Former Illinois big man Morez Johnson Jr. dominated in his NBA Summer League debut on Thursday night. Johnson Jr. finished with 27 points and eight rebounds, shooting an impressive 12-for-17 from the field in 32 minutes.
The Mavericks fell to the Warriors, who were led by Johnson’s former Michigan teammate Yaxel Lendeborg. Lendeborg and Johnson Jr. picked up right where they left off in college, with both scoring more than 20 points for their new teams.
It surprised many when the Dallas Mavericks selected former Illinois and Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He climbed draft boards more than almost anyone after a stellar performance at the NBA Draft Combine.
Morez reunited with his former coach, Dusty May, at Michigan following the Wolverines’ historic season. Michigan finished 37-3 while winning both the Big Ten regular-season title and the NCAA National Championship.
The Mavericks selected Morez in the lottery and expect him to become an important piece of their future. He was one of the best defensive players in college basketball last season, and that ability appears to be translating quickly to the NBA. In his Summer League debut, he added three steals and two blocks while making his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
At just 20 years old, Johnson still has plenty of room to develop offensively. Against the Warriors, he attempted four three-pointers and knocked down one of them. He also finished with three assists, showcasing the versatility that made him such an intriguing NBA prospect.
Although Johnson and the Mavericks couldn’t get past Lendeborg and the Warriors, he looked every bit like a player capable of contributing in Dallas sooner rather than later.
Morez Johnson Jr. in College
It comes as no surprise that Morez Johnson Jr. looks ready for the next level after the season he put together at Michigan. He earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors and was named Second Team All-Big Ten while helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. Johnson averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds across 40 games.
Before transferring to Michigan, Johnson spent one season at Illinois. The Harvey, Illinois, native committed to the Illini early in high school and arrived in Champaign with lofty expectations after winning Illinois Mr. Basketball and playing in the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit. His lone season with the Illini didn’t unfold the way he had hoped, as he was looking for a larger role.
Johnson started eight games and averaged 17.6 minutes per contest as a freshman.
“I just didn’t think that was a place for me in my development,” Johnson said.
Believing Illinois was no longer the best fit for him, Johnson transferred to Big Ten rival Michigan. He was booed inside the State Farm Center and faced criticism from Illini fans on social media throughout the season. By the end of the year, however, he had helped Michigan win a national championship and turned himself into a lottery pick.
For Illinois fans, there will always be a sense of “what could have been” with Morez Johnson Jr. But he’s now in the NBA, and after an outstanding Summer League debut, he’s already showing why the Mavericks made him a top-10 selection.
Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is facing criticism after engraving the names of six family members onto the Stanley Cup ahead of those who helped win their first championship in 20 years.
Dundon added the names of his wife and five children immediately after his own, placing them ahead of front-office members, coaches, players and staff.
As a result, Tom Dundon, Veruschka Dundon, Caden Dundon, Dax Dundon, Drew Dundon, Blake Dundon, and Tagan Dundon now occupy the first two lines of the iconic trophy.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 08: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring on a hit by CJ Abrams #5 during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park on July 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees wrapped up a trip to Tropicana Field on Thursday with a much needed win and a breakout from the still Aaron Judge-less lineup. The double digit runs allowed them to salvage a series split after the two middle games of the series were a struggle. As a result, the Yankees ended the visit to the Trop four games back in the AL East, which is right where they began it.
Now, the Yankees are set to continue their road trip with a visit to the nation’s capital. At 48-46, the Washington Nationals are a somewhat surprising team over .500 and still in the playoff running. Ahead of Thursday’s games they were 3.5 games back of the last NL Wild Card spot and 6.5 back in the NL East. With a .948 OPS, James Wood is turning into a star in his third MLB season, while CJ Abrams, Luis García Jr., and Curtis Mead have also been pretty stellar in the Nats’ lineup. Their pitching has been less good, allowing one of the highest runs per game averages in the league, but the offense has been enough to cover some of that up so far.
Before the series gets going later tonight, let’s have a look at the pitching matchups we’ll see over the next couple days.
