Pacific). The series finale is set for Sunday at 7:20 p.m. Eastern (4:20 p.m. Pacific).
The Dodgers and Yankees are scheduled to play a doubleheader Sunday at Yankee Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers did not immediately announce if the rainout would alter their pitching plan. Initially, Emmet Sheehan was scheduled to start Saturday and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Sunday.
The team will also be allowed to call up an extra player for Sunday because of the doubleheader.
It will be the Dodgers’ first time playing a doubleheader since May 2024, when they got rained out during a visit to the Mets.
Sunday’s first game will be televised on SportsNet LA after originally being slated for Fox’s national broadcast Saturday night. Sunday night’s game will remain on NBC/Peacock.
Weather always figured to loom large during this current East Coast road trip the Dodgers are on — be it rainy forecasts, muggy summer heat or even poor air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke that cleared up just in time for Friday’s series opener at Yankee Stadium.
After Sunday night’s game, they head to Philadelphia for three games against the Phillies. On Thursday, they will go to Washington for a White House visit to celebrate their 2025 World Series. Next weekend, they wrap the nine-game swing with a series against the Mets.
Now, they can only hope Saturday’s rainout is the only time their schedule is impacted.
Jul 18, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) tries to make the play on the single hit by Minnesota Twins shortstop Brooks Lee (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
The Twins climbed back to .500, but getting over the hump back to a winning record will have to wait a few more games. Minnesota falls to 49-50 after a decisive win by the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs jumped on starter Taj Bradley early, tagging the Twin for five earned runs in the first three innings. A solo shot from Michael Busch gave the Cubs the lead in the first, and a two-run Miguel Amaya double made it 3-1 Cubs in the second, after Kody Clemens had leveled the playing field with a homer of his own.
A pair of walks — two out of three total on Taj’s line — came around to score in the third, making it a 5-1 Chicago lead. Bradley got through five innings, but it was his worst start in weeks, and it handed him his fourth loss of the season. Mike Paredes struck out four in two relief innings, but allowed a walk and a few hits in a messy seventh inning to give the Cubs one more run.
Clemens would homer again in the seventh, the only other Twins tally on the afternoon.
The Twins attempted to rally in the ninth, putting their first two men on, then proceeded to lose two outs on the bases on a Brooks Lee single, as Josh Bell got hung up between third and home, and Brooks Lee was iced trying to retreat to the bag. It would have been nice to have a few plate appearances with the tying run up and nobody out, but hey, they’re professionals. They know a lot better than we do in situations such as.
The loss means tomorrow’s game will be nice and rubbery. We shall see you there!
Knicks villain Trae Young failed miserably on Saturday trying to rip reigning NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson's jersey apart during an appearance Saturday at the Fanatics Fest in Midtown.
The only thing that got ripped was this guy’s rep.
Washington Wizards star Trae Young’s magic seemed to fizzle Saturday, when he failed miserably while trying to tear apart a Jalen Brunson jersey during a stunt appearance in Midtown and wound up getting torn up himself on the internet.
The NBA sharpshooter was trying to re-ignite his longtime rivalry with the Knicks and their rabid fanbase at Fanatics Fest with the bid to destroy Brunson’s shirts after walking on stage and apparently reprising some antics he performed in the past while appearing in the WWE, video shows.
But “Big Body Brunson’s” shirt was also apparently too big and strong for Young, who spent close to a half-minute at the Javits Center sports gala futilely trying to rip it in half.
Knicks villain Trae Young failed miserably on Saturday trying to rip reigning NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson’s jersey apart during an appearance Saturday at the Fanatics Fest in Midtown. X/@Fanatics
He eventually gave up and tossed the jersey into the crowd.
As expected, Young felt the vitriol of Knicks fans soon after his antics.
NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson of the champion Knicks was not on the team when Young led the Hawks to a playoff series win over the Knicks in 2021. BACKGRID
Young later claimed it was all in jest.
Trae Young’s bid to rip Brunson’s jersey went nowhere. X/@Fanatics
He posted a video of himself of social media watching highlights of previous performances against the NBA champs, and said “I just be trolling sometimes.” while adding laughing face emojis.
“Happy for some of my boys over there fr!” he added, while including salute and hands-together-praying emojis.
Young briefly made himself public-enemy No. 1 at Madison Square Garden in 2021 by famously bowing to the crowd while knocking the Knicks out of the playoffs as a star for the Atlanta Hawks.
The Dodgers’ game against the New York Yankees on Saturday in the Bronx was rained out and rescheduled as the first game in a split doubleheader Sunday.
