PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 30: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates in the dugout during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close this weekend, so it’s time to make our picks for Player of the Week!
I’m picking Rafael Devers this week, specifically for his performance in last Saturday’s 5-0 win over the Atlanta Braves, in which he hit TWO home runs, knocking in four RBI in the process. As of the time this is being written, he also has a hitting streak going for seven of the last eight games. Not a bad week, in my opinion.
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants play game two of this three-game series against the Colorado Rockies tonight at 5:10 p.m. PT.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 7, 1980: Houston Astros pitcher Nolan Ryan (#34) throws during game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on October 7, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Astros 3-1, and went on to win the series 3 games to 2. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Growing up in the 80’s, my brother Chris would always select Nolan Ryan on Nintendo’s RBI baseball, and for good reason. Nobody threw as hard in a video game or in real life for that matter.
Often overlooked due to his dominant velocity, was the relative ease in which he’d strike out hitters with his curveball which was often just as effective.
He was the stuff of legends, and on America’s 250th birthday, we sat down with an icon exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes. Here’s the Strikeout King and Hall Of Famer, Nolan Ryan.
Q: Of all the No-Hitters, was one more gratifying than another?
A: My 7th No-Hitter probably was the most gratifying because it came so late in my career.
Q: How often are you asked about Ventura going to the mound, and what do you think about that sequence becoming part of baseball lore? What do you remember most about it?
A: It’s a question that comes up quite often when someone asks about my career, and I find it interesting that it’s still on people’s mind when they talk about baseball.
Q: Who’s a guy pitching today that you’d personally pay to watch?
A: I enjoy watching Gerrit Cole.
Q: What would have happened in your day if a manager had attempted to put you on a pitch count?
A: Well, I would have to visit with him and see why he thought that, and why that was the best for me and my team.
Q: What’s the most pitches you think you ever threw in a single contest?
A: It was speculated that in an extra innings game against Boston that I threw in the 230s
Q: Favorite teammate?
A: I played for Houston for 9 years, and the nucleus of that ball club was held together. Terry Puhl and Craig Reynolds are two of my best friends from baseball.
Q: Toughest hitter(s) to get out? Was there one guy that you always had difficulty with?
A: The type of hitter that was most challenging was a left-handed contact hitter who didn’t chase bad pitches. Hitters such as George Brett, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, and Pete Rose were in that category.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 5: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball while being defended by Isaiah Hartenstein #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy 250th birthday America! And keep chatting about moves that happen in the NBA. There will be moves happening with various teams, even if it’s an American holiday!
Penguins cool off in the shade during a heatwave at the Warsaw Zoo in Warsaw, Poland, June 28, 2026. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Could you believe Cape Verde was this close to advancing in the knockout stages of a freaking World Cup!? Didn’t happen, but the African nation surely made Lionel break a sweat. Sweet goal!
Anyway, links and notes…
Once and for all, the Knicks landed a backup center in signing uber-veteran Andre Drummond to a one-year vet minimum deal. If you’re coming out of a coma, traitors Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti left for Boston and Philadelphia. Mandatory cap note: He will receive $3.9 million but count for only $2.4 million against the Knicks’ apron math.
Dr. Dru, known as the Big Penguin, is 32 and from Connecticut, and reportedly liked the idea of coming back to his old “neighborhood,” wrote The Athletic’s Fred Katz.
The Knicks are now roughly $6.5 million below the second apron, and can get to the 14-man minimum with two more veteran minimum signings. Two of those could be Jonas Valanciunas and Jordan Clarkson, according to The Athletic and the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy.
“The Knicks still have two roster spots to fill and roughly $6.5 million remaining under the second apron. Jonas Valanciunas, another veteran center, is a target to further bolster the frontcourt depth, according to The Athletic. Jordan Clarkson, a guard, is also a candidate to return, sources said.”
Rich Paul basically killed the LeBron-to-Knicks scenario on his podcast, confirming New York “checked in,” but adding that it would be hard to mess with something that just worked, putting LBJ at risk of being labeled a literal and legit party pooper.
Here’s Rich Paul’s infamous whiteboard, soon-to-be relic of better times.
Then, shortly after, the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy cited league sources claiming the Knicks’ signing of LeBron is “not gonna happen.”
Paul also pushed back on the idea that this is definitely LeBron’s final season. So, doc, or no doc, doc?
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, LeBron has narrowed down his list to six teams.
After sitting here watching NBA free agency this year and overall NBA movement over the past 2 years somebody has to say it….
The new CBA was sold as parity, but the first and second apron are starting to function like a hard cap on player value, team continuity, and player…
Kyle Kuzma went off on the current CBA and said the next negotiation will be a “do or die moment” for NBA players. His basic point was built around the fact that both the first and second aprons are functioning like a hard cap, hurting player value, movement, and team continuity.
“After sitting here watching NBA free agency this year and overall NBA movement over the past 2 years somebody has to say it… The next CBA is a do or die moment for us as players. It’s only going to get worse for us. We need transparency, accountability, and a serious re evaluation of who is representing us and how they are representing us.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst threw more fuel into the Jaylen Brown trade fire and included some brutal league-side framing in his latest story. Some sources told Windy that Philadelphia basically got Brown for “free,” or close to it, because Paul George’s contract is viewed as such a headache.
James Dolan is stepping back from day-to-day Rangers ownership duties and handing those responsibilities to his son, Quentin Dolan. Unluckily, it’s not happening to the Knicks.
Jalen Brunson revisited his Mavericks past with Sports Illustrated, looking at an old photo with Luka Doncic and handing over the receipts.
The Lakers are definitely committed to doing something in between a teardown/rebuild/reconfiguration/retool of their whole dam roster following a flurry of FA moves and after trading Deandre Ayton to Washington for Jaden Hardy and a couple of second-round picks on Friday. Ayton, LeBron, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes are all gone from last season’s roster, while Rui Hachimura remains unsigned and is on the outside looking in. Not that the incoming players are making them better, Melissa Rohlin writes.
Stephon Marbury apparently has smoke for Richard Jefferson. Scoop B Robinson had the details on a since-deleted video where Marbury called out Jefferson after what he described as a hollow handshake, then wrote in the comments that “ESPN cannot gatekeep for you.” Sheesh…
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 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. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wow, the NBA offseason has been a wild ride over the last couple of days. With free agency kicking off and trade season underway, we have already seen some big dominoes fall. LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves, Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat, Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, and most recently, the Jaylen Brown trade that sent him to Philadelphia.