Friday: Ryan Weathers vs. Carson Palmquist (6:45 pm ET)
Weathers has been notably shaky of late, and that continued in his last start, as he gave up four runs in four innings against the Twins on Sunday. After seven shutout innings against the Rays back on May 24th, Weathers had a 3.14 ERA and 3.50 FIP. Those numbers now sit at 4.29 and 4.06, as he’s only had one game that you can categorize as good in that time.
We all know the meme about how the Yankees struggle against pitchers they’ve never seen before, and this will be their first game against the former Rockie and now National Palmquist. That being said, Palmquist has not had a good start to his MLB career. Last year in Colorado, he put up a 8.91 ERA in 34.1 innings. Getting away from the high altitude hasn’t done much to improve those numbers so far in 2026. He’s only pitched 6.1 innings in the bigs this year after moving to Washington, but he has a 7.11 ERA so far. That being said, he has a high strikeout rate in that time, and that’s something the Yankees have been prone to do a lot lately.
Saturday: Cam Schlittler vs. Miles Mikolas (4:05 pm ET)
With Judge on the shelf and the Yankees’ offense sputtering, Schlittler has been one of few things you can almost 100% count on for the Bombers. He continued that by allowing just one run in eight innings in a win over the Rays last time out, picking up the win before the rest of that series got annoying.
The veteran Mikolas has been, to put it politely, “butt.” He’s made 19 appearances this year, with eight coming as the Nats’ starter. In 90.1 total innings, he has a 5.78 ERA and a 5.52 FIP and has allowed 20 home runs. Over 5% of the batters Mikolas has faced have hit a home run off him. The offense truly needs to be able to do something in this game.
Sunday: Will Warren vs. TBD (1:35 pm ET)
Warren is another Yankee starter that’s been in a massive slump after a good start to the season. Since May 1st, he has a 5.34 ERA and his overall season total has gone up by nearly two whole runs, going over four for the first time this season in his last start. Even when Warren was doing well, he could be a bit of a tedious watch, but he’s been walking nearly 9% of batters over that stretch.
At time of writing, the Nationals have not announced a starter for Sunday’s series finale. They have one regular starter — Jake Irvin — on the IL, and another — Cade Cavalli — has been serving a suspension for playing a part in a brawl the Nats had with the Red Sox. Cavalli will have completely served said suspension by this game and would be on more than normal rest, so he would probably be the logical option to go in this game, but we shall see.
In case former Spurs announcer Jacob Tobey is seeking advice on his next move after being fired for an alleged affair with a player’s sister, the law office of Colin Cowherd is here to help.
“I learned something new today, that you can get fired in America for cheating on your girlfriend. I had no idea that was legal. That literally happened, it was a big story,” Cowherd said Thursday on his self-named show regarding the scandal. “You can get fired in America for cheating on your — not your wife, a girlfriend. Feels like he should hire an attorney, that is a crazy story. Um, whatever.”
Cowherd’s overview of the situation hits on some of the points, but leaves out the major detail that the alleged affair happened with a San Antonio’s player’s sister.
"You can get fired in America for cheating on your girlfriend. I had no idea that was legal…Feels like he should hire an attorney" – Colin Cowherd https://t.co/xxkT52Q6gSpic.twitter.com/GECQKWEOdK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 9, 2026
Tobey is accused to have cheated on his girlfriend of six years with Loren Waters, the sister of reserve guard Lindy Waters III.
The accusations came to light earlier this week when an Instagram Story purportedly showing Tobey dancing with his girlfriend of six years with the caption: “This is my girlfriend of six years. But I cheaterdon her with Loren waters. @lorenkwatrs so feel free to continue following me if you really think I’m a good guy because I’m not. :)”
Former Spurs announcer Jacob Tobey in 2024. NBAE via Getty Images
Another Instagram Story showed printouts from a camera booth that showed Tobey and a woman — said to be Waters — kissing, with the caption: “Me and the new girl LorenKWaters :).”
Tobey has since changed his Instagram account to private, and Waters’ account is also private.
