MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 15: Adou Thiero #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on November 15, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers’ two most recent draft picks highlight the team’s 2026 Summer League roster, announced by the team on Wednesday afternoon.
Both Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr will play in Summer League this season for the Lakers, which kicks off at the California Classic on Friday in before the team travels to Las Vegas starting on July 10.
Thiero had an injury-riddled rookie season in LA. He did not play in Summer League last year due to a knee injury, which cost him the start of the season as well. Thiero only played in 25 games, most of that action coming in injury time.
One of the most interesting names is Zhaire Smith. The former No. 16 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft saw his career derailed by a near-fatal allergic reaction that forced him to be hospitalized and resulted in him losing 60 pounds. Since then, Smith has bounced around the G League and various NBA teams.
It was 96 degrees when Zack Wheeler threw his first pitch Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Like the old song says: Hot town, summer in the city.
Or maybe it should be: Hot team, summer in the city.
Fresh off 18 wins in June – second-most in the big leagues – the Phillies opened the month of July with a 10-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Phillies, now a season-high 11 games over .500, took it to defending National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, lighting him up for a career-high eight runs in four innings.
Wheeler, a two-time runner-up in the Cy Young voting, labored through his most difficult start of the season. His stuff was good, as evidenced by his 10 strikeouts, but his command was unusually poor as he threw 104 pitches before exiting with two outs in the fifth. He gave up nine hits, eight singles and a solo homer, over 4 2/3 innings. It was his shortest outing since June 16, 2024 when he lasted just 4 1/3 and gave up eight runs in a loss at Baltimore. After that, Wheeler reeled off 53 straight starts of five innings or more, entering Wednesday night.
Wheeler came into the game with an ERA of 2.03. He exited with an ERA of 2.36, still exceptional for a man coming off surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Wheeler has made 13 starts since returning from the injured list. The Phils are 11-2 in those games.
The right-hander picked the right night to be off his game. The Phillies scored 153 runs in June, second-most in the majors. They kept piling up runs on the first night of July. They scored five times against Skenes in the second, added another one in the third and two more in the fourth.
Skenes has had his problems with the Phillies. They tagged him for five runs in a 6-0 win in Pittsburgh on May 17. A season after leading the majors with a 1.97 ERA, he is 6-8 with a 3.62 ERA. Amazingly, the Pirates are winless in his last nine starts.
Surging Trea Turner continued to swing a potent bat for the Phillies. He lashed a three-run homer on a hanging breaking ball against Skenes in the second inning. Turner is hitting .350 (21 for 60) over his last 14 games.
Brandon Marsh continued his trek to the All-Star Game with a solo homer, his 15th, in the third inning against Skenes.
Bryce Harper added a two-run double against Skenes in the fourth. Harper has driven in at least a run in seven straight games and has overtaken Kyle Schwarber for the team lead with 56 RBI.
Alec Bohm capped the scoring with a two-run homer against reliever Dennis Santana in the ninth.
Before that, the Pirates had made it a two-run game in the seventh. Orion Kerkering did an excellent job quieting things down before Jhoan Duran closed it out.
On the way to the win, Bohm and Harper both made terrific defensive plays behind Kerkering.
The Phils have won two of the first three in the series, which wraps up Thursday afternoon with Alan Rangel scheduled to pitch against Jared Jones.
Luka Doncic, Walker Kessler, Austin Reaves, Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith has entered the Lakers group chat — and, as usual, he did not come quietly.
After a busy offseason Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler are looking like the Lakers’ top core trio, Smith called out the obvious visual shift in typical Stephen A. fashion.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrate after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I’m saying it,” Smith said. “Your three best players are white dudes. This ain’t golf. And we got a whole bunch of brothers on Team USA. This is basketball, what y’all think this is?”
Subtle? It was not.
Stephen A. Smith questioned the Lakers’ much whiter roster after noting Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler headline their new core. NBAE via Getty Images
Smith was not alone, either. Bomani Jones joked that the Lakers “ain’t been this white since they left Minneapolis,” referencing the franchise’s George Mikan days and continued with, “if lakers-celtics became a nationwide thing again, me and the homies wouldn’t know who to root for.”
