PHILADELPHIA — Cristopher Sánchez, untouchable for most of the first half, will feel the full appreciation of his dominance when he throws the first pitch of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14.
Full starting lineups were announced in a press conference format with managers Dave Roberts and John Schneider on Monday.
Sánchez will kick-start what could be a nightlong fawning over the Philadelphia Phillies' brightest stars, leading a contingent of six hometown players in front of a Citizens Bank Park crowd eager for its first time playing host to the Midsummer Classic since 1996, when it was staged at Veterans Stadium, and many of this game's stars were not yet born.
Yet Sánchez and the National League will not have it easy; the American League will trot out Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease — who flirted with a no-hitter in his last outing — to start the game; as the Philadelphia Inquirer noted, the last pitcher to start an All-Star Game for either team was the late Hall of Famer Roy Halladay.
“This feels real special, real exciting, especially at home, so I am able to enjoy it overall,” says Sanchez through a translator.
“This can be described as the best moment of my career," the NL's starting pitcher said.
Cease will be backed by a power-packed lineup that gets a quick jump-start with future Hall of Famer Mike Trout, followed immediately by consensus first-half MVP Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros.
The NL lineup will be missing Shohei Ohtani, but that simply opens up the designated hitter slot for the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber, who has hit 88 homers, most in the major leagues, since the start of the 2025 season.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live on-site coverage of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Here are the latest updates and news as the National League and American League starting lineups were announced:
Who is the National League starting pitcher for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game?
MLB announced on Sunday that Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League on Tuesday in the All-Star Game. He is the first Phillies pitcher to start the Midsummer Classic since Roy Halladay got the start in 2011.
Sánchez, who finished as the runner-up in the Cy Young Award race last season, has continued to be one of the top pitchers in the league this year. He finished the first half with an 11-4 record and a 2.62 ERA with 144 strikeouts in an MLB-leading 20 starts.
Who is the American League starting pitcher for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game?
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who is serving as the American League manager in the All-Star Game, shared in the Blue Jays locker room on Sunday that right-hander Dylan Cease will start the Midsummer Classic.
Cease, who was one of the Blue Jays' big free agent additions this past offseason, went 6-4 in the first half of the season with a 2.56 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings pitched.
In his final start of the first half, Cease nearly came three outs shy of pitching the second no-hitter of his career and just the second in Blue Jays history, as he struck out 11 San Francisco Giants and threw a career-high 118 pitches in a 10-0 conquest of the San Francisco Giants.
How did Cease learn he's starting the All-Star Game?
Bettors are backing the hometown hero in the Home Run Derby, but it’s not Bryce Harper.
Key Takeaways
Kyle Schwarber is a big liability at sportsbooks.
MLB changed the Home Run Derby’s format for this year.
Bryce Harper and Junior Caminero are two other popular picks.
The other Philadelphia Phillies’ star, Kyle Schwarber, is the favorite and most-bet participant in Monday night’s event at Citizens Bank Park in the City of Brotherly Love. FanDuel told Covers that Schwarber is getting 22% of the tickets and 26% of the handle with Home Run Derby odds of +290.
BetMGM reported that Schwarber (+310) has seen an even higher 24.8% of the bets and 29.1% of the money, making the Phillies’ designated hitter the operator’s biggest liability.
Schwarber leads all MLB players with 32 home runs at the All-Star Break, and he’s competing in his third Home Run Derby. No other participant on Monday has more than 20% of the handle.
Bettors could also be backing Schwarber because of MLB’s format change. The Home Run Derby is ditching the clock, instead opting for a swing-based system for each round. Participants will get 20 swings in Round 1, 15 in Round 2, and 15 in the final round, attempting to hit as many homers as possible in those ranges.
If they hit a home run on their final swing of a round, they can keep going until the ball doesn’t go out.
This format also removes the first-round matchup brackets of years past, and tiebreakers in the first round are determined by home run distance and a swing-off in the later two rounds.
The main competition
Schwarber’s teammate, Harper, is BetMGM’s second-biggest liability. His odds have shortened from +900 to +850, third in the market, and Harper is getting 16.1% of the tickets and 14.4% of the money.
Only three players EVER have won the Home Run Derby in their home ballpark (h/t @SlangsonSports)
Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero is second on the odds list at +380 at FanDuel, where he’s getting 19% of the tickets and 20% of the money. He’s getting just over 17% of the handle at BetMGM and is third on the book’s liability list.
BetMGM has seen Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami’s odds in the Home Run Derby winner market go from +500 to +475, and the Japanese star has 10.7% of the bets and 10.3% of the handle.
Taking a shot?
New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice is a popular longshot. With odds of +1,000, 16% of the bet count and money are backing the Bronx Bomber at FanDuel. He’s fourth at BetMGM, where his odds have shortened from +1,100 to +850, with more than 11% of both the tickets and handle.
Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone (+650) is getting 8.8% of the money at BetMGM, while St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (+750) has taken 5.2% of the handle. Boston’s Wilson Contreras (+1,500) has seen the least amount of tickets (5.3%) and handle (2.4%).
What if the Los Angeles Kings aren't standing still at all?
After an offseason that has left some fans questioning the lack of a blockbuster move, a growing theory suggests general manager Ken Holland may be positioning the franchise for something far bigger than another veteran addition.
The Kings may not be waiting for the next available piece.
They may be waiting for the player who changes everything.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Los Angeles has been intentionally preserving as much financial flexibility as possible, with the belief that the right opportunity could eventually present itself. On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman described the Kings' strategy as maintaining "maximum flexibility" for what he called an "LA-type move."
That phrase immediately sparked speculation across the hockey world.
Because if the Kings are truly keeping their financial options open, there are only a handful of players who would justify such patience.
Connor McDavid.
Auston Matthews.
Two of the most recognizable superstars in the sport. Two players who could instantly change the trajectory of any franchise fortunate enough to acquire them.
Neither player is available today, and there is no guarantee either ever reaches the open market. But if one of hockey's biggest names does become attainable, Los Angeles appears determined not to be eliminated from the conversation because of financial commitments made today.
That possibility changes the way the Kings' offseason should be viewed.
Instead of chasing a series of expensive short-term upgrades, Los Angeles has focused on adding experienced complementary pieces, bringing in players such as Corey Perry, Mats Zuccarello, and Erik Haula. Those moves provide depth, but they are not the type of transactions that define a franchise.
Perhaps that is exactly the point.
Friedman noted the Kings would still like to add a puck-moving defenseman, but any move would likely require money leaving the roster first. Los Angeles is operating in a "dollar in, dollar out" environment, making every decision with an eye toward maintaining future flexibility.
For months, critics have questioned whether the Kings should abandon their current core and begin a full rebuild. But perhaps the organization sees another path.
Maybe Los Angeles doesn't believe it needs to tear everything down.
Maybe it believes one transformational addition could change the entire equation.
And it's important not to underestimate Holland when it comes to making those kinds of moves.
The veteran executive has faced criticism for the Kings' cautious approach this summer, but history shows patience does not mean passivity. During his tenure as general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, Holland completely reshaped his roster before the 2001-02 season by acquiring future Hall of Famers Luc Robitaille, Dominik Hasek, and Brett Hull.