BLOCKBUSTER: The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/xNcNlIV2mh
All this hectic moving of stars has definitely shaken up the landscape for the next year, and it just goes to show that a lot can change in just one offseason. Teams are always looking to improve and find ways to get to the NBA finals, and at this rate, it only takes one bad playoff performance to make their minds up. That’s what happened in Boston, as we just saw all of this unfold. With two disappointing exits, they realized this iteration of the team could no longer compete for championships.
Regardless of how you feel about the value the Celtics saw in this deal, they needed to move off Brown for whatever reason and focus on their new path to bring a championship back to Boston. That said, many Suns fans are furious that they did not get in on the deal.
Well, to put it lightly, they never had a chance, and for multiple reasons.
As many of you know, I am a Massachusetts native who writes about the Suns. The Celtics are my home team, and I’ve spent most of my life, besides my college years, in this state. Even if I still have a heart that beats purple and orange, my love for the green and gold will never fade.
From what it seems, the value of Brown around the league was very low. At first, Celtics general manager Brad Stevens was looking for upwards of 4-5 first-round picks for Jaylen. When offers for that were unavailable, it was said he went back to those teams and made the best offer he could. This shows the Celtics’ valuation of Brown was higher than the league’s.
Joining SC @ Night for more details on the Boston Celtics-Philadelphia 76ers blockbuster for Jaylen Brown: pic.twitter.com/nXhkZhiWGh
That simply suggests Phoenix could have had a chance, but with what? They had already traded their most valuable draft asset, the 2033 first-round pick, for Miles Bridges this past Sunday. They could have expanded on this deal, since it hasn’t been made league official, but who is to say the Celtics wanted Bridges, Grayson Allen, or Royce O’Neale? Who is to say the Hornets wanted to lose any of those guys, either?
Even with their other draft capital, like the picks they opened up or the 2029 one, those were not nearly as valuable as the ones Philly was willing to give up. The 2029 first-round pick they got back is the worst of the four teams, and it’s going to be a bottom-10 selection. Why would Boston entertain that when they could get a lottery pick in the Clippers swap from 2028?
Details on 76ers picks to the Celtics, per sources:
— 2028 first-round pick that could convert from a first to a swap that is more favorable to Boston
— 2031 unprotected Philadelphia first
— 2028 second round, most favorable of GSW/OKC/MIL
Then you look at what else the Suns have to trade: it’s just Jalen Green. Green, who is still young and has some potential, could be a nice fit to reset around, but does Boston feel confident in that? When he suited up in Boston this year, he had 21 points on 8-of-20 shooting and 1-of-7 from three with seven rebounds and one assist. Obviously, that is one game, but the sample size does not look good for Boston in that regard.
You also add that Green is looking for a new extension and is playing for it. With him being younger, you could be excited by that, but then have to deal with the fact that you either pay him or lose him for nothing. With George at least, even if he opts into that $50+ million free payday next year, it’s an expiring tradable.
With Brad Stevens, you never know what is up his sleeve, so never say never. But it seemed too far away for Phoenix to reach. Boston would have asked for the young assets in Khaman Malauch and Rasheer Fleming, and then it would have gone further back than it would have gone forward.
That does not mean, though, that the Suns can’t get aggressive at any moment. Even if the roster is full now with Luke Kennard signing going into the year, we could see some shakeups with weird fits. It will be a challenge for Jordan Ott, but the challenge will not be trying to fit in Jaylen Brown, one that would have been worth it if they had the ammo.
Feb 13, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets left fielder MJ Melendez (1) takes batting practice during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
MJ Melendez broke the 6-6 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a go-ahead two-run home run that led Syracuse to victory. Jorge Polance reached base once in his rehab appearance.
The Rumble Ponies scored four runs, but Nick Lucky was the driver, driving in three-runs and stealing a base. R.J. Gordon was good, going five and striking out two, allowing no runs.
The Cyclones hit three home runs in their loss to the Keys. The Mets were in the hole early, as Dakota Hawkins gave up six runs (five earned) in two innings pitched.
The Tarpons scored in the second off of Christian Rodriguez, who allowed seven hits across his three and two-thirds innings of work. From there, the St. Lucie bullpen was phenomenal, allowing no baserunners in five and a third innings, striking out nine. Unfortunately, the Mets couldn’t push a run across on their five hits.
Jan 29, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) controls the ball as Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) defends during the first quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
This past NBA season, there was a fascinating Rookie of the Year race between former Duke roommates Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.
Everyone expected Dallas Maverick Flagg to be the leading contender, but not many thought Charlotte Hornet Knueppel would be there.
Now we move on to their respective careers, and who might be in position to win a championship first. And while most people would concede the talent advantage to Flagg, things may be different when it comes to their teams.
The Mavericks have overhauled their front office, bringing in Masai Ujiri, who has an excellent reputation. He’s made several interesting moves. He hired Mike Schmitz as his GM, fired Jason Kidd as coach, hired Michigan’s Dusty May to replace him, and drafted May’s frontcourt utility man Morez Johnson, along with Sergio de Larrea, and Virginia Tech’s Toby Lawal. He’s made a number of other behind-the-scenes moves revolving around scouting and analytics.
The Mavericks are almost certainly heading in the right direction.
But Charlotte is way ahead of them.
GM Jeff Peterson has made some brilliant moves of his own. His most acclaimed effort so far was drafting Knueppel, but he also picked up Sion James, which in retrospect was a smart second-round pick. This year, he selected Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson. He got one good year out of the erratic and oft-injured LaMelo Ball, then traded him to Minnesota for Naz Reid and a bunch of draft picks before he could flake out again. They then sent Miles Bridges to Phoenix for Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and more draft picks.
Then Peterson got Dorian Finney-Smith from Houston for nothing. Yes, it was a salary dump, but Finney-Smith is an excellent defender and reputedly a solid presence in the locker room.
And the Rockets kicked in draft picks, too, which in some ways, is the most interesting thing Charlotte has done lately.
The Hornets now have two first-round picks in 2026, up to 3 in 2027, 1 in 2028, and multiple picks in 2029 and beyond.
As for second-round picks, they have 20 over the next seven years.
In other words, if a rising young star – hypothetically Cade Cunningham, VJ Edgecombe, or Paolo Banchero – decided to force a trade, Charlotte has the assets to make a move like that happen.
In other words, the Hornets absolutely have the potential to become an elite NBA team.
Dallas isn’t in quite as good of a situation, but with a transcendent talent like Flagg, assuming they draft well, they can pick up the pieces they need via free agency.
