Apr 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) celebrates in the dugout after the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski turns 26 years on on Tuesday, and he’ll have even more reason to celebrate since he’s headed to Philadelphia as part of the National League All-Star team. Wrobleski was added to the team on Saturday as a replacement for Reds pitcher Chase Burns, who won’t be available to pitch on Tuesday.
It’s been a breakout season for Wrobleski, who thrived in a hybrid role in parts of the last two years in the majors. He has a 2.69 ERA and 4.12 xERA in 16 games, including 15 starts, with 73 strikeouts and 20 walks in 100 1/3 innings. After a bulk relief appearance in his season debut on March 30, Wrobleski ranks third in the majors by averaging 6.42 innings per start, and ranks 12th in ERA.
“You want to be an All-Star,” Wrobleski said. “It’s something that, regardless of the year, whenever, it’s always a big deal. It’s something I wanted to do. It’s frustrating to not get that nod.”
Now that Wrobleski got the nod, he joins select company, just the fifth Dodgers starting pitcher in their age-25 season or younger this century to make the All-Star team.
Dodgers SP All-Stars, age-25 season or younger, 21st century
Wrobleski is the sixth Dodgers player named an All-Star this season. Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Andy Pages are all in the starting lineup with Roberts managing. Shohei Ohtani was also voted to start at designated hitter but he’ll rest instead, getting treatment on his left knee after getting scratched from his Friday pitching start. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who starts for the Dodgers on Saturday night, was also named an All-Star.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Outfielder Drew Burress #8 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets leads off first base during the Spring Classic college baseball game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on April 15, 2025 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the 8th overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft, the A’s went the college route yet again and selected Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress:
The first few picks have featured a couple of surprises and the Athletics benefit by having their pick of some of the top prospects in the draft that fell. Burress, who is a short king at 5’9”, profiles as a power threat in the batter’s box with a quality approach at the plate. Over his three years in college the right-handed hitter slashed an impressive .357/.484/.720 with 60 home runs in 179 games played. Perhaps the best sign of his prowess as a hitter is that he walked (160) more times than he struck out (122) during his college years. That’s a sign of a good hitter with a high floor.
While some believe the 21-year-old Georgia native could remain in center field thanks to his above-average speed, many scouts expect him to eventually slide to a corner spot on the grass where his plus-plus arm would play up well and make him a potential Gold-Glove caliber defender on the grass. Burress could be a fast riser in the Athletics’ farm system and with rookie Henry Bolte looking like the long-term option in center field the team can try out Burress up the middle but easily slide him over to a corner once he approaches the big leagues.
Here’s what MLB Pipeline had to say about the newest A’s prospect:
Scouts liked Burress’ tools and loved his makeup when he was a Georgia high schooler, but he told teams he’d attend Georgia Tech unless they took him in the first round of the 2023 Draft. He went unpicked and then broke into college baseball with nine homers in his first eight games en route to setting a school record with 60 blasts in three seasons. He should be the first college outfielder selected and crack the top 10 choices.
Though he’s shorter than his listed 5-foot-9 and lacks projection, Burress has solid or better tools across the board. He has a compact and quick right-handed swing, plenty of strength, a disciplined approach at the plate and plus power that plays to all fields. His stance became very open and led to struggles in his second stint with the U.S. collegiate national team last summer, but he made the necessary adjustments to recover from a slow start this spring.
Burress is a quality athlete with a high baseball IQ and a strong work ethic. He uses his solid speed to steal an occasional base and to chase down balls in center field, where most evaluators believe he can remain as a pro. If not, he has the bat and plus arm to profile well in right field, and he set a Yellow Jackets record with 10 outfield assists in 2024.
So A’s fans, how would you grade the pick? Vote with the link, and discuss below!
Jul 14, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Argyle High School player Grady Emerson during the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Rays used the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Fort Worth Christian (Texas) shortstop Grady Emerson, selecting one of the highest-upside hitters in this year’s class.