An alleged screenshot from a woman claiming to be his ex-girlfriend on Wednesday claimed she found out about the purported affair while staying with Tobey and his family recently.
Spurs broadcaster Jacob Tobey via IG:
“This is my girlfriend of six years. But I cheated on her with Loren Waters. So feel free to continue following me if you really think I’m a good guy because I’m not. :)”
Front Office Sports then reported Thursday that Tobey would no longer continue as the team’s play-by-play man after two years in the role.
Tobey said in June he signed a two-year deal to remain with the organization.
Spurs games are typically aired on FanDuel Sports Network Southwest and local CBS 5, according to cabletv.com, although FanDuel will not be the broadcast home for the 2026-27 season, per Yahoo.
Tobey allegedly had an affair with Loren Waters, seen here in 2025. Getty Images for IMDb
Before calling games for the Spurs, Tobey also worked for Fox Sports, 9NEWS in Denver, Pac-12 Network, the Mountain West Conference and the NBA G League, per his biography.
Jul 9, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Jim Jarvis (74) circles the bases on a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Happy Friday, everyone. We’ll start off today with a bit of baseball talk. The MLB Draft starts tomorrow, and SS Justin Lebron looks to become Alabama’s first top 15 selection in 35 years. Keith Law has Justin mocked to the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 15th pick, while ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel thinks the Angels will snag him at 12.
Lebron’s predecessor is in the majors, and he had a whale of a game yesterday.
Jarvis went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and a double in Thursday’s 10-5 win over the Pirates
Jarvis extended Atlanta’s lead to 5-2 in the fourth inning with his two-run, 397-foot blast off Cam Sanders, the first homer of his big-league career. Jarvis has seen regular playing time at shortstop since he was recalled from Triple-A in early July. He’s gone 6-for-19 across five games after slashing .313/.406/.461 with six homers across 348 plate appearances in the minors this year.
Jarvis didn’t just get it done at the plate, either.
The question on Jim has been whether he could be a serviceable hitter at the big league level. His glove and athleticism are elite, and he has earned himself a chance to prove that he can stick in the lineup.
Moving on to football, Katie Windham notes that year three has been good to Alabama head coaches.
Dating back to Billy Curry in 1989, every Crimson Tide head coach has reached double-digit wins during his third season. Sometimes those seasons with at least 10 wins led to national championships that season or the next, and sometimes it created expectations that the coach could not live up to the following year.
Winning at least 10 games this year is a minimum expectation for DeBoer in 2026. How far past that can he get? Will he be like Saban and Gene Stallings and win a national title in Year 3? Will he be like Ray Perkins or Mike DuBose with a strong third season that just creates even higher expectations for Year 4?
Ten wins doesn’t mean what it did for most of those, but may the trend continue.
Dre Kirkpatrick is the latest in the “50 players” series.
Kirkpatrick remained suspended for the rest of the season but has since rejoined the team. The exact legal resolution is unknown, but his case and charges are no longer listed in the online court system.
Kirkpatrick was back practicing with Alabama this spring and now moves toward his junior season where he will be part of one of, if not the best, secondaries in the country.
“Yeah, he had consequences for what he did and the things he’s gone through,” Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said after Alabama’s second spring practice. “There’s still pieces to that that he’s taking care of when it comes to those consequences with the team.
“He met those requirements and has a great attitude about him. He loves ball. He’s got to build the trust up with his teammates out there every day. He’ll do the things not just on the field, but off it as well to meet the standard our program expects.”
Dre probably won’t have a huge role on this year’s team, but it’s good to see him getting his life together.
“I think the thing that stood out the most was the consistency from day one,” Diaz’s father said. “There were times where I would get a phone call that (Alabama) was at Overtime Elite just to check on him. I thought that was really cool. Every time they rolled through Atlanta and had time, they would go see him for a practice. They stood really consistent with him from the beginning. They made him a priority.”
Diaz’s father shared a story during the recruitment when Diaz went through a little bit of a slump while competing out in Memphis (TN) during the contact period. (Nate) Oats and assistant Preston Murphy gave him a call after one of the games.