Online, fans quickly joined in with nicknames like “Snowtime Lakers,” “Tres Leches” and “Snowtown.”
The Lakers’ new core is an outlier in today’s NBA. In a league where roughly 70% to 78% of players are Black and only about 17% to 19% are white, a Lakers trio built around Dončić, Reaves and Kessler naturally stands out.
To Smith’s “this ain’t golf” point, the PGA Tour remains overwhelmingly white, with estimates around 80% of professional players identifying as Caucasian.
Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game Getty Images
For a franchise long defined by icons like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and LeBron James, the Lakers’ new-look core is easy to notice.
But beneath the jokes is a real basketball question.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons Getty Images
Former Laker Markieff Morris questioned not the race of the players but their toughness. While saying he liked the Lakers’ pickups, he warned that the team is “gonna be soft as hell” and said Dončić needs “a few dogs in that West.”
That may be the actual issue.
Dončić gives the Lakers an elite offensive engine. Reaves brings shot-making and secondary creation. Kessler adds size, rebounding and rim protection. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton give Los Angeles more options.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) dribbles upcourt against the Golden State Warriors IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There is talent.
The question is whether there is enough toughness, athletic defense and edge to survive a Western Conference filled with teams that can punish weak links.
In many ways, the Lakers do look very different.
Now they have to prove they are just lighter in color, not lighter in the fight.
The Chicago Blackhawks had an interesting first day of the Free Agent Frenzy. It started with a report of a Bowen Byram contract extension. After trading for him, the Blackhawks locked him into a long-term deal.
After that, they made a couple of signings to bring in veterans who can help with the depth of the roster. Ian Cole is a solid defenseman for their 3rd pair, and Cole Smith is a hard-hitting defensive forward for their 4th line.
There wasn't much else that went on afterward, and Kyle Davidson confirmed that they would make a couple of AHL signings before calling it a day.
Those will come in the form of veteran defensemen in Dylan Anhorn and Connor Mackey. Each of them will be expected to provide the Rockford IceHogs with some depth on the blue line.
Anhorn spent a few years playing college hockey at Union College before transferring to St. Cloud State. Since then, he has spent two years playing pro hockey as a member of the Manitoba Moose.
As for Mackey, he has made his NHL debut, but he is an AHL defenseman at his core. He brings a sense of leadership at 29 years old that will make the IceHogs a better team.
There is value to bolstering the roster of the IceHogs, as there will be plenty of young players with NHL ceilings that will be looking to learn a thing or two from the AHL. Good veterans are always helpful to rookies trying to find their way.
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May 15, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Charlie Barnes (57) delivers during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
The fresh arm express continued for the Dodgers on Wednesday, as they optioned Tuesday call-up Wyatt Mills for Charlie Barnes to get recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Barnes has been starting in Triple-A, with a 3.67 ERA in six starts, with 27 strikeouts and 11 walks in 27 innings. He last pitched last Thursday, which makes him perfectly rested for what figures to otherwise be a bullpen game for the Dodgers in their series finale against the A’s, after the rotation was shuffled to move Shohei Ohtani from Wednesday in West Sacramento to Friday at home against the San Diego Padres.
Barnes, claimed off waivers by the Dodgers from the Cubs on May 9, has pitched two games in relief for the Dodgers this season with a pair of scoreless innings against the Angels in May in Anaheim.
Mills was called up just Tuesday, and pitched a scoreless ninth inning with three strikeout at the end of a blowout win over the A’s.
Feb 18, 2026; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Gabriel Hughes (43) poses for Photo Day at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Hughes, 24, was selected 10th overall in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Gonzaga University. The right-handed pitcher made it as far as Double-A Hartford in his first two professional seasons, but missed the entirety of the 2024 regular season after needing Tommy John surgery.