That trio helped Detroit capture the Stanley Cup.
The circumstances were different, with no salary cap limiting roster construction at the time. But the larger lesson remains the same: when Holland believes a championship opportunity exists, he has shown he is willing to make aggressive decisions and swing for the biggest prizes available.
That history is worth remembering as Los Angeles continues to keep its options open.
The Kings may not be preparing for a rebuild.
They may be preparing for a blockbuster.
If Auston Matthews were ever to leave Toronto, Los Angeles would immediately become one of the most fascinating destinations to watch.
Matthews' connection to the American Southwest runs deeper than most NHL stars. Born in California, he spent much of his childhood in Arizona, where his family still has strong ties. It was there that he first fell in love with hockey, famously becoming captivated after watching Alexander Ovechkin score a highlight-reel goal during his rookie season in 2006.
The Arizona Coyotes are no longer part of the NHL landscape, creating a unique situation for a player whose early hockey memories were built in the desert.
If Matthews ever decides he wants to return closer to where his hockey journey began, the Utah Mammoth could naturally enter the discussion as the league's newest western destination. Utah has quietly continued building its roster and establishing itself as a legitimate NHL market.
But the Kings offer something different.
They offer a proven playoff foundation, one of the league's biggest markets, and potentially the financial flexibility to make the kind of move that rarely becomes available.
The same applies to McDavid.
Landing the Edmonton Oilers captain would represent one of the largest transactions in modern NHL history. Few organizations could realistically enter that conversation, but Los Angeles has the market, the ambition, and potentially the patience to make itself part of it.
In the meantime, the Kings continue adding pieces that fit a contender's supporting cast.
Haula's arrival is a perfect example. The veteran forward signed a two-year contract worth $3.6 million annually and immediately leaned on familiarity when making his decision, reaching out to longtime friend Joel Armia. The two grew up together in Finland and even shared a room during the 2026 Winter Olympics, giving Haula an inside perspective on life in Los Angeles.
Those are the types of moves teams make while waiting for something bigger.
Whether that bigger move ever involves McDavid, Matthews, or another superstar remains impossible to predict. Superstar players rarely become available, and both remain under contract with their current teams.
But if Friedman's theory is correct, the Kings are not simply sitting through a quiet offseason.
They are positioning themselves.
And if the right opportunity arrives, Los Angeles may be ready to make the biggest move in hockey.
Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code 'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $50 trading bonus after you deposit $50 to trade on any other event contracts — including MLB expert picks!
Sign Up Now at img src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/polymarketlogo.png" alt="Polymarket" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
*Eligible locations only
Josh Inglis' expert pick: Junior Caminero to win
Price: 19¢ (+425) at Polymarket
Junior Caminero was very close to becoming the youngest player ever to win the Home Run Derby last year, but came up a little short vs. Cal Raleigh.
He still hit 21 bombs in the first round and averaged 435 feet per homer. That distance is powered by the league's fastest bat speed at 79.9 mph, the best BlastCont% (26%), and a Top-10 IdealAtlAng%.
This is as short as +330 in some places.
Neil Parker's expert pick: Ben Rice to win
Price: 12¢ (+733) at Polymarket
A “super-short, super-tight swing,” has New York Yankees star Ben Rice up to 29 home runs, and his 29.8% home run to fly ball rate ranks fourth in the majors. Rice will also have his father, Dan Rice, on the mound tossing to him Monday, just like the father-son duo do every offseason.
Experience matters in this event, and Bryce Harper has already proven he thrives under its unique pressure.
He won the 2018 Derby in front of his home crowd in Washington, showing the spotlight only fuels him.
Some hitters get rattled under the bright lights of this competition, but Harper is built for it. Now he’ll have another chance to perform in front of a home crowd, and I think that experience gives him an edge.
Colby Marchio's expert pick: Jordan Walker to win
Price: 12¢ (+733) at Polymarket
I want young guys who have raw, natural power in the Home Run Derby, and Jordan Walker has all of that and more.
The younger stars are always a draw for me because I want to see them leave their mark and make a bigger name for themselves. The Cardinals' 6-foot-6, 250-pound outfielder is easily one of my favorite looks in this event.
JD Yonke's expert pick: Kyle Schwarber to win
Price: 23¢ (+344) at Polymarket
Citizens Bank Park is crafted for left-handed power, given its short porch in right field. Kyle Schwarber knows this park as well as any contestant, and he has something to prove with only a runner-up finish on his resume.
He's crushed 12 more dingers than any other player to lace them up since the start of last season (88), and it's time he takes the throne as the rightful home-run king with the hometown crowd behind him.
Chris Hatfield's expert pick: Kyle Schwarber to win
Price: 23¢ (+344) at Polymarket
Kyle Schwarber is my pick. While June may be the star's typical magic month, it will be this night in July that's his.
The case is simple: he has the most homers in baseball, elite barrel volume, and a lefty pull swing aimed at the 330-foot corner he calls home. The new 20-swing format rewards efficiency over stamina, and nobody wastes fewer swings than Schwarber.
Bonus storyline: he lost the 2018 final to Harper. Revenge at home against a teammate. Sign me up.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Novak Djokovic’s five-set quarter-final thriller, Linda Noskova’s courage and Jannik Sinner’s class were among the highlights at SW19
It takes a certain amount of toughness and inner belief to keep moving forward after an excruciating setback. In the last match Jannik Sinner played before Wimbledon, he was on the receiving end of a shocking collapse in his French Open second-round loss to Juan Manuel Cerundolo. He responded by gradually building in every round, turning in a flawless 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic . Then he elevated his level against a peaking Alexander Zverev to defeat the new No 2 in four sets. Sinner’s run to a fifth grand slam title showcased his dramatic serve improvements, defensive skills, drop shots and lobs alongside the clean, vicious ball-striking that defines his play.
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 06: Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) is honored for being named an All Star prior to the start of the the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on July 6th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
When the Atlanta Braves’ 2026 All-Stars were revealed just over a week ago, Ozzie Albies earned the distinction for the fourth time in his career. Though it might seem rote for a veteran player by that point, Albies believes this may be his most meaningful trip to the midsummer classic yet.
Beginning with a key home run on Opening Day, Albies appeared poised to return to his slugging ways and once again become a difference maker in the Atlanta lineup. The past three months only strengthened that notion as Albies earned the opportunity to start the All-Star Game for the first time in his 10-year career.
“It’s one of the most exciting things you can get named for,” Albies said of earning his spot on the National League All-Star team. “It makes your whole year. You work so hard since Day 1 in spring, the offseason, putting the work in. It’s nice to get the recognition that, hey, you’re an All-Star and you play your butt off every single day.”
Albies, who was previously an All-Star in 2018, 2021 and 2023, built a reputation as one of the game’s top offensive threats at second base. He surpassed 65 extra-base hits four times, compiled seasons with 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs twice, and surpassed 100 runs scored on three separate occasions.
Of course, hard work has never been an issue for Albies, who’s built a reputation as one of the most dedicated players on the Braves roster and routinely goes the extra mile in both his offseason and daily preparation. Injuries, however, took their toll on Albies’ ability to go to the post and produce.