“It wasn’t like ‘he did this and he did that’,” he explained. “It was more of ‘we can fix that, he just needs to do this and do that’ and that fits him to me.”
Jul 9, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Wyatt Langford (36) and pinch hitter Nicky Lopez (33) celebrate after Langford hits a game winning walk-off single against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Good morning, LSB.
The Rangers walked it off against the Angels last night.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: (L-R) Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Los Angeles Dodgers Owner and Chairman Mark Walter pose with a jersey presented to Trump as he hosts the 2024 World Series champions in the East Room of the White House on April 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees with a 7-6 victory in Game 5. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is a precedent among North American professional sports for the reigning champions to visit the White House. It is believed to have taken precedence when the Washington Senators visited President Calvin Coolidge in 1925, and it has become commonplace among the four major sports.
The Dodgers are certainly no stranger to visiting the White House over the course of the two most recent administrations, and the team is now scheduled to visit President Donald Trump at the Oval Office for a second time. Edward Lewis of the California Post reported Thursday that the Dodgers will arrive at the White House on July 23, wedged between trips to both Philadelphia and New York.
“President Trump is excited to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers BACK to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship!” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement.
“As was the case one year ago, the Dodgers’ upcoming visits to the White House and Capitol Hill follow the longtime tradition of visits by other World Series champions. We appreciate these tributes in recognition of our back-to-back championships,” the Dodgers said in a statement to The Post.
Roki Sasaki had a decent ending to his first full half season at the big league level, going six innings while allowing three earned runs in a no-decision against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
It was the first time Sasaki had a quality start since his 10-strikeout performance against the Angels on June 5, and his first half has been defined by flashes of brilliance overshadowed by wild inconsistencies. When asked about how he assessed his season so far, he recognized his ability to remain in the rotation and improve on his fastball, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“When you look at the numbers, I’m not satisfied with that,” Sasaki said through interpreter Kensuke Okubo. “But I was able to [stay in] the rotation and the velo’s kind of gotten a little bit up. So I’m kind of happy with it.”
The Dodgers bullpen will be patiently waiting for the return of Edwin Díaz, and following Evan Phillips’s activation, there will be another tough decision for Dave Roberts to make. One of those names in the “trust tree” right now is right-hander Edgardo Henriquez, as Roberts briefly mentioned during his post-game press conference on Wednesday.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 09: Michael Wacha #52 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 09, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Those of us that are hoping that the Kansas City Royals will make big trades during the MLB trade deadline at the end of July need to start bracing ourselves for the possibility of a quieter trading season. Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of the Athletic are reporting that the Royals are maintaining high asking prices on veteran pitchers Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, and that they don’t expect teams to meet the Royals asking price:
The Royals, according to people briefed on their plans, are telling clubs they will listen on Lugo and Wacha, but their asks will be massive.
It’s certainly possible some team will meet a massive ask by the Royals, or that this attitude will change by the end of the month, but as things sit right now, I’m expecting Wacha and Lugo to be on the team for the remainder of the season.
Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is hoping to return from the IL Friday. Manager Matt Quatraro talked to MLB.com reporter Bill Ladson about the first baseman:
Pasquantino is expected to play his last rehab game for Omaha on Thursday night.
“He is trying to see pitches and judge his health,” Quatraro said. “He is not making any swing adjustments.”
Pasquantino suffered a hamate bone fracture in his right hand. Those injuries are notorious for sapping power from a hitter even after they return, so temper your expectations on what we can expect from Vinnie when he returns.
Wacha pitched in his final game on Thursday before being one of two Royals representatives at the MLB All-Star game. The starter discussed his outing against the New York Mets with Ladson after the game:
“But there were a lot of long ABs. They were fouling off pitches and they ended up with some walks. The pitch count was getting up there [104 pitches total]. I had a long stressful inning [that] added up there in the fifth. I just have to do a better job right there. I have to limit the damage, limit those big innings and give our guys a chance to win.”