Emerson enters professional baseball with an advanced left-handed bat, exceptional feel for the strike zone, and the projection to develop above-average power as he matures physically. His athleticism gives him a chance to remain on the infield – likely at shortstop, while his offensive upside has made him one of the premier prep prospects available.
Interested in a very pretty slow-motion swing from top 2026 draft prospect Grady Emerson? You're in luck. pic.twitter.com/lJdDOk5sn7
By selecting Emerson, Tampa Bay is betting on one of the draft’s highest ceilings. His combination of hitting ability, athleticism, and long-term offensive potential gives the Rays another premium position player to develop through one of baseball’s strongest farm systems.
Here’s the Rays press release on the selection:
The Tampa Bay Rays have selected shortstop Grady Emerson out of Fort Worth Christian High School (Tx.) with the No. 2 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft.
The 18-year-old Emerson was named the 2026 Gatorade National Player of the Year, given annually to the nation’s top high school baseball player, after slashing .532/.648/1.013 (42-for-79) with nine doubles, seven home runs, 50 RBI, 27 walks, 39 runs scored, and 31 steals over 28 regular-season games as a senior at Fort Worth Christian, leading the school to a Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Division II state finals appearance for the first time since 2019. He was also selected as a 2026 Golden Spikes Award semifinalist, joining Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (2019) as the only high schoolers to receive the distinction since the award’s inception in 1978. The honor is presented annually to the top amateur baseball player in the United States.
A University of Texas commit, Emerson transferred to Fort Worth Christian for his senior year, where he played under head coach Rusty Greer, a nine-year MLB veteran who spent nine seasons with the Texas Rangers from 1994–2002. He is the first player to be selected in the First-Year Player Draft in program history. The six-foot-three, 185-pound infielder played his first three high school seasons at Argyle High School (Tx.) from 2023-25.
Emerson was selected to the United States U-18 and U-15 national teams a combined four times between 2022-25, winning All-World honors at third base after leading the club to a gold medal at the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 World Cup in Okinawa, Japan. Emerson became the first player in USA Baseball history to play for multiple U-18 and U-15 national teams.
Emerson is the seventh shortstop drafted by the Rays with their first selection and fourth over the last seven years, joining Daniel Pierce in 2025, Brayden Taylor in 2023, Carson Williams in 2021, Greg Jones in 2019, Tim Beckham in 2008, and B.J. Upton in 2002. This marks the third straight year the Rays have drafted a high school player with their first selection, joining Pierce and outfielder Theo Gillen in 2024, and the ninth instance in the last 12 drafts (2015-26).
The Rays received the No. 2 pick based on the results of the fourth annual Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft Lottery, which took place on Dec. 9, 2025 during the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. This is the sixth time the Rays have owned one of the first two selections in the draft. They held the No. 1 selection in 2008 (shortstop Beckham), 2007 (left-handed pitcher David Price), 2003 (outfielder Delmon Young), and 1999 (outfielder Josh Hamilton). They also selected Upton No. 2 overall in 2002.
CORAL GABLES - MAY 09: Louisville outfielder Zion Rose (32) runs to first base in the fifth inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Louisville Cardinals on May 9, 2026, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, FL. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Zion Rose, one of the most productive players in recent Louisville baseball history, is headed to Kansas City after being selected by the Royals with the sixth overall pick of Saturday’s Major League Baseball Draft.
A native of Chicago, Rose starred for Louisville in all three of his seasons in red and black. He started 43 of 44 games as a freshman and led the team with a .380 batting average. As a sophomore, Rose was one of just two Cardinals to play in all 66 games as U of L advanced all the way to the College World Series. Rose had a six-game hit streak from the start of the Super Regionals through the end of Louisville’s run in Omaha, one that included a walk-off single in the CWS against Arizona and a home run two days later against Oregon State.
Rose was forced to miss the first month of the 2026 season because of an ankle injury, but was stellar for Louisville from April on. He earned First Team All-ACC and Second Team All-American honors after slashing .417/.491/.646 with six home runs, 47 RBI and 24 stolen bases over just 36 games.