It was the Dodgers’ first postponement of the season.
They are set to play Game 1 at 9:35 a.m. PDT Sunday, followed by Game 2 at 4:20 p.m.
Saturday’s game was originally scheduled to air on Fox at 5:08 p.m. PDT. But with persistent showers in the forecast, the decision to postpone was made official more than three hours before game time.
Dodgers right-hander Emmett Sheehan (4-6, 4.81 ERA) was scheduled to take the mound opposite Yankees lefty Ryan Weathers on Saturday. But the Dodgers shifted their pitching plan after the postponement.
Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, already lined up for Sunday, is set to start the morning game. The Dodgers have not announced their Game 2 starter.
Jul 12, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; General view of the Yankee Stadium facade as storm clouds move in during a rain delay before a game between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Well, hat tip to the powers that be. With storms rolling into New York in a couple hours, MLB has decided to postpone tonight’s Yankees-Dodgers clash. In a move that surprised me, the game will be made up in a split-admission doubleheader tomorrow, sandwiched around the World Cup final at 3pm local time.
If you have tickets for today’s game, they are only eligible for tomorrow’s 12:35pm ET first pitch. That game will be played — the forecast for Sunday looks gorgeous — and then the Stadium will be cleared out to prepare for Sunday Night Baseball, at 7:20pm local time. Yankee manager Aaron Boone indicated shortly after the postponement that there’s a “good chance” the team stands pat with their pitching decisions, meaning its most likely Ryan Weathers starts the first game and we get that Cam Schlittler/Yoshinobu Yamamoto killer in primetime.
If you’re in New York, keep yourselves safe. Parts of Queens are already experiencing flooding and there’s a second round of storms coming. Keep an eye on official public notices, and follow the direction of city officials. If nothing else, all this rain should clear up some of the wildfire smoke issues the city has experienced this week.
Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard has a contract in hand as he rehabs from shoulder surgery.
The team announced on Saturday, July 18, that the 2023 No. 1 overall pick has agreed to a five-year, $75 million contract with a $15 million cap hit.
That puts him third in the league behind Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, whose $18 million cap hit came via an offer sheet, and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million).
Bedard, 21, has 203 points in 219 career NHL games with Chicago in three seasons from 2023-26. He set career highs last season with 30 goals, 45 assists and 75 points in 69 games.
The only drawback has been injuries. He had surgery on his left shoulder on July 8 after being injured while training in Vancouver and will miss more than a month of the 2026-27 regular season. He injured his other shoulder last season and suffered a broken jaw in his rookie year.
"Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” said Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson. “He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core, and we’re excited for the incredible impact he’ll have in this next chapter of Blackhawks hockey.”
Connor Bedard contract details
According to puckpedia.com, Bedard's contract includes five signing bonuses of $9.8 million each. Bedard wears No. 98. The contract is also front-loaded. Here are the details:
The #Blackhawks signed 21 y/o F Connor Bedard to a 5 year $15M cap hit contract
Yr 1: $7.2M Salary, $9.8M Signing Bonus Yr 2: $6.2M/$9.8M Yr 3: $5.2M/$9.8M Yr 4: $4.2M/$9.8M Yr 5: $3.2M/$9.8M
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Jul 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of the field after the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium was postponed. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The middle game between the Dodgers and Yankees on Saturday was postponed by rain, and rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Sunday.
The first game on Sunday is scheduled for a 9:35 a.m. PT start, followed by the nightcap on NBC, with Jason Benetti, Orel Hershiser, and Roger Clemens on the exclusive national telecast for the second game.
After SportsNet LA televised Friday’s series opener at Yankee Stadium, there wasn’t going to be a Dodgers game on the network until Tuesday in Philadelphia, with Saturday’s game in New York slated for Fox, followed by Sunday night on NBC, and Monday against the Phillies on ESPN. Now, SportsNet LA will carry the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, followed by NBC and Peacock airing the nightcap at 4:20 p.m. PT.
Pitching plans this weekend were going to be Emmet Sheehan vs. left-hander Ryan Weathers on Saturday, followed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Cam Schlittler on Sunday. Yamamoto starts the early game on Sunday now.
#Dodgers will start Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the early game Sunday. Starter for Game 2 is TBD. Emmet Sheehan was supposed to start today.
This is the first rainout of the season for the Dodgers, who’ve had two previous games delayed by inclement weather, all on the road. The series finale in Washington D.C. against the Nationals on April 5 started two hours, nine minutes late due to rain, and on June 23 against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, the first pitch was delayed by 28 minutes.