The Royals lost the series finale 7-3.
The MLB draft is on Saturday, but the Royals front office will not be in their draft room in Kansas City this time. General Manager J.J. Picollo explained why to Kansas City Star reporter Pete Grathoff:
“All the days leading up to the draft, there would be days impacted by the World Cup, so we just decided to move it to Arizona, just for simplicity of not having to worry about logistics, dancing around the World Cup,” Picollo said.
If the Royals are disappointed with their draft this year they can blame Lionel Messi.
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN posted his final mock draft, and has the Royals taking pitcher Jared Grindlinger at No. 6:
I think this pick comes down to Grindlinger, (Jackson) Flora and underslot pitching options such as Gio Rojas, Hunter Dietz and Mason Edwards. The choice from that group would depend on the bonus price and who can then be targeted at later picks.
McDaniel has the Royals taking UCLA pitcher Logan Reddeman at pick 30, as well as high school pitcher Jack Slightom at pick 56.
We are starting to get more information on the Royals plan for the new stadium at Crown Center: Kansas City Star writer Neil Nakahodo wrote about some newly released city records that show how the area could be reshaped and what the Royals are thinking about how people are going to get to the stadium:
A traffic study identifies a potential supply of 18,257 parking spaces, including 8,219 spaces at Crown Center and another 10,038 at off-site locations near the stadium.
The study estimates that as many as 67% of attendees would arrive by car, while 15% would use ride-share services such as Uber and 10% would walk or bike.
His article has a number of maps and images you can look at well, if you’re into that sort of thing.
“Every team needs a starter,” one American League executive said. “They’re the easiest players to move at the Deadline and often, [they’re] the ones that bring back the best return.”
The Toronto Rapors and Los Angeles Clippers trade involving Kawhi Leonard is on hold until the investigation into whether Leonard and the Clippers circumvented the salary cap is complete.
Eight men were indicted on attempted murder and terrorism charges for allegedly planning an attack during the UFC Freedom 250 event that was held at the White House in June.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 22: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Summer League basketball begins tonight for the Phoenix Suns, and with it comes the annual exercise of managing expectations. We want answers, we want progress, and we want to believe that the young players the Phoenix Suns are sending to Las Vegas will return looking a little more comfortable, a little more confident, and a little closer to becoming the players this organization needs them to be.
Personally, I’m most interested in Rasheer Fleming. He will almost certainly see an increase in minutes this upcoming season, which makes his progression important to the overall health of this roster. I want to see him look more comfortable on the floor, be more decisive, and more aware of where he needs to be and what he needs to do when he gets there.
I’m tempering expectations because, ultimately, these games don’t count. That doesn’t mean they don’t matter. Development is a pillar of this organization, and progression is paramount. When you’re trying to build something sustainable, the growth of your young players becomes one of the most important variables in the equation. And the cheapest. You must have quality youth to be competitive in the Apron Era of the NBA.
I’m not surprised that the majority of the community believes Khaman Maluach is the player who needs to showcase the most improvement. 64% of the Bright Side community believes this is true. After all, he’s a lottery pick. Quite possibly the last lottery pick the Suns will make for nearly half a decade. With that comes the weight of expectations, whether people are comfortable admitting it or not.
That became a topic of conversation on the infamous Suns Twitter this week. Dave Burns of Arizona Sports 98.7 said that by this time next year, we need to know that Khaman Maluach can provide quality NBA minutes, or it might be time to panic.
“I need Khaman Maluach to play more than he did,” Burns said of Maluach. “I think it’s imperative that Khaman Maluach, by the end of the season, you can see it. You can start to see it happening with him. And if it hasn’t happened by the end of the season, brother, it is panic time.”
"If you're not seeing NBA-quality minutes out of Khaman Maluach, something went horribly wrong and a mistake was made," says @Burnsy987.
What do you need to see out of the young Sun this year?
Of course, the comment section is ridiculous. I’ll get to that shortly.