And Flagg will draw other players. His new coach, May, says that the chance to work with a player like Flagg was a major part of his decision. He won’t be the last guy to say that.
Boston, MA - June 28: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray tips his cap to the fans after he was taken out of the game in the seventh inning. The Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on June 28, 2026. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
For the next few weeks we’ll be doing some theorizing on optimal returns at the trade deadline as the Red Sox look to do another tear down amidst a hopeless season. This week, it’s Sonny Gray—and unlike last week’s Chapman conversation, this one comes with a wrinkle.
Week two of Sock Drawer. Last week it was Aroldis Chapman and a relatively clean simulation—the Sox have the asset, contenders want it, Breslow sets the price. This week is messier, because Sonny Gray has a no-trade clause, and that changes the whole conversation.
Gray has been one of the few things working on this roster in 2026. This season, he’s commanding a 2.69 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 75 strikeouts across 83.2 innings. He’s somehow 9-1. On a team that’s going nowhere and gives NO support for its starting pitching. As a 36-year-old who wasn’t supposed to be anyone’s ace, that’s not a just real asset. That’s a legitimate AL Cy Young contender, and the market is starting to understand what it’s looking at. The Braves, Cubs, Brewers, Giants, and others are already circling. Jon Heyman has Atlanta’s name attached.
The complication is clearly the NTC. Gray restructured his contract when he came to Boston—the Cardinals are covering $20 million of his $31 million salary, meaning an acquiring team only owes the prorated remainder plus a $10 million buyout on a mutual option. That’s manageable. But Gray gets final say on the destination, and he’s been measured about it: “If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation.”
Open for a conversation is not a yes. The Sox can’t just shop him to the highest bidder. The field narrows to places Gray would actually approve. Frankly, I don’t blame Gray for being measured about it. I would think even for his age and long career, staying settled in one city might be more important to him and his family than title chasing.
The whole situation is actually fine if you’re looking at things from Craig Breslow’s perspective. The teams that make sense for Gray make sense for the Sox, and the NTC creates a different kind of leverage. The places Gray would approve are serious contenders with real farm systems (for the most oart), and serious contenders with real farm systems don’t get to lowball you. If you’re smart.
One more complication: Connelly Early just went to the IL with an elbow injury. On the surface, you might think that makes Breslow more reluctant to move Gray, now that the rotation has lost two legitimate arms and he’s even more exposed. That’s not wrong. But on a team that’s going nowhere, “we need pitching depth” is not a reason to hold a guy you can turn into a top prospect or a real bullpen piece. Early going down hurts the on-field product. It doesn’t change the deadline ethos.
There’s also a decision Breslow has to make before he picks up the phone: how much salary relief is Boston putting in? The answer to that question changes the return completely.
If Boston eats a chunk of salary: the acquiring team’s cost drops, Gray becomes easier to move, and the Sox can push for a real prospect from the top of the system.
If the full contract goes with him: the team absorbs more cost, and what comes back is an MLB piece, a bullpen arm who can contribute now rather than a name on a list, but isn’t the most valuable in general.
Neither is wrong, it just depends on what Breslow thinks this team needs more. I’ll give you both just to show you what that means.
Atlanta is the most obvious match here and maybe the most likely destination if this deal gets done. Their rotation is beaten up more than a room in Magic City—Spencer Strider, Joey Wentz, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver are all missing some time—and the Braves are still contending, which means they need a real arm, not a depth add. Gray is exactly that.
The NTC nearly solves itself. Gray is from Nashville. Atlanta is close, the organization is stable, and the Braves have been in October almost every year for half a decade. If I were him, I would approve this one. Breslow knows that and should price accordingly. The fact that Gray probably says yes to Atlanta when he might say no to someone else is leverage, not a concession.
Murphy is the arm I want here. He dominated High-A in limited action before the injury, has one of the higher ceilings left in an admittedly thin Braves system, and fits the pitching-for-pitching logic cleanly. If Atlanta pushes back on Murphy, Southisene is the alternative, different profile, still a legitimate top-five piece from a system that isn’t deep enough to be holding onto anyone. The Braves farm being ranked near the bottom of the league is exactly why the salary relief matters here. Boston is making the deal easier in exchange for a sweetened pot.
If the full salary goes with Gray, Dodd gives you a back-end MLB starter with some upside who could slot into a Boston rotation that always needs arms. Lee is the more established bullpen piece, lefty, track record, knows how to get hitters out. Either is a legitimate MLB contributor, not a lottery ticket. In a year where the Sox bullpen has been a problem, adding a proven arm to that mix has real value even if it doesn’t change the rebuild timeline.
Full salary — Phil Maton (RH) or Porter Hodge (RHP)
Chicago’s rotation is a mess and they know it. Two Tommy Johns, two hammies, a neck, a back, you may as well walk into the recovery ward of any ER Northside and see the venerable Cubs starting rotation. They had to trade for David Peterson just to stay afloat right now! If the Cubs are going to make a run, they need another reliable starter, and Gray is the definition of a reliable, veteran presence, experience in big games, innings-eater who won’t need to be pulled in the fourth. The fit is clean.
The double-package angle is worth noting: there’s real reporting floating around that Chicago could go after both Gray and Chapman in the same deal. Whether that’s actually on the table or just a fun idea that got written up is unclear—I get it with Chapman winning the WS in 2016 with the Cubbies—but if Breslow can work that angle, he should. Two complementary needs from one buyer is a GM’s dream negotiation.
Wiggins is the one I want from Chicago. He just cracked the top 100 and the scouting reports have gotten genuinely interesting, the stuff was always there, now the polish is catching up. The Cubs system has thinned out from where it was a couple of years ago (Shaw and Horton graduated, Caissie got traded), which makes Wiggins the clear headliner of what’s left. Pitcher for pitcher makes the most sense for both sides.
Full salary to Chicago means pushing for Maton or Hodge. Maton is a power arm with swing-and-miss stuff who would fit well in the back of a Boston bullpen that needs exactly that. Hodge is the younger option with more upside but less certainty. Either gives the Sox a real MLB reliever back, which is a reasonable ask when you’re handing over a $21 million arm and not asking for a cent back.
Eats salary — Jett Williams (SS/CF)/Bishop Letson (RHP)
Full salary — Aaron Ashby (LHP)/Abner Uribe (RHP)
Milwaukee is the most interesting team in this conversation that isn’t getting talked about enough. The Brewers have the best farm system in baseball, by most accounts the best in years, and they’re contending, which means they need what Gray provides. They also develop pitching better than almost anyone in the sport. A guy like Gray going to Milwaukee under their coaching staff could buy him another productive season-plus.