In 2024, a fractured right wrist cost Albies just over two months of playing time and factored heavily into his slow start last year. After finally hitting his stride in the second half, Albies then suffered a fractured hamate bone in his left hand which ended his season in late September.
Overall, 2025 was a disappointing year in which Albies batted a career-low .240 and hit just 16 homers to go along with a .671 OPS in 157 games. Those numbers coupled with subpar defensive metrics, resulted in a career-low 1.7 fWAR for Albies in 2025.
That was a sharp departure from the player who’d been such a major cog in Atlanta’s lineup since debuting in 2017.
Prior to last year, Albies averaged 4.0 fWAR in each of his four full seasons from 2018-2023. During that stretch, Albies dealt with several major injuries, however. He missed 31 games due to a bone bruise in his left wrist during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and lost 98 games in 2022 because of both a fractured foot and a fractured finger.
Having overcome that laundry list of setbacks, once again being recognized as one of the best players in the game was even more meaningful to Albies this time around.
“When they told me, I got tears in my eyes immediately,” Albies said of finding out he was an All-Star again. “Dealing with (injury) issues here and there in baseball, it’s part of the game. But to come back and have a better season, it’s huge. It’s amazing. Like I said, we work every single day. Each and every single one of us works our butt off every single day on this team. That’s why it’s great when we get recognized like this.”
New Braves manager Walt Weiss, who was an All-Star for Atlanta in 1998, experienced the challenge of overcoming injuries multiple times during his 14-year playing career. Given a front row seat to watch Albies on a daily basis while serving on the Braves coaching staff since 2018, Weiss believes his second baseman should be held in high regard for his perseverance.
“I told Ozzie that I have a deeper level of respect for guys that get kicked down in this game, then fight their way back and get back to a high level,” Weiss said. “It’s not easy to do and he’s had to deal with injuries the last couple years and has worked hard to get back to where he’s at. Now, he’s being recognized for it… It’s a credit to him, because that doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of work and a lot of patience, but it’s great to see him playing the way he is.”
With all of those injuries in the past, Weiss was counting on Albies to once again contribute to the Braves lineup in meaningful ways in 2026.
“I liked what I saw from Ozzie this spring, especially right-handed,” Weiss said as the season got underway. “For the majority of his career, he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball against left-handed pitching. I know last year was a bit of an outlier. He got off to a slow start like a lot of our guys did, but I still believe in the guy, especially right-handed. I think he’s a beast. So, part of the lineup construction is going to be putting him in a position to get as many right-handed at-bats as possible.”
That strategy paid off for Weiss and the Braves during the first half of the season.
Albies owns a .798 OPS in 172 plate appearances with 19 extra-base hits and six of his 14 home runs against left-handers this season. That comes after posting just a .708 OPS with only four homers against southpaws in 186 plate appearances in 2025.
That boost in production against lefties has helped Albies’ overall 2026 numbers return to form. He finished the first half slashing .267/.320/.439 with 21 doubles, 14 homers, 51 RBIs and 61 runs scored in 95 games.
As for starting the All-Star game for the first time, Albies shared his appreciation with the Braves fans who put him in that position. He received a total of 1,498,141 votes and edged out Bryson Stott of the All-Star host Philadelphia Phillies for that honor.
“I want to say thank you to the fans,” Albies said. “They’re cheering us on in every moment. Even when we’re down, they’re still cheering for us. It’s gets us hyped, especially coming to the plate in big moments and you listen to your name get chanted out there. It helps you out to even have a better at-bat. We’ve all been there. I want to tell them thank you for voting for us, supporting us, and coming to give us all the energy we need every single day. It makes the game better.”
Settling early is typical during the salary arbitration hearing season, which runs from July 20 to Aug. 1 in Toronto. Both sides try to work out deals before the hearings.
This year, 15 restricted free agents filed to have an independent arbitrator determine their next contract. Both sides file salary requests and the arbitrator can award either number but often does something between.
The most interesting case is Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson, who made $7.75 million in his last deal and is due a big raise after a 96-point season. The record arbitration award was $7.5 million to future Hall of Famer Shea Weber in 2011.
Here are the salary arbitration dates, per puckpedia.com:
Monday, July 20
Jamie Drysdale, Philadelphia
Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg
Wednesday, July 22
Trevor Zegras, Philadelphia
Thursday, July 23
Jet Greaves, Columbus
Saturday, July 25
Xavier Bourgault, Ottawa (settled, one year, $850,000)
Jason Robertson, Dallas
Connor McMichael, St. Louis
Monday, July 27
Cole Sillinger, Columbus
Tuesday, July 28
Nick Robertson, Pittsburgh
Wednesday, July 29
Braden Schneider, N.Y. Rangers (settled, one year, $5.5 million)
The defenseman gets one year at $5.5 million, up from a $2.2 million average in his last two-year contract. Schneider averaged about three more minutes a game last season.
The forward averages $4.5 million in his new contract, a bump from his previous $1.45 million cap hit. Krebs had his first 82-game season and set career bests in goals (12), assists (27) and points (39).
The Colorado Avalanche have officially handed Fabian Lysell the opportunity he was waiting for.
Colorado announced Monday that it has signed the 23-year-old forward to a one-year contract for the 2026-27 season, giving the former first-round pick a prove-it deal just weeks after acquiring him from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ivan Ivan. Financial details have yet to been disclosed.
For both sides, the timing makes sense.
The Avalanche add another low-risk, high-upside talent to an organization that has built a reputation for successful reclamation projects, while Lysell gets a fresh start after several seasons spent trying to establish himself in Boston's system.
Colorado has seen this story unfold before.
Andre Burakovsky blossomed into a Stanley Cup champion after arriving from Washington. Valeri Nichushkin resurrected a career many around the league had begun to write off, evolving into one of the Avalanche's most valuable players after his departure from Dallas.
Lysell now arrives in Denver hoping to follow a similar blueprint.
Originally selected 21st overall by the Bruins in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Swedish winger has yet to translate his immense skill into a permanent NHL role. He has appeared in just 12 career NHL games, recording one goal and two assists, while spending the majority of his professional career with the AHL's Providence Bruins.
Last season, Lysell registered 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 57 games as Providence captured the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for finishing with the American Hockey League's best regular-season record. He ranked sixth on the club in scoring while finishing fifth in both goals and assists before appearing in one Calder Cup Playoff game.
The numbers remain respectable, but they also reflect a prospect whose development plateaued after an encouraging start.
A 50-point campaign in 2023-24 appeared to signal a breakthrough. Instead, it was followed by 34 points in 52 games during the 2024-25 season and 42 points this past year, leaving questions about whether the missing ingredient was consistency, opportunity, or simply the right environment.
Even Bruins general manager Don Sweeney acknowledged the relationship fell short of expectations.
"He hasn't fully grasped at the NHL level what it probably requires to play each and every night. He took ownership of that today," Sweeney said after the trade. "We took ownership that, could we have done more and better in supporting him? Probably."
That mutual accountability ultimately led both sides toward a fresh start.