The Yankees announced that Saturday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers has been postponed due to expected inclement weather.
It will be made up as the first game of a split-admission doubleheader on Sunday, with first pitch set for 12:35 p.m. And the second game of the doubleheader is set for 7:20 p.m.
The originally scheduled 8:08 p.m. first pitch was set to feature a battle between the left-hander Ryan Weathers (4.15 ERA, 1.239 WHIP in 97.2 innings) and right-hander Emmet Sheehan (4.81 ERA, 1.239 WHIP in 82.1 innings).
The scheduled starters for the game originally scheduled for Sunday are a couple of All-Star right-handers: Cam Schlittler (2.05 ERA, 0.944 WHIP in 118.2 innings) for the Yanks and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.85 ERA, 0.913 WHIP in 110.2 innings) for the club that once called Brooklyn their home.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there's a "good chance" the club will keep the pitching plan the same for Sunday's doubleheader.
New York (54-43) closed the first half of the season with a four-game winning streak, including a sweep in Washington. That put a cap on a terrible run of form that saw the Bronx Bombers suffer a team-wide slump when they dropped 11 of 13 games, including seven straight defeats against Boston and Detroit.
However, they opened the series with another low-scoring effort, falling 2-1 to Los Angeles (62-36) on Friday night. The back-to-back World Series champions, with a 1.5-game lead for the best record in baseball, entered the break losers of four of their last five games.
England survive a chaotic TMO ending to win in Santiago
4 mins. On the next attack Fin Smith floats a beautiful kick towards Freeman’s wing who soars above Carreras to claim it and score.
Who had four minutes on a fight breaking out? Because immediately after the touchdown there’s some afters that Freeman takes exception to which Chessum runs a full 15 metres towards to get involved with.
Jul 11, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish (38) throws during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Just as tonight’s game with the Houston Astros was beginning, the Orioles announced that they have signed starting pitcher Kyle Bradish to a five-year contract extension. The deal starts with the 2027 season. Bradish had been slated to become a free agent in the 2029 season, so the deal keeps him under team control for an additional three seasons.
Per Jeff Passan, the deal is worth $90 million, but no further breakdown has been released as of yet.
Bradish is the second member of the starting rotation to be signed to a long-term deal this year. Shane Baz signed a five-year, $68 million contract close to Opening Day. While Orioles’ GM Mike Elias has stated that he believes Baz has top-of-the-rotation stuff, Bradish has proven his.
Drafted in the 4th round of the 2018 draft by the Los Angeles Angels, Bradish was traded to the Orioles for Dylan Bundy in December 2019. He made his Major League debut in 2022 and made 23 starts with a 4.90 ERA. He broke out in 2023, with a 2.90 ERA over 30 starts for the AL East champions. He was off to a great start in 2024 before having to undergo Tommy John surgery in June.
Bradish has had some ups and downs this season, but has still shown his ace-like stuff at times. Overall, he has a 3.61 ERA in 19 starts this season.
The five-year contract will take Bradish through his 34th birthday.
On Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have come to a contract extension with forward Connor Bedard. It will carry a cap hit of $15 million per season over the five years.
This contract has been a hot topic, especially with the recent offer-sheet drama that has taken place in the NHL. Based on that, this contract is a bit of a bargain.
𝐄 𝐗 𝐓 𝐄 𝐍 𝐃 𝐄 𝐃 🏠
from draft night to his first goal on UC ice and every moment in between, here’s to 𝟓 more years of 𝟗𝟖 in Chicago ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Cvad2ECxbC
Bedard is being paid partially for what he has proven in the NHL with the Blackhawks, but also because of what the future holds for him. As a former first overall pick in the draft, there are expectations that he is going to be a top-flight superstar.
In 219 games played, Bedard has 75 goals and 128 assists for 203 points. He had somewhat of a breakout in 2025-26, as he scored 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games played.
Bedard is currently injured, as he just had shoulder surgery last week. He is expected to recover over the next four months, which gives him a mid-November target for a return. By that point, he will be hoping to provide a boost to the team that only he can.
For the player and the team, this is a great deal. Bedard is one of the highest paid players in the NHL, and the Blackhawks technically got him below market value. Together, they have five years to take their rebuild to the next level.
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As the Detroit Red Wings continue to navigate the ongoing Dylan Larkin trade request saga, more and more reports are starting to back up the notion that a rift developed between the local Michigan native and organizational leader Steve Yzerman.