Coming out of high school, Rose was a consensus top-100 prospect who was ranked as the No. 75 overall prospect by Perfect Game USA. He committed to Louisville over Vanderbilt and went unselected in the 2023 MLB Draft because of his unwavering commitment to Dan McDonnell and company.
Highly valued because of his unique combination of strength and speed, Rose was one of just six Division-I players to total at least 30 extra-base hits and as many stolen bases in 2025. He likely would have achieved the feat again in 2026 had it not been for his lower body injuries.
Rose has big league power and big league speed, but his affinity for chasing pitches out of the zone will need to improve at the next level. He did, finally, have more walks (19) than strikeouts (15) in his final season of college.
A catcher coming out of high school, Rose was immediately moved to the outfield at U of L in order to get his bat in the lineup immediately. Despite his speed, his defense in the outfield — which did get progressively better in each of his three college seasons — will need to continue to improve in order to become a Major League regular. His arm strength is fine, but not quite strong enough to develop to the point where it could ever be considered elite at the highest level.
Biggest Strength: His pure athleticism and big league power. His work ethic exemplified by his steady improvement throughout his high school and college years. His next level speed and base stealing/running ability.
Biggest Weaknesses: Overall defense will need to improve and any improvement in the department of arm strength would be a bonus as well. Has a good feel for the strike zone, but still needs a bit of improvement to become a big league hitter. Has great power to right center, but not as much as a straight pull hitter as you’d expect.
The three-sport standout emerged as one of the nation's top prep athletes, starring on the diamond while showcasing the athleticism that also made him a talented football and basketball player growing up before focusing full-time on baseball. Ultimately, his future pointed toward baseball, where his blend of speed, power and defensive versatility made him one of the top high school prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Despite a ton of big-league clubs showing interest in Booth, only one was able to pick him. That was the Baltimore Orioles with the No. 7 overall pick, giving the AL East club an immediate boost to their farm system in the outfield.
Here's a look at the Oak Grove star, and his journey from Lamar County, Mississippi, to Baltimore, Maryland.
Lighting fast bloodlines make for pro potential
Booth Jr. has a dynamic combination of athleticism, thanks in part to his father, Eric Sr., who was a star kick returner at Southern Miss. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1993 MLB Draft, opting to forgo baseball to play for the Eagles instead.
Booth Sr. had a memorable 1997 season with Southern Miss, averaging 34.8 yards per kick return, which ranked second in all of Division I. He also returned kickoffs for touchdowns against Tennessee and Houston, and was at the top of the leaderboard for most kickoff return touchdowns in the country.
That positions Booth Jr. well, especially as he's one of the youngest high school products in this year's class. Booth Jr. just celebrated his 18th birthday on July 4, making him the 11th youngest draft-eligible prospect.
And while his speed gets a lot of attention, the strength is there to hit at least 20 home runs in the big leagues. He won the Home Run Derby at the Perfect Game All-American Classic last summer, as the power will be beneficial to the Orioles.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
A breathless match, all the more so given the thin air of Pretoria, but the upshot is, for all Scotland’s wit and energy, South Africa march on with another full house of points. The visitors were brilliant in scoring their four tries, their pace and skill regularly making mugs of their hosts, but power remains the thing the Springboks do better than anyone. At this altitude, it is very hard to stop.
They were unanswerable in the middle of each half, scoring five of their six tries around then, but Scotland scored two apiece in the second and fourth quarters. They were within sight of a losing bonus point with 10 minutes to go. They even looked as if they might score again. But Jesse Kriel’s late score meant they had to settle for one.
South Africa win after surviving two Scottish rallies in Pretoria
9 mins. A worrying moment for Scotland as a Papier kick is allowed to bounce in behind with a gathering green group of shirts very close on the chase. Russell turns, dives on it at full stretch and grips it to his chest long enough for his ruck clearers to arrive, set it and let White clear the lines.
7 mins. Bok discipline is once more wanting under pressure with Wiese again infringing, this time for entering a maul from the side. Russell puts it into touch for a 5m lineout platform that is ruined by Ashman not throwing straight. Papier boots clear from the scrum.