Lysell's talent has never been difficult to identify. His skating, creativity with the puck, and offensive instincts made him one of the premier prospects in his draft class. The challenge has been converting those flashes into the kind of dependable, two-way game necessary to earn an everyday NHL role.
The Avalanche are betting they can help bridge that gap.
Before turning professional in North America, Lysell developed in Sweden with Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League while starring in Frölunda's junior program. He crossed the Atlantic following his draft year and immediately showcased his offensive ceiling with the WHL's Vancouver Giants, collecting 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) in 53 regular-season games before erupting for 21 points in 12 playoff contests. His 17 postseason assists led the entire WHL that spring.
Internationally, Lysell has represented Sweden at two IIHF World Junior Championships and the 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, earning bronze medals at both the 2022 World Juniors and the 2021 U18 tournament.
Now, the next chapter begins in Colorado.
The one-year contract gives Lysell an opportunity to reset his career while providing the Avalanche with another intriguing reclamation project at minimal risk. If the change of scenery unlocks the offensive potential that made him a first-round selection, Colorado could once again find itself turning another overlooked talent into a meaningful contributor.
For Lysell, that's exactly what this prove-it season is designed to determine.
Draymond Green and Udonis Haslem have found a way to turn the reported Bam Adebayo/Tyler Herro scuffle into a full-blown NBA enforcer feud.
Because apparently, one scuffle is never enough.
The drama started after Adebayo reportedly struck former Miami Heat teammate Herro during a workout Friday morning at practice near Resorts World Las Vegas. Herro, recently shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster, declined to explain what happened.
Udonis Haslem ripped Draymond Green after Green linked him to the alleged Bam Adebayo/Tyler Herro punch drama. Getty ImagesL–R: Teammates Adebayo and Herro of the Miami Heat looks on during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. NBAE via Getty Images
On “The Draymond Green Show,” the Warriors forward wondered whether Haslem would bring the same outrage for Adebayo that he once brought for Green after his infamous 2022 practice punch on Jordan Poole.
“I remember one person when the Jordan Poole incident happened with me who was really, really outspoken about it and it really Bothered me, was Udonis Haslem,” Green said.
“I saw UD get into it with guys on teams that was younger than him before. Ala Jimmy Butler,” Green continued. “Then he came out like, ‘That’s ridiculous! You get into it with your young guy I would never. I can’t believe you did that.’ What is it ‘Heat Culture or Heat way?’ Maybe they don’t have fights.”
Green speaking on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show”
Green even admitted he did not actually want Haslem to come down on Adebayo the way Haslem once hammered him.
“Reality is I don’t want him to have that same energy because I love Bam,” Green said. “That’s my brother, my dog.”
Haslem did not wait long to respond. NBAE via Getty Images
Green also appeared to draw a direct line between Herro and Poole, saying Herro, who is from Milwaukee like Poole, has “a lot of bravado as a young guy” and “probably said some very disrespectful things like Jordan Poole.”
Haslem, who spent two decades as Miami’s resident culture cop before moving into a front-office role, did not wait long to respond. In a lengthy social media post, the retired Heat captain essentially told Green to stop trying him.
“I see some things just don’t change,” Haslem wrote. “You was on sucka s–t four years ago when you swung on Jordan Poole and you on sucka s–t now.”
Haslem pointed out that Green was a 32-year-old veteran champion when he struck the 23-year-old Poole (left). NBAE via Getty Images
And that was just the warmup.
Haslem argued Green’s punch was not comparable, pointing out that Green was a 32-year-old champion and veteran leader when he struck the 23-year-old Poole. Adebayo and Herro, he noted, are much closer in age and no longer teammates after Herro’s trade to Milwaukee.
“First of all Bam is 28. Tyler is 26. Neither one of them got it all figured out yet,” Haslem wrote.
Golden State’s Green rebounds against Miami’s Haslem. NBAE via Getty Images
He then made the distinction even sharper.
“Anyone who knows Bam knows he’s strong as baby bear,” Haslem wrote. “If he would’ve unloaded on Tyler 100% it’s over. You fired off on that young boy like it was a club punch and you never met him before in your life.”
Haslem made it clear he is not interested in becoming a recurring character on Green’s podcast. NBAE via Getty Images
Haslem also defended his own history of checking teammates in Miami, including Jimmy Butler, saying that kind of behavior would not fly with the Heat.
“Call it Heat Culture or whatever you want,” Haslem wrote. “But before I let one player disrespect [head coach Eric Spoelstra] in front of the squad, cut his legs out and disrupt what 15 other guys tryin to get accomplished, I’ll kick his ass.”
Finally, Haslem made it clear he is not interested in becoming a recurring character on Green’s podcast.
Green and Haslem have already done what NBA gadflies do best in July: Turn somebody else’s fight into their own. Getty Images
“Ion really vibe you and I think you know that,” Haslem wrote. “You brought me into this and I am retired and out the way. I suggest you keep it pushing cause I ain’t giving out no more hall passes bra!”
Of course, being “out the way” apparently still includes dropping five-paragraph warnings on social media.
The original Adebayo-Herro incident remains cloudy. No video has surfaced, no punishment has been announced and nobody involved seems eager to explain exactly what happened.
But Green and Haslem have already done what NBA gadflies do best in July: Turn somebody else’s fight into their own.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 11: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the Tampa Bay Rays selection of Grady Emerson second overall during the 2026 MLB Draft at Pennsylvania Convention Center on July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rays entered the 2026 draft with one of the best opportunities in baseball, and they capitalized on it. Headlined by Grady Emerson at No. 2 overall and complemented by an unusually prep-heavy class, Tampa Bay assembled one of the most interesting classes in the league. More notably, the Rays selected a franchise-record seven high school players in the first 10 rounds, continuing a philosophical shift that began in last year’s draft. Whether that’s simply confidence in their player development system or something more, the organization’s emerging willingness to invest premium picks in prep position players and prep pitchers has become one of the more intriguing draft trends in baseball. Nearly 50% of the Rays picks this year were from high school players while the league average continues to trend down for this demographic.
All-time draft history by school type, with the 2026 draft included:
The HS rate has hovered right around 20% since the covid draft.
The Rays’ first five selections add impact talent all over the field. Emerson and Marchand immediately bolster what was already an athletic group of middle infielders, giving Tampa Bay two more high-upside players capable of sticking on the left side of the infield. Emerson, in particular, projects to become one of the system’s premier prospects the moment he signs. I expect him to slot in as a consensus top 25 prospect behind Theo Gillen – who is looking like a consensus top 10 prospect. Marchand has a unique hit and power combo that gives him impact potential at the top half of a lineup.
On the pitching side, Ben Blair and Gavin Giese strengthen a farm system that has become increasingly position-player heavy near the top. Selecting Blair at No. 49 marked a departure from recent drafts, where the Rays had overwhelmingly favored position players with their early selections. Blair gives the Rays an advanced college starter whose deceptive, low-slot delivery and feel for spin could allow him to move quickly through the minors while Giese adds another projectable prep arm with the type of offspeed profile the organization has consistently developed well.