One report from reliable MLive reporter Ansar Khan suggested that shortly after Henrik Zetterberg retired, the wait from 2018 to 2020 to name a new captain was an intentional choice by Yzerman.
Khan noted he believes the decision to hold off on naming Larkin captain for those two seasons shook him. It was only two seasons that the Red Wings went without a captain, but it may have felt like a much longer stretch to Larkin.
It's been quite some time since any official statement has come from Larkin's camp regarding the trade request and it's starting to feel like a shift is coming.
Ansar Khan: Re Dylan Larkin trade request/Red Wings: I think this whole thing started...years ago when Henrik Zetterberg retired, everybody thought...Larkin makes sense...except Yzerman who went a couple years...no captain; I think that shaked Larkin - Jason Gregor Show (7/15)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 18, 2026
The hockey world was stunned in early June when NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that captain Dylan Larkin, coming off a career-high 34-goal season, had requested a trade.
A list of preferred destinations soon emerged, with Larkin naming the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers as teams he'd consider waiving his no-trade clause for, before reports later added the Dallas Stars to the list as well.
Plenty of holes have been poked in Larkin's list and the difficulty each team would face in acquiring him.
The Panthers have very little cap space to work with, while the Golden Knights and Wild are thin on high-end prospects and draft capital. Even the Stars, Larkin's more recent addition to the list, face similar issues in putting together a workable offer.
A trade involving Larkin looks even more uncertain now that Yzerman has reportedly stepped down from his role as Red Wings general manager and vice president of hockey operations.
He will move into more of a senior advisory role going forward, with Detroit now searching for a new voice in the GM chair, a change that could open the door to a rebuilt relationship between Larkin and the front office.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics) | Getty Images for Fanatics
The NBA calendar has officially entered its quiet season. The draft is over. Most of the fireworks of free agency have already gone off. Las Vegas Summer League is winding down. Outside of the occasional contract signing or end-of-the-roster move, the league typically settles into a boring stretch. In other words, it’s the dead zone.
Unless, of course, you’re one of the handful of franchises still waiting on LeBron James. Ever since LeBron informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would not be returning in purple and gold, the league has been engulfed in a second version of “The Decision.” There hasn’t been an hour-long ESPN special (at least not yet), but the speculation has reached an almost comical level. Every podcast has an opinion. Every television analyst has “sources.” Every former player has a theory. If someone has a microphone and a social media account, chances are they’ve already explained why LeBron should definitely head to their preferred destination.
By now, the list has become familiar. The Cleveland Cavaliers. The Golden State Warriors. The Miami Heat. The Philadelphia 76ers.
…and, somehow, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The fact that Minnesota isn’t just being mentioned as a longshot but consistently appears among the five primary destinations says something about how dramatically this franchise’s reputation has changed. Ten years ago, the idea of LeBron James voluntarily choosing Minnesota would’ve been treated like satire. Fifteen years ago it would’ve been grounds for a wellness check.
Today? It’s an actual conversation. Whether it ultimately happens is another matter entirely.
The fascinating part is that nobody seems to know where James is leaning. LeBron and Rich Paul have kept this process remarkably quiet. Every day brings another report, another rumor, another anonymous executive claiming to have “heard something,” only for a contradictory report to emerge a few hours later.
At this point, even the biggest names in NBA reporting feel less like insiders and more like amateur meteorologists standing outside with their finger in the air trying to determine which way the wind is blowing. One forecast says sunny. The next says thunderstorms. Then somebody announces a tornado warning.
Meanwhile, LeBron hasn’t said a word.
What has made this saga especially interesting from a Minnesota perspective is the number of respected basketball voices who have openly connected James to the Timberwolves. This isn’t just Wolves fans talking themselves into a fantasy because it’s July and there isn’t much else happening. Max Kellerman has repeatedly argued that Minnesota makes tremendous basketball sense. On his and Rich Paul’s Game Over podcast, Kellerman laid out the basketball fit in detail, explaining why the Wolves offer one of the most complete situations available.
Even more interesting was hearing Kendrick Perkins make essentially the same case on that very show. Perkins broke down how pairing Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball’s offense and Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels’ defense with LeBron would immediately create one of the league’s most dangerous cores and potentially give James his best opportunity to chase a fifth championship while becoming the first player in NBA history to win titles with four different franchises.
Even good ol’ Boogie Cousins added his own support during a Summer League interview. Suddenly it wasn’t just one person throwing out Minnesota as a dark horse. It became a legitimate basketball discussion.