A little over one week ago, the Vancouver Canucks signed forward Paul Cotter to a one-year contract worth a total of $2.15M. The 2018 fourth-round draft pick by the Vegas Golden Knights has spent his NHL career with both Vegas as well as the New Jersey Devils, but will look to continue that with the Canucks heading into what will be his sixth NHL season.
While the make-up of the Canucks’ forward lines will be clearer come the start of the season, Cotter is expected to fill in somewhere in Vancouver’s bottom-six. The forward can play both at center and at wing, though he has been put on wing more often as of late.
Ironically enough, Cotter’s most recent linemate has also dealt with a similar issue throughout the past few months — and could wind up reprising his role as Cotter’s center come the start of the 2026–27 season. Max Sasson initially began his NHL career playing predominantly at center, but ended up being moved to the wing towards the end of this year.
At the 2026 IIHF World Championship, Sasson was moved back to center. One of his most consistent linemates at the tournament was none-other than Cotter, who finished the competition with a total of two goals and two assists in eight games. Both from Michigan, the two Canucks forwards combined for Sasson’s first point and Cotter’s first goal of the tournament, doingso in their first game together.
Jan 23, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward David Kampf (64) pursues New Jersey Devils forward Paul Cotter (47) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Cotter and Sasson played out the remainder of the tournament together alongside Mathieu Olivier, with both Canucks forwards averaging a little less than 14 minutes per game as part of Team USA’s identity line. The trio provided a fair bit of physicality and toughness while pitching in offensively from a depth-scoring perspective.
Given their previous connection with their time as linemates with Team USA, there’s always the chance that Cotter and Sasson could end up playing on a line together for the Canucks. A pairing of the two U.S. teammates as well as another scrappier player — potentially someone like Brendan Gallagher, perhaps — could provide Vancouver with a high-identity third or fourth-line.
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LAS VEGAS — Tyler Herro has made headlines over the past 24 hours in Las Vegas, but not in the way he or his new team wanted. Herro got into a physical altercation with former Miami Heat teammate Bam Adebayo at a hotel on the Strip, in part due to social media comments disparaging Adebayo that were linked to a secondary Herro social media account.
Before all that drama became public, Herro — in Vegas in part because his AAU team is here competing in a tournament — spoke with reporters, including Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, about being traded to Milwaukee as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
"I saw it coming. If any summer, it was going to be this summer, so I was anticipating this. And obviously not knowing Milwaukee, but I kind of figured I was going to get traded this summer. I'm excited and happy it's Milwaukee...
"Miami is an organization that wants to win championships and they want to compete. We've obviously almost got there, and we've had years where we've lost in the first round, we've had years where we didn't make the playoffs. So it's like, I've been through every ending of the season. And it makes sense for them to want to get a fresh start, get someone like Giannis and build from there. So, it's understandable."
Herro was born in Milwaukee and raised in Wisconsin, and he has said he is happy to be going home. Last season in Miami he averaged 20.5 points while shooting 37.8% from 3-point range. In Milwaukee, he will have the ball in his hands a lot and be asked to be a primary shot creator.
Bobrovsky is a 37-year-old goaltender in the latter stages of his NHL career, which has already lasted for 16 years and over 800 regular-season games. He is a future Hall of Famer, with two Stanley Cups, two Vezina Trophies and is seventh on the NHL's all-time list in wins for a goaltender with 456.
With that, Bobrovsky is coming off the single worst campaign of his NHL career. He posted a .877 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average this past year with the Florida Panthers. Aside from 2025-26, the lowest SP that the veteran recorded in his career was his sophomore year in the league with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2011-12, in which he only featured in 20 games.
Therefore, it should be interesting to see how the Maple Leafs and their brand-new coaching staff handle the goaltenders, considering Bobrovsky's legendary career but recent regression in performance.
Well, along with all the aspects that Bobrovsky brings to the team, he'll be reuniting with Anthony Stolarz, who completes the Leafs' tandem for next season.