The Brewers tend not to overpay at the deadline—it’s an organizational strength of theirs, which means Breslow has to go in knowing his floor. But their system is deep enough that they can give up a real piece without gutting themselves, and that’s exactly the kind of trade partner you want.
Williams is the intriguing prospect here. Traded to the Brewers from the Mets in the Freddy Peralta trade, his ranking has slipped slightly but the tools are still there and Milwaukee’s development track record means the ceiling hasn’t closed. Letson is more of a pure pitcher profile with a legitimate shot to move fast. Either way, the Brewers have the depth to make this hurt a little, and when the top farm system in baseball is making a move hurt, that’s a good outcome for the Sox. I’ll also say this: I really want Shane Drohan back. Boston drafted him, developed him, and then let him walk. If there’s any version of this deal where Drohan is part of the return, I’m listening.
Ashby is the name on the full-salary track. Lefty, swing-and-miss, already knows how to pitch at the big league level. He’s exactly what the Sox bullpen needs and the Brewers have the depth to absorb losing him. Uribe is the higher-upside option: the stuff plays in high leverage and if he figures out the command piece, he becomes someone. Either way, Milwaukee has the bullpen to send a real piece back without hurting their October chances.
Eats salary — Hagen Smith (LHP)/Tanner McDougal (LHP)
Full salary — Sean Newcomb (LHP)/Grant Taylor (RHP)
Here’s the one nobody is writing about. The White Sox have been one of baseball’s most historically futile franchises for the better part of a decade. Multiple 100-loss seasons. A rebuild that took forever and delivered mixed results. Guaranteed Rate Field on a Tuesday. None of that sounds like a Gray destination.
Except they’re leading the AL Central right now.
That changes everything about this conversation. Chicago isn’t calling Boston because they’re stockpiling assets for three years from now. They’re calling because they have a pennant race on their hands for the first time in years, a market that has been starved for relevance, and a front office that knows exactly how rare and fragile first place feels when you’ve spent most of your recent history losing 95 games. A team in that position does not let a shot at Sonny Gray pass them by.
The NTC is the real question here. Gray has to approve the destination, and Chicago’s recent history is not exactly a draw. But if the White Sox are still in first at the deadline, that’s a different conversation than it would have been in April. Pitchers want to pitch in October. Gray says he’s open to a conversation. A first-place team with a real need is the kind of conversation that moves the needle on a waiver.
The farm depth is real too. All those top draft picks from the losing years are still in the system. Smith is already in the top 100 and has the profile of a back-of-rotation starter with real MLB durability. McDougal is the longer-range bet, younger, rawer, higher ceiling if the stuff develops. The Sox adding another lefty arm to the system is never a bad thing given how they develop pitching.
The full-salary version of this deal is the one I find most interesting. Boston could have a funny reunion on their hands. Newcomb returning to the organization would be interesting, and he’s been more effective in this stint than his previous run in Boston that the Sox would have something to work with. Taylor is the option if Newcomb isn’t available, left-handed, serviceable, fills a need in a pen that has needed help all year.
San Francisco is the most interesting team on this list and probably the most overlooked one. Tony Vitello took over as manager this past offseason, coming straight from Tennessee where he built one of the better college programs in the country. He doesn’t have the personal history with Gray that Bob Melvin did, so the NTC approval is less certain here than it might have been a year ago. Oracle Park is a great place to pitch, San Francisco is a good market, and the Giants are a respectable organization—Gray could do a lot worse. But this one is a harder sell than Atlanta, and Breslow should know that going in.
What makes San Francisco interesting is Gavin Kilen.
Kilen was a Red Sox draft pick. Boston selected him, he went back to college (Louisville first, then transferred to Tennessee), and now he’s a top-five piece in the Giants system. The Tennessee connection is the thread that makes this section worth writing: Vitello coached Kilen with the Vols before taking the Giants job. So you have a manager who knows this prospect intimately, which cuts both ways — Vitello may be the last person who wants to trade him, or he may be exactly the person who knows what Kilen is and isn’t at the MLB level. Either way, Breslow has leverage in asking, because the Giants need rotation help and the Sox hold the asset. He’s the name I want from San Francisco if Boston is putting money in. Jacob Bresnahan and Blade Tidwell are also in the top-five conversation if Kilen isn’t available, Bresnahan is a sneaky-good lefty who keeps getting better, Tidwell has the stuff to move fast.
Brubaker is the headliner on the full-salary track, a legitimate MLB arm who gives the Sox a real contributor and not a project. Hentges is the alternative, left-handed and serviceable, fills a pen need. Carson Whisenhunt is worth a mention too: still a top-30 Giants prospect but he’s been down in Triple-A and could be framed as MLB-ready depth, which makes him an interesting piece that straddles both tracks.
With the tsuris Buster Posey has put himself through this season alone in the Bay Area, I could see Breslow actually end up on the right side of a deal between these former players here. We’ll give Devers to Posey, even with the drama there of late.
Atlanta is the deal that should get done and probably will. Gray approves it, the Braves need it, and the NTC leverage means Breslow can squeeze them. Cubs are the second call because of the double-package angle and the Wiggins possibility. Brewers are the sleeper with the best farm in the sport.
The Giants are the wildcard. The NTC approval is probably the easiest of any team on this list, and the Kilen homecoming angle is the best narrative piece in this whole conversation. The White Sox are the sleeper. Nobody is putting Chicago in this conversation right now, and that’s exactly why Breslow should. A franchise that’s been irrelevant for years just found itself in first place and they know the window could slam shut by September. That’s panic-buy energy, and panic-buy energy gets you Smith or McDougal. Make all five teams think the other four are ahead of them. Then close the right deal.
The salary decision is the only open question. If Breslow is building toward the deadline as a genuine rebuild, eat the salary, get the prospect, add to the system. If he thinks this team has a window to compete sooner than the standings suggest, take the MLB piece and plug the bullpen. Both are defensible. Just know what you’re doing before you pick up the phone.
Bobrovsky said he and McKenna spoke on Thursday about the number.
"He gave that number to me, we had a little chat," Bobrovsky said. "He's a bright guy. He's got really positive energy. And I'm excited to watch him develop into the big superstar, honestly."
In the meantime, McKenna can't even use the two fallback options as his number, because No. 27 and No. 9 are both in the rafters. So, what number will McKenna wear for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL next season? Here are three suggestions.