After returning to baseball activities for the 2024 edition of the Arizona Fall League, Hughes started 2025 with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats. With Hartford he posted a 3.29 ERA with 35 strikeouts over nine starts and 41 innings of work. He was promoted mid-season to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, where he held his own in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with a 5.11 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 14 starts and 61.2 innings.
Hughes started the 2026 season back with Triple-A Albuquerque, where he dazzled in his first two starts with a combined three earned runs allowed and 14 strikeouts over 10.1 innings. However, he was unable to make it through five innings in any of his next three starts. He finished April with a five inning, eight strikeout start against the El Paso Chihuahuas, but also with an 8.64 ERA.
The Rockies organization placed Hughes on the injured list with side and shoulder discomfort on April 30th, causing him to miss most of May. After two rehab starts with the High-A Spokane Indians, he returned to the Isotopes and has been utterly dominant.
Over Hughes’ last five starts and 21.2 innings of work, he has not allowed a single earned run while allowing just six hits and eight walks. During that stretch he has struck out 26 batters.
Hughes will wear no. 43 and is expected to make his Major League debut out of the bullpen rather than the rotation. He will be the eighth rookie to make his debut with the Rockies this season.
In a corresponding roster move, right-handed pitcher John Brebbia has been designated for assignment.
Brebbia, 36, spent spring training with the Rockies and signed a second minor league contract with the team earlier this season. He made three appearances out of the bullpen in late June, the first two of which were scoreless. In his third appearance, he gave up five earned runs on five hits—including two home runs—in 1.1 innings against the Miami Marlins.
SACRAMENTO, CA — The Sacramento Kings were one of the biggest winners of the 2026 NBA Draft after drafting a Grade A group featuring Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban.
Kings general manager Scott Perry introduced the 2026 draft class to Sacramento for the first time Monday as they got a taste of what it'll be like inside the Golden 1 Center.
It was a warm welcome for the players who were accompanied by family and supported by team members in attendance, including head coach Doug Christie and teammates Keegan Murray and Dylan Cardwell. It was all fun, but there was one point to drive home from the introduction: a new era is coming.
"As we approached this year's draft we had a clear vision of what we wanted to add to this organization," Perry said during his opening statement at the Kings' rookie introduction. "We prioritized talent, basketball IQ, competitiveness, character and the potential to make a long-term impact. Those are the traits that we believe are essential to building a long-term sustainable, winning organization. Equally important, we wanted to get players who we knew and believed fit our culture that we're establishing here in Sacramento. Darius, Alex and Emanuel all represent those values, and we're excited to welcome them to the Kings."
And each of those guys are excited to be in Sacramento. Of course, they get to see their NBA dreams fulfilled. But they understand and are bought into Perry's vision for winning basketball in Sacramento.
That's the focus going into the summer.
"Number one, winning. For sure, just trying to win every game. I think that's all of our goals," Acuff told USA TODAY Sports. "Just building that connection with them during this that we have in the summer."
It starts with the California Classic beginning July 4 through 6. Acuff told USA TODAY Sports that Kings fans deserve a winning culture and that's his goal.
"More than anything, I'm looking forward to playing in front of them," Acuff said. "It's a great atmosphere. The arena is amazing. Just like I said, playing in front of them, that's going to be the best part. You know, just winning for them. They deserve winning. These are great fans. They support. You can feel that energy and I'm looking to bring the same, for sure."
Acuff, 19, was a freshman standout at Arkansas under Hall of Fame head coach John Calipari. He averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists on 48.4% field goal shooting, including 44% on 3-point shots. He got buckets in styles, too. Inside, mid-range, from deep.
There's a shift in Kings basketball on the horizon.
Acuff, a Detroit native, told USA TODAY Sports that he planned to bring three attributes to Sacramento with him: swagger, winning and a new culture.
The Denver Nuggets have entered the LeBron James sweepstakes, and while they may not be the obvious favorite, they might be one of the most fascinating fits on the board.
According to The Denver Post, the Nuggets have reached out to James to express interest in bringing the 21-time All-NBA forward to Denver as he moves on from the Los Angeles Lakers. James is leaving Los Angeles after eight seasons, one championship, the NBA scoring record and another strong individual year at age 41.