They were both members of the Panthers in 2023-24, with Stolarz as Bobrovsky's backup. The duo went on to win a Stanley Cup together, the first of Florida's back-to-back titles.
To measure how many games Bobrovsky and Stolarz will play next season, that campaign is a good way to start, even if it was over two years ago.
In that 2023-24 regular season, Bobrovsky made 58 starts for the Panthers, while Stolarz started in 24 contests, totalling to the 82-game campaign.
Stolarz has had his fair share of injuries, and with that, he's never played more than 34 games in a year. In fact, the most appearances he made in a season were in his first year with the Maple Leafs in 2024-25. That was also his best year in the NHL in terms of his .926 SP, four shutouts, and reaching 33 starts.
But with Bobrovsky coming in, Stolarz's time on the ice doesn't compare. And even as a 37-year-old, Bobrovsky could be expected to play over 50 games for Toronto in 2026-27.
It may seem unprecedented to have Bobrovsky that much responsibility in the crease at his age and this past year's performance, but that is his standard and what he has accomplished for the last several years.
In nine of the past 10 years, Bobrovsky has not featured in fewer than 50 games in a season. And the one campaign that he didn't reach 50 games was the 2020-21 shortened season due to COVID-19; he made 31 appearances.
Ultimately, between Stolarz's injury history and not carrying a heavy load at any point in his NHL career, on top of Bobrovsky's experience as a winner and elite goaltender, not only will Bobrovsky see the majority of the action, he could very well mark the 12th season in which he reached 50 or more games in a campaign.
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Former Edmonton Oilers first-round pick Xavier Bourgault has a new contract, agreeing to terms with the Ottawa Senators on a one-year, two-way deal worth $850,000 at the NHL level and $265,000 in the minors, avoiding arbitration in the process.
The Oilers selected Bourgault 22nd overall in the 2021 draft after a standout QMJHL season with the Shawinigan Cataractes, where he racked up 36 goals and 75 points in just 43 games the year following his draft year. He never cracked Edmonton's lineup, however, and was dealt to Ottawa in 2024 as part of the club's ongoing roster management around its championship-contending core.
Since arriving in Ottawa, Bourgault has spent the bulk of his development in the AHL, but last season marked real progress. He posted 25 goals and 57 points in 70 games with AHL Belleville, good for second on the team in scoring, and earned his first two NHL appearances with the Senators, including his debut on Dec. 27 in Toronto.
While he's yet to record an NHL point, the offensive jump at the AHL level suggests he could push for a more consistent role in Ottawa this season.
It's a notable outcome for a player once viewed as a building block of Edmonton's prospect pipeline — Bourgault now looks likely to get a legitimate shot in a Senators organization that's undergone its own dramatic offseason, headlined by the trade of captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida.
For Oilers fans, Bourgault's development is a bit of a sore spot, not just because he has the ability to become a legit NHL player, but also because he's a reminder of the prospects Edmonton gave up on in their thus-far failed attempts to win a Stanley Cup.
Haeran Ryu set the scoring record for LPGA majors on Saturday with an 11-under 60, giving the South Korean player a three-shot lead in the Evian Championship as she goes for a second straight major.
Two weeks after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA Championship, Ryu birdied four of her last five holes at Evian Golf Resort. She had a chance at tying the LPGA scoring record of 59 but settled for a lengthy two-putt birdie putt on the closing hole.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high fives teammate during the game against the Indiana Pacers on July 10, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t able to pull out a win in their first Summer League game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, but there were plenty of good things to take away from the loss. Mainly, the strong play of Meleek Thomas and Nae’Qwan Tomlin.
Thomas, the 34th overall pick in this most recent draft, scored 20 points on 7-14 shooting. This included Thomas going 2-5 from deep. The scoring touch that the Cavs were talking about after the draft showed through in his first game.
Tomlin looked like an NBA player in Friday’s loss. That’s mostly all that you want to see from a player of his caliber in this environment.