Collin Bland also fills a niche within the system. While the Rays have accumulated plenty of athletic position players in recent years, true middle-of-the-order power remains relatively scarce throughout the lower levels. Bland’s raw power gives the organization another potential impact bat to develop, even if there’s inherent risk in his hit tool.
Taken as a whole, Day One of this class reinforces what has become a hallmark of the Rays’ farm system: exceptional depth. Rather than targeting one demographic, Tampa Bay added premium athletes, two intriguing starting pitching prospects, and one of the better prep power bats in the draft. The result is a more balanced system that now features increased upside at several positions without sacrificing the organizational depth that has long been one of its greatest strengths.
Day Two
The Rays way was on continued display on Day 2 as Tampa Bay repeatedly targeted pitchers with flatter approach angles, lower arm slots, and above-average feel for spin. Lower arm slots can produce flatter approach angles, making fastballs appear to stay above hitters’ barrels longer and allowing them to play above their raw velocity. Owen Kramkowski, Tate McKee, Logan Georges, Cole Stokes, Steven Gonzalez, Mason Bixby, Alex Philipott, Nate Smithburg (lefty submarine pitcher!), and Ivan Sabater all fit that mold. Ben Blair belongs in this group as well despite being selected on Day One. While each has different velocity bands, the common denominator is the ability to spin multiple secondaries with lower slot deliveries that create deception.
A second group consisted of athletic, relatively low-mileage arms. Kyle Johnson, AJ Rice, Griffin Long, Amp Phillips, McCarty English, and David Horn Jr. all have comparatively light workloads for their age while showing either advanced feel for an offspeed pitch or the athleticism to develop one. Gavin Giese from their Day One group also falls under this category. Rather than chasing finished products, the Rays appear to have prioritized pitchers with developmental runway in this group.
The only position player the Rays selected on Day Two was prep OF Tai Jones. Jones is a big, 6’2 righty who is a great athlete. His swing is smooth with above average bat speed while still being direct to the ball. His plus arm and speed will play anywhere in the outfield. Jones could grow into a significant power-speed threat as he refines his approach. He also comes from Jackson Academy, where current Rays first base coach Corey Dickerson served as head coach before joining Tampa Bay’s staff.
Overall, this class reflects a subtle but meaningful shift in the Rays’ draft philosophy.
Tampa Bay invested heavily in prep talent more than ever before, added four position players with legitimate impact offensive tools, and diversified the types of pitchers it targeted throughout the draft – particularly in the later rounds where they usually go pitcher-heavy.
In recent years, the Rays largely targeted pitchers with riding fastballs and feel for spin. This class was noticeably broader. Some pitchers this year fit that mold, but others were selected for deceptive lower arm slots, athleticism, or standout offspeed characteristics. Rather than searching for one archetype, Tampa Bay appeared to identify several different developmental pathways and filled each one with multiple prospects.
Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski, right, looks down at an All-Star Game jersey given to him before Sunday's game at Dodger Stadium. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski could have been content with his performance the first couple months of the season. After all, he’d come into the year fighting for a rotation spot, and he’d shown in that time that he was ready to be a full-time major-league starter.
That wasn’t enough.
While still holding onto his identity as a pitcher who goes right at hitters, over Wrobleski’s last two starts, he tallied 20 strikeouts.
“I think we’re just doing a good job with the plan,” Wrobleski said last week, days before he was named an All-Star. “I feel like I’m continuing to get better at knowing where to go with two strikes, knowing where to go versus a certain hitter with two strikes and just kind of reading the game.”
Wrobleski is the only Dodgers pitcher set to appear in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani’s schedules didn’t line up — and Ohtani eventually pulled out of All-Star activities altogether in order to have his left knee drained on Sunday.
The story of how Wrobleski got there, in his first full season in the rotation, after debuting two years ago, includes plenty of twists and turns.
“It’s a chronicle story in his young career, the down to up, but at the end of the day, he’s been a rock for us these first three months,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said in a conversation with The Times. “Was hoping he got in on the first set of announcements, but at the end of the day, he’s an All-Star, and he’s earned every bit of it.”
When Wrobleski wasn’t included on the initial NL All-Star roster, the Dodgers coaching staff went to work lobbying for him to be a replacement player. Manager Dave Roberts publicly made the case for Wrobleski and closer Tanner Scott whenever he had the chance.
Then, a week later, Wrobleski (10-2, 2.69 ERA) got the call after Reds right-hander Chase Burns bowed out because of tightness in his groin.
“He’s done so many intangible things that I think get lost in the shuffle of numbers and metrics,” Prior said. “But he’s eaten innings, he’s provided length for us when we needed length. He went toe-to-toe with [Phillies three-time All-Star Zack] Wheeler. He went toe-to-toe with [José] Soriano when he was dealing with the Angels, kept us in ballgames.”
Admittedly, a year and a half ago, Prior wouldn’t have imagined Wrobleski would be an obvious All-Star pick this quickly.
The tipping point came when Wrobleski surrendered eight runs to the Nationals in his first major-league start of the 2025 season. And it didn’t help that his last start of the previous season was a 10-run slog against the Diamondbacks.
“It was a long, raw emotional sit down with him,” Prior said. “And [Roberts] and I, and [assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness] and the staff, we left with like, ‘Which way is this going to go?’”
But persistence has been a hallmark of Wrobleski’s career, dating to his college years, when he infamously bounced back from a car hitting him on a scooter, and a baseball breaking his jaw. He also underwent Tommy John surgery two months before the Dodgers selected him in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB draft.
So, committing to a delivery change last April wasn’t all that intimidating.
Wrobleski returned to the majors in mostly a bullpen role. And his steadiness in those shorter outings culminated in a strong postseason run that included four scoreless appearances in the World Series.
“We talk about, who can you depend on to not let the moment get too big?” Prior said. “And I think Wrobo had proved that all the way through September, but clearly proved that the moment is not too big for him to continue to make pitches. And that was exciting to see, too, as a staff.”
Still, Wrobleski wasn’t guaranteed a rotation role in 2026. And Prior was frank about that over the offseason.
Wrobleski’s first outing of 2026 was in relief, but the Dodgers had earmarked him as their sixth starter for the second turn in the rotation.
In his first five starts, Wrobleski posted an eye-popping 0.56 ERA.
His swing-and-miss rate and strikeouts were down, but pitching to soft contact was getting him positive results. The most glaring example came against the Cardinals in early May, when he threw six shutout innings without recording a punchout.
Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski recorded 20 strikeouts in his last two starts before the All-Star Game. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Wrobleski wasn’t going to coast on that early success, however. He kept fine-tuning his delivery and adjusting his pitch mix, right through a rough patch in late May, and into a consistent June.
“He went from paring down his arsenal to kind of two pitches, to regrow his arsenal while he’s learning how to pitch at this level,” Prior said. “I think the big thing is now these guys have different looks.”
Throughout the year, Wrobleski’s four-seam fastball and slider have done the heavy lifting. But the rest of his secondary pitch mix has been a moving target.
He and the pitching coaches have talked through the most effective use of his curveball. He started integrating his sinker more consistently in late April, especially against left-handed hitters. He’s tinkered with different grips for his changeup, a pitch he started deploying more in mid-May. Three weeks ago, he introduced a sweeper. And in his past two starts, he’s thrown that pitch 19 times.