Panic? I’m not sure I’d go that far. Concerned? Absolutely. If we’re sitting here one year from now and Maluach hasn’t progressed, hasn’t demonstrated that he can contribute, and hasn’t begun turning his physical tools into productive NBA basketball, there should be concern. And again, for those who wonder how a path to opportunity exists to provide a platform for development, I’ve covered that.
As I see the responses and reactions to someone simply stating that plateauing in year two is not a good thing, I feel it. I feel a rant coming on. And you know what? I haven’t had a good rant in a while, so why not? Let’s stand on the podium for a few paragraphs and let off some steam that is surely fueled by the festing rage only the Arizona heat can bring out of someone in July.
Apparently, saying out loud that a year in which Khaman Maluach does not show improvement is a cause for concern is controversial. Sections of Suns’ Twitter immediately went on the defensive. The local media was “being negative”. The expectations were “unfair”. “Why are we attacking a young player?”
I find the reaction strange. Maybe it’s a product of a broader cultural shift in which criticism is interpreted as cruelty and expectations are seen as unfair pressure. Everything is expected to be positive, comfortable, and affirming. Disagreement is mistaken for hostility. Accountability is viewed as negativity. Maybe it’s the product of gentle parenting. Everyone gets a sticker, nobody keeps score, and pointing out deficiencies makes you the bad guy.
I’m not interested in gatekeeping how anyone chooses to be a fan. Root however you want. But I reserve the right to find some of these reactions bizarre.
Maluach turns 20 in September. He hasn’t played basketball for very long and his development will require patience. All of that is true. And that is precisely why progression is so important. If he’s plateauing after two years inside an NBA development system, that’s a red flag. It doesn’t mean the Suns should abandon him. It doesn’t mean he’s a bust. It means you should be concerned about the trajectory. Apparently, even acknowledging that possibility is too aggressive for some people.
We’ve lived this before in Phoenix, haven’t we? Marquese Chriss. Dragan Bender. Josh Jackson. After two seasons, the warning signs were there. Development had stalled. Progression wasn’t occurring at the rate the organization needed. Concern crept in because that’s what happens when expectations collide with reality.
Yet somewhere along the way, it became taboo to say these things out loud. To admit that you’re worried about a player. To establish expectations and acknowledge that failing to meet them would be disappointing. Maybe I’m the old guy yelling from the lawn now, wondering how we reached the point where the media is considered harsh for observing that professional athletes have expectations attached to their performance.
Criticism isn’t inherently negative. It’s part of analysis, part of accountability, part of sports. And if you think Phoenix media is brutal, spend a week following a team back east. We’re playing with Nerf guns out here.
Social media has complicated the relationship between fans, media, and players. It provides direct access, or at least the illusion of it. Too many people crave that interaction. They want the follow. The reply. The acknowledgment. They want to be liked. They need to be liked. And criticism threatens that possibility.
If you say something negative about a player’s performance, perhaps he won’t interact with you. Maybe he won’t repost your work or acknowledge your existence. So criticism becomes something to avoid. Every performance needs an excuse and every concern needs a qualifier. Every uncomfortable observation is dismissed as negativity because telling the truth might jeopardize the possibility of that idyllic affection.
I have news for you. Being critical allows you to see the entire picture. It forces you to examine strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, progress and regression. That’s what analysis is supposed to be. Being balanced doesn’t make you a hater. It makes your praise carry more weight because people know you’re willing to acknowledge the flaws as readily as you celebrate the accomplishments. And in the long run, balance is what earns respect.
Summer League begins tomorrow, and hopefully we begin finding answers to some of these questions. Development isn’t linear and Maluach doesn’t need to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds to prove he’s progressing. He doesn’t need to be the guy who moves the FanDuel win total up three wins next season. Fleming doesn’t need to dominate every possession. Koby Brea doesn’t need to look like a finished NBA product.
What do I define as progression? I want to see confidence, court awareness, basketball IQ, and execution. I want to see young players process the game faster than they did a year ago, making quicker decisions, understanding where to be defensively, and recognizing opportunities offensively. The goal should be to turn mistakes from last season into lessons they no longer need to learn twice.