Malaki Branham also performed well, putting up 15 points on 4-8 shooting in the loss. He’s a player to keep your eye on throughout Summer League and possibly the training camp process.
One player you would like to see a nice bounce back from is Tristan Enaruna. Enaruna is on a two-way contract with the Cavs and showed great strides as a shooter throughout the previous G League season with the Charge. That didn’t show through on Friday as he went 1-7 from the field and was limited to just six minutes of play. We’ll see if he can turn it around on Sunday.
The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Kekalainen ideally would like to make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, and another possibility is someone who would offer more offensive punch, Detroit Red Wings winger Alex Debrincat. The 28-year-old is coming off a career-high 85-point season with the Wings, but his contract situation and where the club is going may have GM Steve Yzerman in a trade posture with him.
DeBrincat was originally a second round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016, and has been remarkably consistent in nine NHL seasons, scoring over 20 goals eight times; included a career-high 41 goals in 2019, 2022, and last season. The diminutive winger led Detroit with 15 power play goals, and would be able to fill the role of Tuch on the Sabres first unit.
Sabres extend Zach Benson for seven years
Detroit may be at a crossroads, with team captain Dylan Larkin asking for a trade, and future Hall-of-Famer Patrick Kane heading elsewhere. There has been chatter that the Wings may reset, moving off Larkin and DeBrincat for younger NHL talent and building around younger core players Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. DeBrincat is entering the final year of a four-year deal with the Wings at $7.875 million AAV and has a 16-team no-trade list; facts that could mitigate the return Yzerman can extract from other teams.
The odds of the Wings getting NHL-ready players back are better if he is traded before the season, whereas a trade closer to the deadline will likely yield more futures. This would suit the Sabres needs perfectly, as they are in a weaker position without Tuch and Bowen Byram’s scoring abilities. One potential factor in a possible DeBrincat trade is the status of Kane, who has been his linemate in Chicago and Detroit.
If Kane signs with Buffalo, it is possible that DeBrincat would waive his no-trade clause to go to the Sabres, or vice-versa. Unlike free agents like Anthony Mantha or Anaheim’s Chris Kreider, DeBrincat’s acquisition would not come cheaply. Yzerman in his haste to quickly reset the Wings may ask for young NHLers like Konsta Helenius or Noah Ostlund, but Kekalainen might be able to construct a deal around winger Jack Quinn, who is signed through next season at $3.375 million and is under control for the next two seasons.
The Celtics outlasted the Raptors, 83-80, in an overtime thriller Friday night in Las Vegas. Amari Williams led the way with an emphatic 23 points and 13 rebounds. John Tonje contributed 20 on five 3-pointers, and Hugo González was far from efficient, but provided 17 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists in 37 minutes.
Rookie Chris Cenac Jr. (14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks) buried a corner 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining to tie it. It wasn’t always pretty from the Celtics, but they hit their stride as the game progressed and saved their best for last.
Here are 15 thoughts on their debut:
1. Summer League is electric.
Let’s start with a general, all-encompassing thought: real basketball lovers have an absolute blast watching Summer League. It’s so much fun evaluating these guys as they fight for their professional lives and try to prove they belong. The defense is impressive, the hustle is there and the passion is undeniable.
2. Amile Jefferson deserves this opportunity.
Amile Jefferson pushed all the right buttons down the stretch in this one. He has a unique perspective because he was once in their shoes, on the cusp of making the NBA and desperately trying to get there. Jefferson and Cenac Jr. have somewhat similar games (not the same, but there’s some overlap), so it helps to have him there to mentor him.
3. It was nice to see the veterans show their support.
It’s always cool when the players on the NBA roster come watch the young guys. When you see Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, and Jordan Walsh in the stands, that gives you an extra jolt. A little team bonding never hurts, even in July.