Nuggets reportedly contacted LeBron James about a Denver move, testing whether Nikola Jokic, title hopes and winter golf can lure him. Denver Post via Getty Images
Los Angeles, CA LeBron James has officially announced that he is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons with the franchise. Best Image / BACKGRID
Rich Paul has made it clear this will not be a normal free agency decision, either. On a recent appearance, Paul said he has spoken with “about 12-14 teams,” which means nearly half the league has at least checked in on the idea of adding LeBron.
Paul also explained that James is not simply chasing the biggest contract.
“I think it’s more so having the ability to compete for the possibility to compete for winning a championship,” Paul said. “I think you can say being competitive. I think you can say having guys who understand how to play at a high level.”
That is where Denver becomes interesting.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets NBAE via Getty Images
The Nuggets cannot offer James the kind of money some other teams might without major roster gymnastics. Luckily, Paul also said maximizing money won’t be the deciding factor. If James is truly open to taking less for the right basketball situation, Denver has a real pitch: Nikola Jokic.
The basketball case is pretty easy to understand.
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James and Jokic would give Denver two elite passers who know how to make the game easier for everyone around them. Jokic would still be the center of the offense, but James could take pressure off him as another creator, especially in late-clock situations, transition chances and playoff matchups where Denver needs a different look.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Jamal Murray (27) USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The fit would not be seamless automatically. Denver’s offense runs through Jokic, and changing that would present many dubious realities. James would have to be comfortable picking his spots, playing off the ball more often and acting as a secondary playmaker instead of controlling every possession.
At this stage, that might be a reasonable role and would in a sense mimic his role with the Lakers last season. James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists last season. But on a Nuggets team with Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon already in place, the appeal would be less about LeBron carrying the offense and more about giving Denver another high-level option in high leverage situations.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (R) watches as a hat flies through the air as Nuggets president Josh Kroenke (L) and owner Stan Kroenke USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
There is also history here. Nuggets president Josh Kroenke tried to recruit James in 2018 by sending him a throwback Denver jersey. James later called Kroenke a “very dear friend” and said the two had spent time together away from basketball.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has also called Denver a possible “outlier team” for James, especially if he is willing to take some kind of exception to play with Jokic.
Then there is, perhaps, the most important free agency factor of all: golf.
Allen and Company annual conference. 27th year. Sun Valley Club: pictured here: Lebron James Liz Sullivan
Paul joked that James would be fine as long as there is “indoor and outdoor golf.” Denver, somehow, checks that box.
Winter golf in Colorado is strange, weather-dependent and occasionally interrupted by snow, frost delays and frozen fairways that play like concrete. But between sunny winter days, year-round courses and indoor simulator spots around the city, LeBron’s golf requirement can technically survive the Rockies.
The Nuggets are still a long shot.
But they are not a joke.
If James wants a comfortable landing spot, title contenstion, and a chance to play beside Jokic, the Nuggets have a pitch worth listening to.
And apparently, they already have the communication lines open.
The Nashville Predators sign their first two defensemen of the free agency cycle in Colorado Avalanche's Jack Ahcan and the St. Louis Blues' Hunter Skinner.
Ahcan, a 23-year-old, 5-foot-8, lefty, spent the majority of the season with the Colorado Eagles in the AHL, scoring 50 points (11 goals and 39 assists) in 61 games. He played 11 games with the Avalanche, scoring two points (two assists).
Last season was the most games he played in the NHL over his entire career, dating back to his debut in the 2020-21 season.
Howdy boys 🤠
We've signed defenseman Jack Ahcan to a two-year, two-way contract and defenseman Hunter Skinner to a one-year, two-way contract.
Ahcan is signed to a two-year, $1.75 million deal with an $875,000 annual hit in Nashville. The new contract is a $100,000 raise from his previous contract.
Skinner, a 25-year-old, 6-foot-3, right-handed shot, has played one game in the NHL over his six-year professional career, which came last season.