There are a couple of reasons why McKenna could wear the No. 12 for the Maple Leafs in the upcoming campaign.
The No. 12 is the closest McKenna can get to wearing No. 72 in terms of the numbers looking similar.
But the more meaningful reason behind wearing No. 12 is in relation to how the Maple Leafs landed the 2026 first overall pick in the first place.
At the NHL's draft lottery, Toronto had an 8.5 percent chance of winning the first pick. The first three lottery balls were Nos. 7, 2 and 11. And to officially win the NHL draft lottery, out came the ping-pong ball that was labelled with the No. 12. Without that number on the ball, McKenna's life would've played out differently.
The last player on the Maple Leafs to wear this number was Zach Aston-Reese in 2022-23.
It would certainly generate plenty of reactions from hockey fans, but what if McKenna decided to wear No. 16, previously worn by Mitch Marner?
Marner wore No. 16 throughout his entire tenure with the Maple Leafs from 2016-17 to 2024-25, scoring 741 points in the process, putting him sixth among all-time leaders in franchise history. He was known for his playmaking and chemistry on the ice, regularly setting up Auston Matthews.
In a sense, McKenna has similarities to Marner in his game, particularly in his ability to see the ice, his vision, and his playmaking. Also, the 18-year-old may get a spot on the top line with Matthews, just like Marner did for a chunk of his career.
It would be a bold choice to wear No. 16, but McKenna has shown he is a confident individual.
Marner is an example of a player choosing a number to match an idol. Though he wore No. 16 with the Leafs, he wore No. 93 with the London Knights, and now for the Vegas Golden Knights because of his hockey hero, Doug Gilmour.
McKenna has also revealed another hockey hero of his to be Patrick Kane, but his famous No. 88 is already taken by William Nylander.
Therefore, it wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary if McKenna went on to choose No. 86. In fact, he'd become the first player to ever wear that number in franchise history.
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LeBron James, bringing the ball up the court while chased by Hornets guard Sion James, will finish his career with another team. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
I will miss watching the greatest maestro and savant in the history of basketball, LeBron James. He is to basketball what Van Gogh was to painting, Coltrane to music, Hemingway to literature. He came from poverty and rose to a global hero and gave back. His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous. To all his detractors and haters? Eat your hearts out, he is a happy man.
Dell Franklin Cayucos
I have always been in awe of LeBron’s athleticism and basketball IQ. And I greatly admire his dedication to maintaining his physical abilities throughout the years and his philanthropic pursuits.
But, as a lifelong Lakers fan, I will not miss LeBron. He was never a true Laker. He made it clear when he announced that he was taking his talents to South Beach that he cared only about LeBron, not the team.
So, as he closes out his career elsewhere, I will enjoy watching his superior playing prowess from afar. But I will be grateful that I can now cheer for my Lakers without the drama LeBron brings to every team he’s been on.
Linda Salzman Rancho Palos Verdes
I agree that it was probably time to move on from LeBron simply in the interest to pursue a long-term player versus one more year from the King. But Bill Plaschke’s argument that he was tired of the mind games LeBron supposedly was playing is a terrible take. Losing 27-7-7 is not replaceable overnight, if ever.
George Metalsky Redondo Beach
While acknowledging LeBron James as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, it never really felt as if he was selflessly committed to the Purple and Gold team concept like so many of the legendary players that preceded him.
During his eight years as a Laker there seemed to be countless occasions when Lakers brass capitulated to his “demands.” Year after year we endured a mishmash roster with his hand-picked players, just to appease LeBron.
During the Lakers’ dynasty we had championship teams. With LeBron we had a king shaping his fiefdom to first and foremost best serve him.
He’s a great player but a horrible GM. The Lakers will be a better team without him.
David Griffin Westwood
I only have one question regarding LeBron James: What happens to Bronny now?
David Waldowski Laguna Woods
Cheers for Roberts
Great article “Deep into Dodgers career, he’s batting close to 1,000” by Maddie Lee. Dave Roberts has a tough job. When he substitutes a pitcher or a hitter and it works out, Dave is a hero, and when it doesn’t work out, Dave is a bum. Sometimes there is a fine line between being a hero or a bum, but Dave has been able to negotiate that line, because players trust him, and the players know that Dave cares about them and their families. Maybe one day Dave will have 2,000 wins as a Dodger, and he will be closing in on Walter Alston.
Vaughn Hardenberg Westwood
I have never thought much of Dave Roberts’ managerial abilities when it comes to handling pitchers but I’ve seen improvements in that area, particularly in last year’s playoffs. He has been blessed with terrific talent but clearly has melded that talent to win games and keep the clubhouse on the same page. Congrats on hitting the 1,000-win milestone, Dave, let’s go for 2,000!
Ken Blake Brea
Leonard far from the worst
Kawhi Leonard has played terrifically the last couple of years. Maybe Bill Plaschke would be aware of that, and give due credit, if his hometown major newspaper bothered to have a dedicated correspondent covering one of the city’s NBA teams. The Clippers aren’t the minor leagues.
E.R. Samulon Los Angeles
Bill Plaschke claims Kawhi Leonard is the worst free-agent signing in L.A. sports history. Not a chance. That dubious honor belongs to the Angels (of course!) for signing Anthony Rendon.
With the Clippers, Kawhi has been a three-time All-Star, a four-time All-NBA selection, and finished high in the MVP voting multiple times. He averaged nearly 28 points per game in 65 games last season. The Clippers had a couple of decent playoff runs during his tenure.
What did the Angels get for their $245-million investment in Rendon? Setting aside the shortened 2020 season, Rendon averaged just 51 games per season from 2021 through 2024. He then didn’t play at all in 2025 or 2026. Over the last six seasons, he hit a total of 13 home runs, and his batting average never exceeded .240. The Angels never made the playoffs during his tenure. Rendon’s attitude and performance became so disappointing that the Angels effectively told him to stay away in 2026 and restructured the final year of his contract.
Rendon wins the title of worst free-agent signing in L.A. sports history by a landslide.
Dave Ring Manhattan Beach
Getting defensive
A number of years ago, the Lakers had a coach by the name of Mike D’Antoni. The joke then was that his name should be Mike Antoni, as there is no “D” to be found in his coaching. There is no “D” in Sparks coach Lynne Roberts either. If the Sparks want to seriously ride the wave of WNBA and women’s sports popularity, and take advantage of great players like Kelsey Plum, they need to quickly make a change in the direction of this franchise.