“At the heart of it, though, is he never lets off the gas pedal,” Prior said. “He just gets the ball, he’s on the rubber, he puts the hitter on defense from the get-go before they’ve even seen a pitch. And that’s something that not everybody can do.”
So, despite the journey, when Wrobleski looks back at the pitcher he was a year and a half ago, he doesn’t see a complete overhaul.
“Same guy but different, I guess,” he said. “It’s crazy. I’ve had to go through a lot of small tweaks and changes. And it’s just all been about just having belief that I could continue to do it. And I knew that there were a lot of things that I could do just to get better, and I wasn’t as far away as maybe it seemed on the outside — or, as people thought it was.
“I felt like I was close, that whole time, even though the results weren’t really there. It’s been cool to see the results come.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets walks on the court during a break in the first half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game against the New York Knicks at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2026 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. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You’d have to say that even with a couple of obvious concerns, the Nets Off-Season has been a success, starting from June 23. Their best draft pick in 16 years (think about that!) has been, as his Summer League coach said, “electric” and the development of their second best pick in that timeframe has been exciting. They also got a two-time All-NBA and three-time All-Star who’s still capable of putting up 20 and 7 plus another first round pick in what was essentially a salary dump, much like they did last year. Yeah, they want to win.
Yes, their rim protection and rim running are questionable, Drake Powell has raised questions about his NBA future as a shooter and they didn’t come away with a superstar or even a star in free agency (yet?) but adding Mikel Brown Jr., Julius Randle and another first in Joshua Jefferson while watching Egor Demin dominate has provided, let’s say, some suggestion of hope that the first of many corners has finally been turned.
And they did it without cutting into their cache of draft picks, although their seeming reluctance to move any of their record cache of second rounders was a bit of a head-scratcher.
The big news of the Off-Season of course is drafting Brown Jr., aka MBJ or ‘Kel. Randle has the resume’ but he’s 31 going on 32. While Brown Jr. has played only two games, both were filled with moments that make it less than crazy to say Brooklyn has a lead guard who can play on either end of the court, score from all angles and throw some passes that makes most fans wonder when they last saw a playmaker like him in black-and-white.
Despite bleating, mostly from pundits, that the Nets should have taken Darius Acuff, he of the “sizzle”, “box office” and “star quality,” over Brown Jr., there’s now increasing if begrudging agreement that the players taken before and after Brown Jr. have shown more flaws than the Nets pick at No. 6.
Acuff’s defense has been as advertised, that is somewhere between awful and non-existent and unlikely to improve any time soon. His scoring (19.5 ppg in four games), by his own admission has been inefficient. In two games in Sacramento and two more so far in Las Vegas, he’s shooting 13-of-41 or 31.7% overall and 8-of-31 from deep or 25.8%. Remember it was his shooting that wowed everyone during his time at Arkansas, not his defense. Oh no.
Keaton Wagler taken at No. 5 has only played in two games and while his 23-point effort Sunday night in Las Vegas was solid, it comes after a 1-of-7 shooting night in his Vegas debut. As they did prior to the Draft, critics noted his lack of athleticism as well as his high BBIQ. Wagler, for example, finished 50th in the NBA Combine’s shuttle run out of 72, and he didn’t dunk once at Illinois last season.
Brown Jr., in comparison, has played only two games, one each in the two leagues, and is averaging 15.0 points while shooting 10-of-23 or 43.5% overall and 5-of-11 or 45.5% from deep. He’s also tallied seven assists to four turnovers in 41 minutes. The eye test, as anyone who watched the games, can attest, was even more impressive.
So maybe, the Nets didn’t screw it up? that they won’t regret for all time and a day not taking Acuff? Without explanation on Sunday night, Steven A. Smith, who famously excoriated the Nets for taking Brown Jr. over “box office” Acuff, reposted a positive interview he did with the Nets pick prior to the Draft…
I asked Brooklyn Nets Guard, Mikel Brown Jr. the tough question, and he delivered!
A back-handed apologia from Steven A that he might have been wrong the first time? Is it Brown Jr., not Acuff who’s “box office?” On the other hand, it should be noted that despite Brown Jr.’s play as well as his high pick, Smith’s colleagues at ESPN didn’t even mention him in its discussion of first impressions of the 2026 Draft Class.
Of course, we’ll know more Tuesday when the Nets and Brown face off against the Kings and Acuff at 6:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime.
Yes, it’s only Summer League which is after all, the ancestral home of NBA hype, and it’s only been two games, and Coach Dutch Gaitley offered these areas of improvement for Brown Jr. after his first game.
“The thing we’re challenging him now is figuring out his spots in the flow of the offense. Him and Egor together, how can we get both of them going at the same time,” Gaitley said. “And defensively is increasing his physicality. The first part is hitting bigs when they’re rolling, boxing them out. He’s smart, so some of the stuff he’s doing defensively I told him was Level 4, Level 5. We’re still on 1.5 in summer league.
“He’s smart enough that he knows what the next iteration we may not get to until October; but he knows it already. How can we do the little things and the simple stuff perfect before we build on [it]? And the last part is just getting into the ball, more physicality, pick-and-roll, which defensively isn’t what he’s not known for right now, but it’s something that’s going to surprise a lot of people.”
Still, gotta be happy. Demin too has been a revelation for those who think the Nets got nothing out of their five-firsts in 2025. It’s no exaggeration that Demin has been the best player on the court in the three games he’s played. one of the top marks in the Summer, and going to the rim as will. From going 1-of-4 in the paint in his first three games last year in Vegas to hitting 11-of-12 in his first two games in Sacramento was a revelation for a lot of people if not the assistant coaches who worked with him since March. Overall, he’s 22-of-42 — 52.4% — even if his 3-point shooting has fallen off at 7-of-23 or 30.4%.
There have been other positives out of the Summer beyond “Brooklyn’s Backcourt” … whose trademark the Nets have controlled since DWill and Joe Jesus. Chaney Johnson, who just turned 24, has continued to show he’s an NBA player, particularly in his Las Vegas debut where he dropped a 20/10 double-double and showed off his 40+ inch max vertical as well as some new found strength, Although somewhere between 6’7” and 6’8”, he’s been playing center at times and Gaitley has noted his position-less possibilities.
“I knew Chaney was a beast. It’s further confirmed,” Gaitley told the media. “In the ESPN thing, they asked about all of our rookies: ‘Who’s the one guy you haven’t talked about?’ I was like, ‘It’s Chaney Johnson.’ And the reason is Chaney has to play at the center just because we need him to play the center.
“If we needed Chaney to play point guard, Chaney would play point guard. He does whatever is called for the team. He’s an outstanding teammate. He plays as hard as anybody on the court. I think he’s got a really bright future.”
Bruce Brown II? In any case, he’s putting up 15.0 points and 8.8 boards while shooting 22-of-34 or 64% overall and 4-of-6 from deep. Not a bad pick-up.