The Summer League Celtics celebrate with Jayson Tatum, Derrick White and the rest of the Celtics after an overtime win pic.twitter.com/1O1g7kBmJ7
The Celtics figured it out as they went, but it wouldn’t be accurate to call this one pristine from start to finish. They struggled with Toronto’s ball pressure in the first half and seemed to be sped up, often driving into double teams and getting caught in the air. This can happen sometimes in Summer League, because everyone plays with desperation, but it will be interesting to monitor how they come out to start the next few games.
5. Then, they figured it out, and it was a joy to watch.
The Celtics had just 40 points with 3:48 left in the third. Tonje buried a triple to cut the deficit to 8, then they took that momentum and ran with it. They scored more points in the final 16 minutes (43) than they did the first 26 (40). Credit to the players and coaches for meeting the moment.
6. The rookie had the play of the game.
Cenac Jr. already has a signature moment, and it only took him one game. His former college teammate, Milos Uzan, deserves praise as well for splitting two defenders and spraying the ball to him on the money in the corner. Cenac Jr. timed it well, got his feet set and fired away. The result was pure, and it kept the Celtics alive. He impressed all night as a rebounder, rim runner and floor spacer. I see the vision and why they picked him.
It seems like Tonje maximizes each opportunity that comes his way. He’s always ready to shoot and frequently hits pivotal shots at key moments. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him carve out more of a role in the next couple years, whether it’s with the Celtics or a different team.
8. Amari Williams showcased his college skill set.
It can be difficult to come into an NBA came and show your true skill set in just a few minutes. In an extended run Friday, as a leader of the group, Williams played like he did in college. He’s a better passer than people realize and operates effectively out of the high post as an adept decision maker. Williams finished with conviction inside and also displayed impressive touch.
What a showing by Amari Williams in Las Vegas today:
9. Is Hugo OK? It looks like a bowling ball fell on his arm.
Seriously, what happened? That bruise was huge. Maybe it affected his shot more than we realize. Who knows? González had kind of a funny game, and it was definitely a mixed bag. He almost looked like a kid who had too much sugar and didn’t know how to react. But give him credit, too. As the game progressed, he realized his shot wasn’t falling and decided to attack the basket. He also thrived as a rebounder and passer all night and put his teammates in ideal positions.
10. Dillon Mitchell is a heck of an athlete.
The rumors are true. Dillon Mitchell can really get up there. He’s a blur in transition, plays hard defensively and is more athletic than almost everyone who stands in his way. The next steps for him are obvious: develop some moves, work on his jump shot and improve his decision making. If he’s able to make strides in those areas, watch out. Even if he’s not, he’s a weapon because of his bounce.
11. I was surprised to see Alondes Williams struggle.
Alondes Williams was a super fun player to watch in college and I’ve always admired his game. When I saw he was on the Summer League roster, I thought it would be a chance for him to prove himself and showcase the versatility that makes him sparkle. It didn’t happen Friday, but he still has time, so don’t be surprised if he figures it out in the games to come.
12. Milos Uzan has elite feel for the game.
Uzan is another guy I really liked watching in college. He’s a true floor general, plays with Houston tenacity and is a better shooter than he gets credit for. Uzan had some decent looks that just didn’t go down, and he finished a game-high plus-17 with five assists in 30 minutes. With all due respect to old friend Max Shulga, I give Uzan an edge in nearly every category. Keep an eye on him as well.
13. I really like Allen Graves.
Sorry, a quick non-Celtics note. Raptors forward Allen Graves is legit. He’s 6 feet, 9 inches, can really shoot it and has a great feel for the game. He was a steal at No. 19, and I think he has a chance to blossom into the No. 3 or No. 4 option on a contender in his prime.
14. I don’t like the one free throw for two points trial run.
Call me old-fashioned, but I think players should get two or three free throws every time they step to the line. What is this one attempt for two points garbage? I get why they’re trying it, and it does speed up the game a bit, but I don’t think it works. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that’s my two-cents.
The one free throw rule will be tested at the upcoming NBA summer leagues.
With this rule, any foul that would typically result in one, two or three free throws under standard NBA rules will instead result in a single free throw attempt. That attempt will be worth the same… pic.twitter.com/tFiOpJLnQW