Arnold Anisgarten Los Angeles
Fantastic flops
I thought NBA players were bad with respect to yelling at the referee to call a foul every time they hit the floor. Soccer players, however, are in a league of their own. They fall to the ground after barely being touched, writhing in fake pain and yelling at the ref to call a foul. Luka Doncic played soccer when he was a kid. Now I know where he learned it from.
Doug Vikser Manhattan Beach
Please save us from these boring British futbol announcers that only inspire narcolepsy. There needs to be the excitement and energy that matches the game. Install hockey play-by-play announcers who emphasize the rising action, then scream “goal!” Otherwise, we will keep watching the games in Spanish.
Billy Gonzalez Redondo Beach
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San Antonio TX, - June 25, 2026: Maliq Brown #15, Jayden Quaintance #22, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tarris Reed Jr. #10 and General Manager Brian Wright of the San Antonio Spurs pose for a photo during the San Antonio Spurs Rookie Press Conference on June 25, 2026 at Victory Capital Practice Center, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Per a Spurs press release:
“The San Antonio Spurs announced that they have signed first round selections Jayden Quaintance (20th overall) and Tarris Reed Jr. (26th overall), along with San Antonio’s second round picks Ja’Kobi Gillespie (42nd overall) and Maliq Brown (44th overall). Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.”
Jayden Quaintance is out awaiting surgery on his torn ACL. Reed, Jr., Gillespie and Brown are participating in the Spurs Summer League. Friday evening was game one of the California Classic in San Francisco.* The teams are off today in observance of the Independence Day. The tournament resumes Sunday and concludes on Monday before the Silver & Black head to Las Vegas for the NBA 2026 Summer League.
*I wrote this last night as I had to work, I have not watched the game yet. If you did, please share your thoughts in the comments.
Happy 4th, Pounders. Celebrate safely and if you are in Texas, stay hydrated! It’s hot out there.
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The Athletic reported on Friday that an internal debate over Jaylen Brown’s value, anticipated issues with Brown returning to his former role after Jayson Tatum’s return, fallout from the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga and concerns over Brown’s playing off-script in the Philadelphia series led to this weeks stunning trade to the 76ers.
Brad Stevens, long a fan of Brown, finally relented and moved Brown for Paul George, two future first-rounders and a pair of seconds — a seismic trade he and the franchise will now wear while facing an uncertain path forward.
Downplaying any financial motivations for a deal, the story by The Athletic’s Jay King and Sam Amick focused on Brown’s analytical profile that left much to be desired from both Boston and suitors around the league. It also highlighted Brown’s numerous statements stemming back to March that stressed his pride proving himself as a top option on a team and leader, commentary he continued after the trade this week. Speculation over how much Brown wanted to maintain that status in Boston proved true, King said on CLNS’ latest Celtics Daily episode, and the Celtics wanted to get ahead of any potential conflict over his role. Amick and King also referenced Tatum trainer Drew Hanlen’s regular references to the team’s success when Tatum garners a higher usage.
“Still, the Celtics began to have questions about whether he would remain fully bought in moving forward, according to league sources. Internally, they wondered whether they could keep everyone on the same page basketball-wise, as they had always managed to do in the past.“
Celtics president Brad Stevens and governor Bill Chisholm will address the trade with reporters on Monday afternoon when it becomes official. Tatum posted an Instagram story wishing his former teammate the best, assistant coach Sam Cassell expressed optimism after the trade while others in the organization posted their appreciation for Brown in the aftermath. Brown said younger players like Neemias Queta and Luka Garza reached out to him directly. The Celtics reportedly liked what they received for Brown, George returning to his prior form in a more complementary role as the Sixers defeated Boston in the first round. Two picks they received could become valuable given new flat lottery odds, or drive a follow-up move.
That won’t happen this offseason, for now. King reported that the Celtics will keep George who is owed $114.3 million over the next two seasons, despite speculation over the veteran’s goodbye post to Philadelphia that did not reference Boston. The Celtics’ status as a hard-capped team at the first apron, which they’re $5 million short of, makes utilizing their trade exception or acquiring a contributor with those picks difficult until next summer.
Still, the Celtics’ front office will continue receiving enormous scrutiny following a trade that left many confused over its urgency. George’s sparse availability across recent seasons, age, his salary that equals Brown’s this season, overall declining productivity and a 25-game suspension last season for violating the league’s anti-drug policy gave him negative trade value. Should Philadelphia have needed to trade a first simply to move on from his contract, that effectively left the Celtics with one first of value in return for Brown, albeit while shedding the final $65-million year on his deal in 2028-29. That will make George an expiring contract next summer.
There’s a world where George’s contract, as many as five tradable future firsts and Brown’s decline could make the trade look better in one year, but that’s forecasting numerous uncertain outcomes far from likely to occur. Boston seemingly misjudged Brown’s market and went too far down the road of assessing it that they couldn’t turn back. A source cited in the Athletic story said the Celtics worked at a disadvantage having not actively shopped Brown previously. For what it’s worth, those assessments by executives and scouts around the league led to a maddening month of reporting around the trade saga, one revelation often refuted by the next.
Since the Brown trade, it became clear that Boston’s thwarted Antetokounmpo pursuit both fell much shorter of acquiring him than simply adding Hugo González and another pick, and wasn’t hindered by money. Antetokounmpo’s agent drove a push to land with Miami. Also, the Trail Blazers, reportedly a leading suitor at one time, did not actively pursue Brown, according to The Athletic. Numerous other teams expected to have interest in Brown never got involved, and others floated their assessments of him falling far below his achievements and counting statistics. One general manager said that his team did not consider Brown a top-50 player.
Brown’s long-running criticism of those assessments have continued into this summer, going back-and-forth with ESPN’s Bobby Marks after he shared an even more hyperbolic anecdote of a source in analytics whose numbers saw Brown as seventh-best on a team. Anonymous critiques turned personal, returning old tropes about Brown’s intelligence that he artfully played off on his stream. Brown lamented his character becoming targeted throughout the process, though King stressed that the Celtics’ trade did not stem from personal issues they had with him.
Many will continue to wonder why, if that wasn’t the case, the Celtics couldn’t wait. Brown had certainly shared a number of gripes between the late stages of the Philadelphia series, Boston’s shot attempts playing into the Sixers’ hands, a desire to have played the style they did in Game 7 earlier and his own critiques of the Celtics’ three-point heavy approach, which he believed the league had moved past. Tracy McGrady relayed Brown’s deep frustrations with the organization, comments he later walked back, while multiple reports noted that Brown never asked out of Boston. In fact, following the wave of criticism over his favorite season comments, Brown said that if it was up to him, he’d play the next 10 years with Boston.