The Nets other confirmed two-way, No. 43 pick Tyler Bilodeau, has had some moments as well in his three games, his most impressive night being Brown Jr.’s debut in Sacramento where he hit 6-of-8 from deep, each time wide open and ready thanks to Brown Jr.‘s gravity. (Nothing official on who will get the third two-way but Grant Nelson, the athletic 7-footer who had nice numbers last year in Long Island then Brooklyn before injuring his knee seems the betting favorite.)
Then, there’s remaining first rounders from last year’s Draft. Nolan Traore, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after the season, is in Las Vegas but still recovering. Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf have looked much like themselves in Summer League with Saraf showing more defense, Wolf more shooting. Joshua Jefferson’s first game was disappointing but he had just signed his new contract and put on his first NBA uniform.
The big story though is Drake Powell, the 6’7” wing, is having a horrible Summer League, shooting 1-of-28 overall — that’s 3.7% — in four games. It’s so much of an aberration now that it’s easier to deal with. No one can be that bad. He’s not hurt, he’s still moving well and he even grew an inch over the summer. Is it the “yips” described by Wikipedia as “psychoneuromuscular impediment, a sudden and unexplained loss of ability to execute certain skills in experienced performers such as athletes.” Others have described it as performance anxiety. Whatever, it is real, but for the most part it’s temporary.
“People have talked a lot about his shot. They haven’t talked about his defense, and his defense has been outstanding,” Gaitley told The Post’s Brian Lewis. “He was the primary matchup for [Darius] Acuff in the first game, and [Acuff] had two points on him the whole entire game. He had 11 matchups and only had two points; that’s really impressive.
“Offensively, just trying to simplify it for Drake. Hey, if you’re open, shoot it. If you’re not open, drive it. Sometimes he gets caught in between he maybe should’ve shot it. And then he’s like, ‘Oh, I made the wrong decision. All right, now let me shoot it.’ And it’s like, right now you’ve just got to get off it. So I think hopefully the game slows down for him.”
Powell, one of the top high school players in the country two years ago, spent his freshman year under UNC’s Hubie Green, who saw Powell as a defensive specialist. He got little usage on offense and despite his high school achievements (which included being valedictorian of his graduating class), he fell from a preseason ranking in the top five to No. 22 on Draft Night in 2025. He was the biggest reach of the five-player class in that ESPN’s final mock had him going at No. 32.
The Nets remain optimistic. There are a lot of tools there, but an issue can’t be ignored even if there are reasons it can be dismissed. Maybe Brooklyn would be well served by hiring a dedicated shooting coach. They know about the “yips.”
Hail, Hail, the gang’s all here!
Looking at the bench and nearby seating at the Summer League games, it’s hard to figure out who isn’t there, rather than who is. The Nets Summer League roster includes six players under contract: Egor Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson plus two two-ways in Chaney Johnson and Tyler Bilodeau.
Also seen cheering and checking their mobile phones nearby have been Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, Noah Clowney, Keon Ellis, Terance Mann, Josh Minott, Day’Ron Sharpe and Nolan Traore who would normally be on the court except, as noted, he’s recovering from a ‘scope. That leaves only the yet unsigned Moe Wagner! (He has been seen at a Liberty game this week, however, and our Lucas Kaplan notes he’s been living in Brooklyn all summer.)
Same thing with the coaching staff. Jordi Fernandez has been watching from the stands and six of his nine assistants, everyone but his three senior assistants, Steve Hetzel, Juwan Howard and Jay Hernandez, are on the bench. Those three are on hand, however. The Nets have also brought four video assistants, including one, Foster Loyer, who is being promoted to “special assistant to the head coach;” three Long Island Nets coaches, including the newly minted head coach Shawn Swords; and advance scout Brian O’Connor. Sean Marks has been on hand as well, mobile phone in hand.
Randle spoke about how the simple presence of veterans can help youngsters adapt to NBA life,
“They’re really excited to have me here. Jordi [Fernandez] is really excited. He feels like going into every game, we’ve got a chance to win every single game,” Randle said. “To have that confidence from your coach is amazing. … I get to come in and be a leader, show guys how to be a pro.
“We’re coming in trying to win. It’s as simple as that. However we can help give the younger guys experience and confidence and help them fast-track or whatever it is to contribute to winning basketball, that’s really all that matters.”
It’s something Demin says he’s seen already from the 13-year veteran.
“He’s experienced being around many different teams and playing in the different levels of the different stages of the season and playoffs,” Dëmin said. “He brings an amazing knowledge. And he seems a great person.”
Done yet? Probably. but …
The Nets currently have 14 players on guaranteed deals, with Moe Wagner waiting in the wings, plus the two two-ways in Tyler Bilodeau and Chaney Johnson. It would appear that the Nets free agency is done, but depending on how they manipulate and time things, they have a little wiggle room.
Per Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron, they can probably whittle together just a bit less than $12 million without Wagner’s two-year, $19 million contract and that could signal that the Nets are holding on to their last vestige of optionality. The Nets can sign Wagner out of cap space or fit his first year salary into the $9.4 million room MLE that’s available to them. Some have speculated that the similarity between his salary and the first year of the MLE
Signing him out of cap space of course would basically put them at or near the salary cap but still tens of millions of dollars short of the luxury tax threshold or the first apron. Using the MLE would mean delaying his signing till they’re out of other options.
Any trade at this point — and we have no inside information — would likely take full advantage of the Nets cache of draft picks. Other than expending them in the 2026 Draft, the Nets haven’t moved any of their picks in the off-season and in fact added a first, the 28th pick they used on Joshua Jefferson, in the Julius Randle trade.
As more than one league source has told us, gathering this many picks means the Nets want to be opportunistic either now or at the trade deadline.
Of course, we don’t know what the Nets will do with MPJ, but applying logic it would seem they are going to extend him. They had multiple chances to deal him last deadline but decided against it. Instead, they shut him down. Considering that more than one amateur capologist has suggested Marks and Tsai could rework his contract, add as much as $9 million (that number again) to the $40.8 million he’ll make next season, then extend him to a contract with declining salaries. He’s only 28.
Final Note
Adam Silver will speak to the media Wednesday as he always does during Summer League and the press conference is likely to be dominated by the still unresolved Aspiration scandal involving alleged circumvention of the salary cap by the Clippers in signing Kawhi Leonard, the burgeoning gambling scandal that recently snagged veteran Terry Rozier and the revelation in Wired Magazine that James Dolan’s facial recognition programs are a lot more widespread and egregious.
The Nets are not directly affected by any of them, but the league needs to deal with all three. Each affects the most basic trust between fans and the league. Cheating whether in the boardroom or on the court and spying on fans all have the ability to damage the league for a long time.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 10: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on July 10, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS — After the Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets and bought out Bradley Beal this summer, all the attention turned toward how the team planned to build around Devin Booker, whom Suns management has continued to express the team is building around despite numerous rumors and mock trades surrounding the NBA All-Star.
Along with acquiring Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, two of the most important pieces the team is planning to build around are Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach, who are getting their second go-around in NBA Summer League after both played sparingly in their rookie years. Both were acquired in the deal that sent Durant to Houston.
After the team’s second game in three days and an 81-75 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, the two reflected on their second stints playing in Summer League in a joint postgame interview.