Whether those improvements translate into counting statistics is secondary. Progress isn’t always found in the box score. Sometimes you have to watch closely enough to see it. And that is what I’ll be watching for when the Phoenix Suns take the floor at NBA Summer League 2026.
MEXICO CITY, MX - NOVEMBER 2: Kyshawn George #18 and Assistant Coach T.J. Sorrentine of the Washington Wizards look on before the game against the Miami Heat as part of 2024 NBA Mexico Games on November 2, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico at Arena Ciudad de Mexico. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Good morning Washington Wizards fans.
In this week’s survey, we asked you to grade the Wizards’ coaching staff changes for the 2026-27 season. They dealt with shuffling of assistant positions, NOT Brian Keefe. Anyway, about half of our respondents gave a B grade, which is solid. The As and Cs were nearly identical.
The promotion of Adam Caporn was not unexpected given that David Vanterpool has moved into the front office. The surprise for the Wizards is the return of Patrick Ewing, who coached for Washington in 2002-03 where he developed a reputation of being one of the top post development coaches in the NBA.
Does coaching news potentially change the perception of a sports team’s future? Not really. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, as of July 10, 2026, the Wizards have +25000 odds of winning the 2026-27 NBA championship. That’s better than eight teams. What does this roughly imply? It’s that Washington is no longer expected to be a doormat in the NBA. But they’re still not expected to make the playoffs either. Even with AJ Dybantsa making a great first impression last night in his Summer League Debut. Even with Ewing possibly developing Alex Sarr into a beast in the post.
Hopefully, the odds will change once Dybantsa is playing actual regular season games. Let us know your rationale for the grades in the comments below.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots a three point shot against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of the California Classic at Golden 1 Center on July 06, 2026 in Sacramento, California. 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 Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Summer League is underway in Las Vegas, where six former Arizona men’s basketball players are looking to make positive strides over the next 10 days.
Five members of the 2025-26 Arizona team are competing in Las Vegas, as well as San Antonio Spurs second-year forward Carter Bryant.
Brayden Burries, the No. 10 overall pick to the Milwaukee Bucks, got a head start in summer league action, as he participated with the Bucks at the California Classic Summer League.
Koa Peat, the No. 30 pick to the Phoenix Suns, makes his professional debut on Friday when Phoenix takes on Portland. Burries and Peat have both signed four-year rookie contracts.
Jaden Bradley, who went No. 50 to the Toronto Raptors, also makes his debut on Friday as Toronto faces Boston. Bradley is on a one-year, two-way contract.
Tobe Awaka is on one-year, two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls. Awaka joined the Bulls as an undrafted free agent. Chicago plays Friday against Memphis.
And Anthony Dell’Orso is competing for the Sacramento Kings on a summer league contract. Dell’Orso did not play in the Kings’ first Vegas Summer League game on Thursday night.
Bryant, meanwhile, is getting in some extra reps with the reigning Western Conference champion Spurs. Bryant averaged 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game as a rookie. In Bryant’s first Summer League action Thursday, he struggled from the field, shooting 4 of 13 including 1 of 7 from three-point range.
Here is the schedule of when Arizona players will be taking the court. All times PST. (credit to Arizona Athletics).
Friday, July 10
1:00pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Miami
5:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Memphis
6:00pm (ESPN) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Boston
8:00pm (ESPNU) Phoenix (Peat) vs. Portland
Saturday, July 11
3:00pm (ESPN) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. New York
6:30pm (PRIME) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Houston
Sunday, July 12
12:00pm (ESPN2) Phoenix (Peat) vs. New Orleans
5:00pm (PRIME) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Washington
6:00pm (ESPN) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. Milwaukee (Burries)
Monday, July 13
1:30pm (ESPN2) Toronto (Bradley) vs. Indiana
6:00pm (ESPN) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Utah
7:00pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Phoenix (Peat)
Tuesday, July 14
3:00pm (PRIME) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Brooklyn
5:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Washington
Wednesday, July 15
3:00pm (ESPNU) Phoenix (Peat) vs. Detroit
4:30pm (PRIME) Milwaukee (Burries) vs. Charlotte
5:00pm (ESPN2) Sacramento (Dell’Orso) vs. Boston
6:30pm (PRIME) San Antonio (Bryant) vs. Utah
Thursday, July 16
3:00pm (PRIME) Chicago (Awaka) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles, CA - March 27: Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77, winks and points to a player after a play in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Friday, March 27, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The NBA offseason still has a long ways to go, but the picture at the top and bottom of the league is already starting to solidify for the 2026-2027 season. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks feel like they’re in a class of their own as an elite tier of contenders. Who’s the fourth best in the NBA right now? Your guess is as good as mine.