Instead, he’ll suit up for the 76ers now, another layer to the brazenness of Boston’s move, sending him to a direct competitor, 300 miles away, who plays the Celtics four times per year and just defeated Boston in the playoffs. Brown joins Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. LeBron James will consider joining the Sixers, too. And for Boston, uncertainty awaits about how they’ll construct the next contender around Tatum and before that, how they’ll explain a difficult transaction to a saddened and confused fan base. Brown sounded at peace with the result late this week, calling his new teammates and looking forward to his new role in Philadelphia.
“The process of how we got there, the work ethic, the guys buying in, the guys growing and allowing me to lead them, getting it done night-to-night, it was an honor,” Brown said on his stream. “It was an honor, because we could’ve rolled over. I probably would’ve reached this result, personally, either way it goes. It I would’ve not gave any effort, let it be a throwaway year, it probably would’ve gotten to the same result. Me showing up, leading us to the two seed, it would’ve probably the same result. So it was, I think, it was inevitable either way. Their mind was already made up. So it’s all good. We move forward.”
Fans greeted him with a vinyl banner reading "Marsh To The Polls," with several supporters sporting beards to match his own.
It marked the official start of the Phillies' final campaign push to send Marsh to the Midsummer Classic at The Bank on July 14, something he told USA TODAY Sports before the game he wasn’t letting himself think too much about.
He opened the year hitting .295 in April — a far cry from the .095 he posted through his first 17 games last season — and strung together a 13‑game hit streak from April 28 to May 12. He followed his strong month of April with a .333 average in May. That dipped only slightly to .315 in June.
Factor in that he’s tracking toward his first All‑Star nod, and the arc becomes even more impressive.
“It’s been a different season for sure, having to adjust with the body and having to adjust with playing every day,” Marsh said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Just enjoying the ride.”
To reach this point — where he’s sitting among MLB’s top 10 leaders in batting average — Marsh has ridden out his share of turbulence. Dealt from the Los Angeles Angels at the 2022 trade deadline for top catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe, Marsh was seen as an everyday outfielder for both the present and the future. But he sat against lefties to lose starting opportunities and has mustered only two total hits across the last two postseasons, so the potential never fully materialized until now.
His path, once that of the Angels’ former No. 1 prospect, simply developed on a slower burn. It took time, and now the moment has arrived. Inside the Phillies clubhouse, his 2026 breakout hasn’t surprised anyone.
"He’s always been a good player," Phillies shortstop Trea Turner told USA TODAY Sports in May. "... Other people are starting to recognize him and deserve to do so."
Marsh said his breakout season stems more from a different approach and finding consistency, both with his pregame routine and playing time, than from any physical changes he made in the offseason.
To build his pregame consistency as an everyday player, Marsh has zeroed in on how veterans like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Turner attack their work and how “stubborn” they are about sticking to their routines. He also mentioned he’s trying to keep his own routine simple, hoping that simplicity creates steady production.
"May not be true, but if you think that way, I feel like it’ll help," Marsh said.
Marsh finally got that consistent, everyday run when Don Mattingly took over as interim manager on April 28 after the Phillies’ 9-19 start under Rob Thomson. Since then, he’s hit .329, forcing Mattingly’s hand by penciling his name into the lineup every day, including some games at cleanup.
"It’s definitely helped just with staying in the flow of the game" Marsh said of the consistency he’s received from Mattingly. "Because pinch hitting is one of the hardest things to do in this game. It’s harder than playing every single day. … So there's something to the consistency that Donnie's been giving me and I'm super thankful."
Mattingly said he’s always believed Marsh had a good swing, and even conceded after the Phillies’ April 30 win over the Giants that when he was the manager of the Miami Marlins, the Marlins tried multiple times to trade for Marsh.
"He’s always been, for me, a good hitter. Been able to see this guy really young and probably just building confidence over time," Mattingly said in May when asked by USA TODAY Sports what he’s seen from Marsh. "Better game planner now (too), it sounds like. Knows what he wants to do with every guy (he’s facing)."
One contributing reason to Marsh’s platoon role under Thomson was his inability to hit against left-handed pitching. He’d either come off the bench as a defensive change late in the game once the opposing team’s left-handed starter was removed, or not play at all.
Last season, Marsh hit .197 against left-handed pitching. He’s hitting .259 against southpaws this season.
"You always knew he had it just by looking at his numbers based off right-handed pitching," Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott said. "Now he’s getting his chance and probably one of the best hitters in the league. It’s been really fun to watch him."
In just the last week, Marsh has delivered in big moments. In the Phillies’ dramatic 14-9 come-from-behind win over the Washington Nationals on June 23, Marsh crushed a game-tying, two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Through the Phillies' first 88 games, Marsh leads the team with a .315 batting average and 97 hits while he’s third in home runs, only trailing Schwarber and Harper, who have combined for 50 home runs themselves.
Marsh’s .315 batting average is good for the seventh-best among MLB hitters. He’s already surpassed his RBI total from last season, as he has driven in 46 runs thus far in the first half.
"He’s always asking questions, always wanting to get better. He’s putting it together," Harper said to USA TODAY Sports in May. "But he’s also taking his hits, (which) I think that’s huge also. He hits the ball both ways from left-center to right-center."
Former Phillies shortstop and manager Larry Bowa believes a big part of Marsh’s success at the plate comes from not being as hard on himself as he used to be.
"Sometimes he used to worry about his previous at bat, what he did or didn’t do. He’s finding a way now, whether you get a hit or whether you make an out, it’s a different at bat," Bowa told USA TODAY Sports. “Once you get into that mindset, the game’s never going to be easy, but you can relax a little bit."
Marsh agreed with Bowa and pushed it further. He said he’s made it a point this season not to sulk or dwell on past at‑bats, something that he’s struggled with in the past, especially once he came up to The Show after his success in the minors in the Angels’ organization.
"Learning how to honestly laugh at yourself a little bit without making a fool out of yourself,” Marsh said. “But (also) don’t be so hard on yourself because it’s already such a hard thing. It’s a game of almost impossible odds stacked against you as a hitter … Just have to know you’re going to fail."
He goes into the Phillies’ upcoming nine-game road trip to close out the first half of the season with 18 hits and 12 RBIs in his last 15 games to go along with six home runs, three of which came in the Pirates series.