In 60 games with the Springfield Falcons, he recorded 19 points off seven goals and 12 assists and had 61 penalty minutes. Skinner has spent the last four seasons primarily in the AHL.
Hunter's previous contract was for a year at $850,000.
The pair are the third signing that the general manager has made at the start of free agency, joining Utah Mammoth center Alex Kerfoot, who signed a two-year, $7 million contract with a $3.5 million annual cap hit.
SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - MARCH 04: Thayron Liranzo #49 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game presented by Capital One between Detroit Tigers and Team Dominican Republic at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Rosters were announced on Wednesday for the All-Star Futures Game, featuring top prospects from all around the league in a showcase game as part of All-Star Week. The Detroit Tigers’ representative will be catching prospect Thayron Liranzo, currently working at the Double-A level. He’ll be behind the plate for part of the Sunday, July 12 contest at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game will be broadcast at noon E.T. on NBC.
The sole selection of Liranzo was a little bit of a surprise. The All-Star Futures Game tends to draw on prospects that haven’t reached the Triple-A level yet. So it was expected that neither Max Clark or Max Anderson would be selected for the midseason battle of top prospects. On the other hand, the lack of Bryce Rainer is an oversight. The young shortstop is scorching hot with 8 homers, 10 stolen bases, and a .394 on-base percentage for the West Michigan Whitecaps, and generally draws 55 FV grades from national prospect rankings. Instead, Liranzo will be the Tigers only representative.
The switch-hitting, 22-year-old catcher—he’ll turn 23 in a week’s time— has really come on strong in his second season with the Erie SeaWolves. Most of that development has come behind the plate, so he’s not exactly lighting it up offensively, but right now that defensive progress is more important anyway. Liranzo has nine homers and a .337 on-base percentage in 44 games this season. He’s still walking a ton, holding a 16.3 percent walk rate in the Eastern League. Of course, while he’s starting to trim the strikeouts, he’s still holding a 28.6 K-rate as well.
It took Dillon Dingler three tries to really break out of Double-A, so there’s still plenty of time for Liranzo, and his defensive improvements now have him looking like much more of a lock to catch at the major league level, even if he’s still tracking like a backup who plays some first base, and gets looks at DH and as a pinch-hitter to access his raw power.
The Dominican born catcher was the key piece of the trade that sent Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline. With Trey Sweeney largely flaming out, Liranzo is both the key piece, and potentially the only piece acquired in that deadline selloff that looks like it could work out very well for the Tigers. Of course, Sweeney already contributed by helping get the Tigers into the playoffs that year with Javier Báez down for surgery on his hip. It’s been bleak since for Sweeney, and he’s out for the year after shoulder surgery.
Liranzo doesn’t chase out of the zone much, but his pretty grooved swing as a left-handed hitter says he’ll always whiff quite a bit. The key is to keep taking walks and doing damage while continuing to develop well as a defender. Things are well on track now in that regard. He’s earned the nod to the Futures Game, and it’s a really fun event where the younger talent in the game get to play together and against each other while enjoying the All-Star Week’s other festivities. Congratulations to Thayron on his selection.
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky defends the goal during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game against the New York Rangers Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami.
A two-time Vezina Trophy winner has a new home.
On Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs inked goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21 million contract, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Bobrovsky, 37, exits Florida in free agency, after leading the Panthers to three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances with wins over the Oilers in 2024 and 2025. Bobrovsky and the Panthers were unable to come to terms to keep him in Florida next season after his seven-year, $70 million deal expired.
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky defends the goal during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game against the New York Rangers Jan. 2, 2026, in Miami. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
Instead, the Panthers’ goalie tandem will consist of Jacob Markstrom after acquiring him in a trade with the Devils on Tuesday, and Akira Schmid, who was dealt from Vegas.
In Toronto, Bobrovsky will be back together with former Florida partner Anthony Stolarz.
Bobrovsky was less effective last season, a reflection of the Panthers as a whole. Bobrovsky posted a 27-23-1 record with a 3.07 goals-against average and a career-low .877 save percentage for Florida, which missed the playoffs.