Then franchise great and team ambassador, Kevin Garnett made a convincing argument why LeBron should absolutely choose to come to Minnesota…
If anyone was going to publicly campaign for LeBron to finish his career in Minnesota, you’d think it would’ve been the greatest player in franchise history. Instead, Wolves fans were left watching everyone else make the case while Garnett remained notably absent from the recruiting effort.
Still, the momentum surrounding Minnesota hasn’t disappeared. If anything, the waiting has only intensified because it sounds like this decision may finally be approaching its conclusion.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reportedly encouraged James to make his decision sooner rather than later so the league can finalize its schedule. That’s understandable. Wherever LeBron lands instantly becomes appointment television. Opening Night, Christmas Day, and every other marquee slot on the calendar depends on knowing where the biggest star of his generation will be playing.
The schedule can’t really be completed until LeBron picks a jersey. The basketball world is essentially sitting in an airport terminal waiting for one delayed flight, and judging by the latest SB Nation Reacts poll, Wolves fans are hoping that flight lands squarely in Minneapolis.
An overwhelming 88 percent of respondents said they want LeBron to choose Minnesota.
That number honestly surprised me. Not because the basketball fit doesn’t make sense (it absolutely does), but because LeBron has never exactly been universally beloved in Timberwolves circles. Like every fan base, Wolves fans have spent years rolling their eyes at some of the theatrics. The media circus. The carefully orchestrated announcements. The endless conversation that somehow always circles back to LeBron himself. This latest free agency saga is just another example. The entire league has essentially paused while everyone waits for one player to decide where he’ll spend the twilight of his career.
That isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but basketball has a funny way of making old grudges disappear. Because while opinions about LeBron the personality may vary, opinions about LeBron the basketball player are much harder to argue. He remains one of the two or three most influential figures the NBA has ever produced. Michael Jordan sits alone in terms of global impact, but LeBron is firmly in that next chair. His arrival instantly changes how a franchise is perceived. National television schedules shift. Free agents pay attention. Championship expectations become real rather than theoretical.
For a franchise like Minnesota, one that spent decades wandering through the NBA wilderness, that kind of validation would be impossible to ignore.
The comments LeBron himself made this week only added more fuel to the speculation. Speaking during Fanatics Fest in New York City, James hinted that the clues about his next destination have already been placed out in the open.
Read into that however you’d like. Personally? I’m choosing to believe the Instagram photo of LeBron relaxing on a boat while several Wolves emojis conveniently appeared alongside the post was exactly the clue he was talking about.
Do I know that’s true? Absolutely not.
Do I care? Also no.
It’s the middle of July. The regular season is still months away. Let us have a little fun. Because if LeBron actually chose Minnesota, it would immediately become one of the defining moments in franchise history.
It would validate everything this organization has built under Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore, and Tim Connelly. It would represent another enormous vote of confidence in Anthony Edwards, not just as an All-NBA player, but as someone worthy of becoming the face of a championship contender alongside one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. It would instantly elevate Minnesota from “interesting contender” to one of the premier attractions in professional basketball.
Most importantly, it would signal that the Timberwolves are no longer viewed as basketball Siberia, but rather as a destination. That would be a remarkable transformation for a franchise that spent much of its existence simply hoping competent players would want to stay.
Now, I hear the other side. The twelve percent of Wolves fans who voted “no” aren’t crazy. Some simply don’t enjoy everything that comes with LeBron: The constant spotlight, the nonstop media coverage, and the inevitable circus that follows him everywhere he goes. Those concerns are legitimate, but if James ultimately decides that Minnesota is where he wants to spend the final chapter of his career, it would be impossible to ignore what that decision represents.
It would mean one of the greatest players in basketball history looked around the NBA landscape and concluded that the Timberwolves gave him his best chance to compete. Think about how unbelievable that sentence would’ve sounded even five years ago.
So if the impossible actually becomes reality, the lingering frustrations of the past probably need to stay exactly where they belong… in the past.
Because what would matter most isn’t everything LeBron has done elsewhere. It would be what his decision says about what the Timberwolves have become.
Until then, all anyone can do is wait.
Wait for the announcement. Wait for the schedule. Wait for the notification that could completely alter the trajectory of this franchise.
For now, the NBA’s quiet season continues. But somewhere, one decision still has the power to turn a sleepy July into the biggest day in modern Timberwolves history.
The Timberwolves 2027 Championship odds still sit at +2200, at FanDuel Sportsbook – the same as last week. If you think LeBron James is coming to the Twin Cities, now is the time to get in on that action!