For all the success at the plate this season thus far, Marsh said it’s made him appreciate the work that it took to get here "a lot more."
"It makes me respect the guys that show up and step in the box or toe the rubber every single day. I now know how physically taxing it can be, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I love everything that comes with it," Marsh said.
Marsh ranked third among NL outfielders in Phase 1 of All‑Star voting with 668,191 votes, trailing only the Dodgers’ Andy Pages (800,496) and the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. (693,472).
He’ll find out Saturday whether he’s been elected a starter for Dave Roberts’ NL squad. Starter or not, Marsh has more than earned the right to be considered for the Midsummer Classic, even if he’s too modest to say so himself.
“As a kid growing up, it's what everyone wants to be a part of, other than winning a World Series. Getting an All Star nod is pretty freakin cool,” Marsh said. “Hopefully this year I get to check it off of a bucket list. … It would mean the world, especially here in Philly playing for Philly.
“I'm getting chills right now thinking about it."
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PITTSBURGH - JUNE 15: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins holds the Stanley Cup aloft for the fans along the Blvd of the Allies during the Stanley Cup Champion Victory Parade on June 15, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Saw this graphic online and figured it would make for a fun summer weekend exercise. What if the Penguins had to face the team that lost the Western Conference final in the years that Pittsburgh made the SCF? How might history have played out if the results of the other conference were flipped? Here are the hypothetical near-miss opponents that failed to advance in reality to the Cup finals each year that Pittsburgh made it.
By 1991 the Oilers were a shell of their dynasty years. They were the defending Stanley Cup champions from 1990 (the one Cup they won post-Wayne Gretzky) but by 1990-91, their leading regular season scorer only had 69 points. That’s a far cry from the team they once were. All of Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Jari Kurri were long gone by ‘91, so too was Grant Fuhr out as their top goalie. The Oilers had some remnants of their glory days, this would be Mark Messier’s last season with the Oil and Esa Tikkanen and Glenn Anderson were in the lineup, though far from their primes. The Penguins probably still roll to the Cup at this point, but at least they would have done it against an opponent with a marquee name and the defending champ, instead of beating the Minnesota North Stars and the 27-39-5 regular season record they somehow carried into playoff success.
In 1992, it’s even more amazing that Edmonton was hanging on and making it to the Conference Finals. A potential alt-world Stanley Cup PIT/EDM rematch in ‘92 would have been a lot of fun given that Edmonton was able to reload quite a bit by 1992 to look better than they did in ’91. By this point they were almost completely reshaped with players like Vincent Damphousse, Bernie Nichols, Scott Melanby and Bill Ranford taking over for the departed former Gretzky/Messier/Fuhr core. Edmonton would hardly be confused from the dominant team of Hall of Famers that they were 5-10 years earlier, but it would have made a nice story. On the other side, the Penguins were peaking to 11 straight playoff wins, they still would have absolutely crushed anyone that came out of the other conference so it wouldn’t have mattered on the ice. Out of any alt-world hypothetical, this is the one to (by far) feel the most confidence in what would have happened. No team existing in 1992 was going to stop the Penguins from winning the Cup that year.
Would Sidney Crosby have four Stanley Cups if he had gotten to play against Dallas in 2008 instead of the loaded Detroit team? It sounds like a very real possibility. The Stars had a quality team back in ‘08, but the Pens (who went 12-2 in the East portion of the playoffs and had Marc-Andre Fleury arguably at his absolute most locked in) would have stacked up very well in a potential matchup against the Stars. Dallas, like the Pens, won two playoff games against the Red Wings, though it came after falling in an 0-3 hole for the Stars. Of course, in reality, there’s no reason to suspect Detroit ever would have been losing to Dallas, but if somehow they did, Pittsburgh’s second run of Stanley Cups likely starts one year earlier.
Much like it’s a shame the generation before that we never got a Gretzky/Lemieux Stanley Cup Final, it’s unfortunate that the two best teams of the 2010’s never made the SCF in the same year to see the Crosby/Malkin/Letang/Fleury core battle against Chicago’s group with Kane/Toews/Keith/Crawford. Between PIT/CHI, they won six out of the nine Cups between 2009-17, yet never played each other. There was this near miss in 2009, as well as 2013 when Pittsburgh was eliminated in the ECF and the Blackhawks won the Cup. The 2009 season was Chicago’s playoff breakout in the way that 2008 was for the Pens, the Hawks would have been younger and less experienced for the Stanley Cup moment at that point in history. That could give Pittsburgh the edge in this hypothetical battle, but of all the matchups I think this one could be considered the most up in the air to where Chicago might have made the series result a question. The Blackhawks would go onto make 2010 their version of Pittsburgh’s 2009 by winning the Cup the following season, they were well on their way to future glory. It would have been amazing to see those two young cores compete directly for the Cup, but it wasn’t meant to be since the Red Wings were still giving their last gasps of contention. The Pens probably still had enough talent with their experience boost to beat Chicago but it would have been one heck of a series. (Can’t be too mad since the real ‘09 SCF was one for the history books).
The 2016 Blues team was built around goaltending, tight checking and defense. They may have presented a challenge for the Penguins to punch through and earn a win, but St. Louis didn’t have enough offensive firepower to make the SCF that year and give little reason to believe they would beat the ‘16 Pens in a series. Given the balance and strength of the Pens this year, the result of this alternate reality ends up probably the same as it did in the real world where Pittsburgh eventually overpowers the Western representative that year in somewhat convincing fashion.
A 2017 Pens/Ducks SCF would have been fun. Anaheim had an older core (Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry) complimented by emerging young players (Rickard Rakell, Cam Fowler, Shea Theodore). Overall the Pens would have matched up well against the Ducks, though the way John Gibson was playing might have given them more problems that year than Pekka Rinne did in reality. This would have been a fairly even battle, but at this point the Pens were battle-tested and always managed to find a way to come out on top. It’s not hard to believe they likely would have done the same against the WC runner-up just as they did against the team that defeated Anaheim.
–
What matchup would you have liked to seen actually played out? It’s 2009 against Chicago for me, though several of the old Penguin players still talk about the bitterness they received from the outside over a perceived ‘easy path’ in 1991. Seeing them beat even a depleted version of Edmonton (who were defending champs) would have given a lot more street cred than they got, which is a shame since teams can only play whoever it is that they get matched up against. In the widest hypothetical possible, it would have been some of the most legendary hockey of all-time had Gretzky+Messier stayed with the Oilers a little deeper into the 1990’s to compete against Lemieux, but that window ended up not meant to be.