On the other side, the Maple Leafs are turning the page.
Sergei Bobrovsky is joining the Maple Leafs after winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Panthers. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
The rebuild is over.
The San Jose Sharks are now, without a doubt, Mike Grier’s team.
On the same day, Grier allowed the last continuous holdover of the Doug Wilson era, defenseman Mario Ferraro, to walk in free agency. Ferraro inked a three-year, $12 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets. This came on the heels of trading 2021 first-round pick William Eklund to the Ottawa Senators last week.
Grier, for better or worse, put his stamp on the Sharks today.
Face it, San Jose had to get better right now.
Grier served the Sharks’ future with what an NHL scout called “an insane haul” at the 2026 NHL draft, highlighted by first-round picks Ivar Stenberg, Keaton Verhoeff, and Ryan Lin.
But the Sharks, just four points out of the Stanley Cup playoffs this past season with a frankly patchwork defense, needed to improve the team around 20-year-old superstar Macklin Celebrini.
With loads of cap space at his disposal, these are the players that Grier chose to help take his team to the postseason.
I’m open-minded to it: Nurse, Trouba and Marchment do improve the Sharks right now.
San Jose Hockey Now reached out to four NHL scouts — none with the Sharks — to determine where Trouba and Nurse, who don’t come without flaws, compare against San Jose’s top two defenders last year, Dmitry Orlov and Ferraro.
Three of the four, without question, took Nurse and Trouba over Orlov and Ferraro. They’re also excellent locker room additions to make up for the loss of the popular Ferraro and Vincent Desharnais.
Another way to put it: the Sharks didn’t add a consensus top-pairing blueliner, à la Zach Werenski or Bo Byram, but they added two top-four defensemen in Nurse and Trouba, on top of Orlov. In addition, Grier acquired defender Michael Kesselring from the Buffalo Sabres two weeks ago, with some reasonable expectation that he’ll be able to take on a top-four role next year.
Of course, Nurse and Trouba are 31 and 32, respectively, and both are on expensive contracts that end in 2030. So, what will these contracts look like in three or four years?
That’s a valid concern, but that’s the price of real improvement in a buyer’s market. What risk-free bargains were there to be had for bona fide top-four defensemen?
Ideally, you could’ve brought in a 30-something top-four defenseman on a two-year contract: 36-year-old John Carlson, for example, would’ve been perfect, but the future Hall of Famer wanted to sign out east.
Ideally, you could’ve brought in 28-year-old superstar Zach Werenski without gutting your farm system. But that’s a moot point, because Werenski reportedly didn’t want to come to San Jose anyway, and you were getting him for a song.
The dream defenseman wasn’t out there for the Sharks this summer.
So Grier pushed out the ideal length of contract and still kept it much shorter than the seven-, eight-year contacts that UFAs Darren Raddysh and Rasmus Andersson commanded from their respective teams.
And Grier preserved the future of his franchise, keeping his No. 2 pick, instead of dealing it for Bo Byram. The Chicago Blackhawks traded their No. 4 pick to the Buffalo Sabres for the 25-year-old Byram before the draft.
Nurse and Trouba, in my mind, were necessary-but-responsible moves to improve the team right now. They make San Jose better without taking anything significant off the table, and their risks aren’t red alert.
Meanwhile, Marchment was a less necessary risk for the Sharks, insofar as they already had a truly promising group of forwards right now. The 31-year-old now makes seven arguable top-nine wingers on the roster — he’ll be competing with Stenberg, Will Smith, Collin Graf, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Toffoli and Igor Chernyshov for playing time — but that’s a good problem to have, too.
This is, undoubtedly, the deepest group of Sharks forwards, including Celebrini, Michael Misa and Alex Wennberg up the middle, since the last time they made the playoffs. May the best man win, and also, injuries happen, so San Jose probably will be grateful for the depth.
Power forward Marchment is a Grier signing through and through. He has been said to be a free agency and trade target of the Sharks for years and, at his best, plays that hard-to-play-against style that the GM has been sticking his neck out to acquire for years, à la the Sherwood and Zack Ostapchuk trades.