Maluach, who’s currently leading the Summer League in rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 50% from three on 5.5 attempts a game, has said he’s been given opportunities to learn how to be more adaptable. He’s trying to find ways to improve while playing and when no one’s watching.
“I go back and watch film and just observe the game and just really get better. Continuing while the game is going on, keep on adjusting, keep on getting better throughout the whole game,” Maluach said.
While he’s been strong on the boards and has averaged a combined three steals and blocks per game so far, the Duke product is focused on cutting down his turnovers after averaging 3.5 in his first few contests. He knows as a young center it’s something he needs to focus on.
“Being a young big, when the (regular) season gets here I know a lot of people are going to pressure up into me and try to make me turn over the ball, and I just gotta be able to take care of the ball so that my coach can trust me with the ball.”
Fleming, who has had a rough start to Summer League shooting just 36.8% from the field, is taking pride in doing the small things and being a leader as a veteran on the roster, along with Maluach.
“Just being able to make the next play for my teammates and knowing they’ll do the same when one of us (him or Maluach) gets in trouble, just being there for each other,” Fleming said.
When it comes to the defensive side of the ball, Fleming wants him and Maluach to take a unified approach to limiting other teams.
“I think we all just gotta go out there trying to make the right play. Whether it’s me, whether it’s him (Maluach), we both go out there just looking to make the right play.”
After the game, it is important to note that Fleming had his left hand wrapped up but said he was “fine” and that he was just feeling a bit “sore.”
Rasheed Fleming came out to postgame interview with his left hand wrapped up.
— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) July 12, 2026
As is typical for many players going into their second season in the NBA, playing in Summer League, Fleming and Maluach’s time in Summer League could possibly be over. However, Suns assistant coach Chaisson Allen, who is the head coach of the Summer League team, signaled there is a chance both could play tomorrow against Milwaukee because he said it’s important for young players to get reps.
Suns Summer League Head Coach Chaisson Allen non-committal on the status for Khaman Maluach and other guys to play tomorrow against the Bucks.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 09: Tyler Stephenson #37 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates his single with first base coach Collin Cowgill #54 in the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park on July 09, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NL Central has been a surprisingly competitive and deep division in MLB this year. The Brewers have once again established themselves as the cream of the crop, but the Cubs and Cardinals are contenders in the Wild Card race and even the Pirates have shown flashes, with a record over .500 at time of writing. But after a 20-11 start to the season, the Cincinnati Reds have fallen precipitously to the bottom of the pack, and find themselves with virtually no shot of climbing back up the ladder to contention.
A shame, too, since the Reds have a plethora of exciting young talent, particularly on the mound. Additionally, Elly De La Cruz remains of the of the most exciting players in the sport. But Cincinnati’s offense has been shockingly poor this season, posting a 90 wRC+ as a team — tied with scuffling NL West neighbors Arizona and San Diego for the worst mark in baseball.
So with that in mind, the Reds will have little choice than to continue to build for the future. The problem: Cincinnati’s roster is largely comprised of young, pre-arbitration players who don’t fit the mold for deadline deals. There are still a couple of veteran players the Yankees could potentially take a chance on — but they won’t light up the sports talk circuit.
In terms of bats, again, we’re talking about one of the worst hitting teams in baseball here. Much of their good production has come from guys like De La Cruz and rookie Sal Stewart. J.J. Bleday has come into his own as a strong lefty bat for the Reds after signing on a one-year deal, but still has a few more arb years ahead of him. As an outfielder, there’s little roster fit anyway unless somebody suffers an injury that sidelines them indefinitely. And let’s just say that a coveted bat from last year’s trade deadline, Eugenio Suárez, does not project to be a difference-maker at third base this time around.
There is one interesting opportunity for the Yankees to make a potential upgrade: behind the plate. Cincinnati’s catcher tandem of Tyler Stephenson and old friend Jose Trevino could be available. Reuniting with Trevino would mitigate the friction generally associated with trading for a catcher at the deadline, since he’s a familiar face. Obviously, we know his offensive ceiling is limited — so Stevenson would present a more tangible upgrade.
Stephenson is a pending free agent with a power hitter’s build who has a career 102 wRC+; though he’s fallen short of that mark in 2026. The 6-foot-3, 225 pound righty hit 19 homers as part of a career year in 2024, and it’s not inconceivable that the stick could come along. The problem lies in his defense. Stephenson has always been a poor framer by MLB standards, but his -10 catcher framing runs this season is the poorest mark in baseball, with nobody particularly close. The Yankees are known for developing elite framers, but it’s hard to imagine Stephenson’s results improving over the course of a few short months as he tries to learn a challenging pitching staff on the fly.
The remaining options of note for the Reds lie in the pitching staff. The bullpen is where you’ll find more veterans: guys like Brock Burke, Sam Moll, and the undefeatable Tejay Antone, who has persevered through three Tommy John surgeries. Burke and Moll both have a tendency to walk a lot of batters, and Antone obviously has quite the history. Pierce Johnson is a breaking-ball-first veteran who pitched well last season and got off to a strong start to this year. Again, we’re not talking about household names here.
The Reds’ biggest player development successes have come in their starting rotation, and it’s hard to imagine the Yankees will care to pay the price for guys like Andrew Aboott and the recently-returned Hunter Greene. Brady Singer has put together a couple of good recent seasons, and could be available as a back-of-the-rotation arm. Singer has battled to a 4.72 ERA this year, and lacks a truly elite pitch, so there should be higher-quality options if the Yankees feel compelled to add rotation depth.
Cincinnati is in a weird spot — they don’t fit the traditional mold in terms of sellers, with few veterans performing well enough to command a lot of attention. As such, it’s not very likely we’ll see a new face from the Queen City come to the Bronx ahead of this month’s deadline.
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 20: Macon Winslow #6 of the North Carolina Tar Heels bats during the fourth inning against the Oklahoma Sooners in Game 1 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 20, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Day two of the 2026 MLB draft kicked off on Sunday morning. Four Tar Heels baseball players were selected on Saturday, highlighted by Jake Schaffner’s surprising selection as the 20th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox. Carolina fans didn’t have to wait long before seeing another UNC player taken off the board.
Macon Winslow was selected in the sixth round with the 190th pick by the Philadelphia Phillies. The UNC catcher set multiple career highs in his only season with the Heels after transferring away from the wrong shade of blue. Winslow batted .282 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Heels and was a regular behind the plate for one of the best pitching staffs in the country. Winslow’s selection made five UNC selections in the first six rounds of the draft; that’s the most Tar Heels selected in the first six rounds since 2009.
Mathew Matthijs also heard his name called on Sunday, as he was taken in the 17th round (520th overall). The four-year Tar Heel pitcher had a bit of a rocky 2026 but still finished his career with a 4.48 ERA overall and a 16-6 record as a UNC reliever. Matthijs was a Third Team All-American selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2024; he will head to Seattle to join the Mariners.
Also somewhat notable is a UNC player who didn’t get drafted: Gavin Gallaher. One of the best pieces on offense for the Heels, Gallaher didn’t end up getting drafted despite being ranked among the top 150 prospects. This should clear the way for Gallaher to return to Chapel Hill for his senior season.