The Sharks aren’t Stanley Cup contenders yet, and these contracts for 30-something’s could blow up in their faces, but they should make the team better now and shouldn’t cripple them long-term.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 26: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on June 26, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies, July 1, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to end their disastrous run of Paul Skenes starts as he takes the mound for the Buccos in Game 3 of their four-game set in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Pirates have dropped their last eight games in which Skenes pitched. During that stretch, Skenes is 0-5.
In his last start against the Cincinnati Reds on June 26, he pitched five innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs in a 6-4 loss to their division rival. The game that began this streak came back on May 17 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Skenes pitched five innings, giving up six hits and five earned runs in a 6-0 shutout loss against Philly at home.
Meanwhile, the Phillies will turn to Zach Wheeler, who is enjoying another stellar season and could be on route to his third consecutive All-Star appearance. In his last start against the New York Mets, he pitched seven innings, giving up four hits and one earned run in a 2-1 victory at Citi Field. He also pitched against the Pirates earlier in the year, pitching seven innings of shutout ball in that 6-0 win on May 17 at PNC Park.
Perhaps Skenes and the Pirates can turn things around against the Phillies.
Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Paul Skenes (6-7, 3.10 ERA) vs. Zack Wheeler (8-1, 2.03 ERA)
BD community, chime off in the comments section below.
LeBron James won’t return to the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2026-27 season, but the cameras will still be on him.
On Tuesday, James notified the Lakers he is leaving the franchise after eight seasons under the bright lights of Hollywood. As he enters the next (and perhaps final) chapter of his career, James is reportedly in talks to document the entire upcoming NBA season through a documentary or episodic series.
NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor was first to report the news.
LeBron James informed the Lakers Tuesday that he would not return to the franchise for the 2026-27 season. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
James is in the midst of searching for what could be the final team of his storied NBA career. Rich Paul, his agent, revealed the 41-year-old is searching for happiness — not money — at this stage. James is reportedly willing to join a contender on a league minimum contract.
The Lakers have also moved on from their recent divorce from James as the team’s free agent signings were headlined by Jazz center Walker Kessler. While general manager Rob Pelinka has been aggressive this offseason, it’s unclear whether the Lakers have done enough to emerge as legitimate contenders during the 2026-27 season.
James is leaving Los Angeles, and the Lakers are ushering in a new era headlined by Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.
James could have ended his career with the Lakers but ultimately chose to leave the organization in a league-altering move. Now, the two parties will make do without the other.
The Lakers have kicked off a new era in Tinseltown with Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Kessler at the helm.
As for James, he’s clearly searching for a farewell title and the team that can give him his best chance at leaving the league as a champion.
Regardless of where James lands, NBA fans will surely be interested in watching a documented version of what could be the superstar’s final season.
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The San Diego Padres would like to forget about Wednesday afternoon.
The Padres got run out of Wrigley Field by the Chicago Cubs 23-2, a blowout so lopsided that San Diego handed the ball to catcher Rodolfo Duran for the final two innings rather than burn another arm.
It capped a three-game sweep by the Cubs and sent the Padres to Los Angles for a four-game series against the Dodgers on the sourest of notes.
The box score looks like a video game. Eight home runs, 23 RBI, 17 hits. The Cubs went 8-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left just two on base all day. It was more like batting practice for Chicago, especially Dansby Swanson.
The shortstop hit three home runs and drove in eight runs. Michael Conforto added two home runs and four RBI. In all, the Cubs had eight homers out of 17 total hits.
Padres' starter Walker Buehler gave up nine runs and three home runs in four innings. Kyle Hart came out of the bullpen and gave up six runs, five earned, on three hits - all home runs - over two innings. Duran gave up eight earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs.
San Diego avoided a shutout on Sung-Mun Song's first MLB home run and a Samad Taylor triple, which could have been an in-the-park home run if not for the ball getting stuck in the ivy and stopping the play.
The Padres head into a National League West series against their rival Dodgers having lost five straight and sitting at 43-42.