The NBA’s new anti-tanking rules mean there are no more free wins on the schedule this season. Still, some teams are likely to be very bad, starting with the Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls. This year’s draft lottery features a “relegation zone” which lowers the odds at a top pick for the league’s three worst teams, though it also comes with the added benefit of falling no further than the No. 12 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft. Every other team could slide all the way to No. 16.
A second wave of offseason player movement is likely coming after LeBron James finally makes his free agent decision. There’s still hoops to talk about until then, so here’s our way-too-early look at the league power rankings for 2026-2027 in mid-July.
30. Sacramento Kings
No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff is going to get a long leash to run the show in Sacramento, but he just doesn’t have much help. Will Domantas Sabonis or Zach LaVine still be on this roster come opening night? The Kings have a decent collection of young talent starting to form with Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, and Alex Karaban, and the goal of this season should be developing them alongside Acuff.
29. Milwaukee Bucks
The Giannis era is over, and the Bucks are left with a funky roster that will probably be pretty bad. Will Tyler Herro actually play for Milwaukee this season, or get flipped closer to training camp? Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. actually looked pretty good last season, and Kel’el Ware is an exciting young big man coming over from Miami in the big trade. Most of the attention will be on how the Bucks’ two lottery picks Brayden Burries and Nate Ament develop.
28. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are going to be fun, but still project as an Eastern Conference doormat. Chicago’s two first-round rookies Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain should get plenty of reps, and it will be fascinating to see if last year’s lottery pick Noa Essengue can make an impact after a lost rookie season due to injury. A Matas Buzelis leap in year three would be huge for the Bulls’ long-term outlook.
27. Washington Wizards
A.J. Dybantsa is the star of the show after going No. 1 overall, and he’ll have a weird roster around him. Trae Young is on a new max contract for some reason. Anthony Davis is here for now, but maybe not for long. Alex Sarr and Tre Johnson are two former top-10 picks who need to develop around Dybantsa for Washington’s future to look bright.
26. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers got great value back for Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac, but this season could be ugly. Rookie No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler has a lot riding on his shoulders long-term, and it will be interesting to see how he meshes with Darius Garland in the backcourt this year. There are still some solid vets here in Brook Lopez, Brandon Ingram, and Derrick Jones Jr., but I’m interested to see how youngsters Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Isaiah Jackson develop.
25. Brooklyn Nets
I think Brooklyn is going to surprise some people this year, and wouldn’t be surprised if they push for a play-in spot. New addition Julius Randle joins Michael Porter Jr. as the leaders of this team, and it’s possible Egor Demin can take a leap in his second season. Jordi Fernandez is an elite head coach and will get the most of this group.
24. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans haven’t done a single thing this offseason yet. Alright, man. There’s some talent here with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears, but new head coach Jamahl Mosley has his work cut out for him to mold this into a functional team.
23. Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry is still elite, but the team around him is lackluster at this point. It’s too bad Jimmy Butler will miss most of this season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Is this the year we start to hear real Curry trade speculation?
22. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are young, but the talent is real. Cameron Boozer is a future superstar, Zach Edey could be awesome if he can ever stay healthy, and Cedric Coward complements the two frontcourt stars well as a long 3-and-D wing. I actually like the guard collection quite a bit too with Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Cam Spencer all poised to make an impact.
21. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets punted on LaMelo Ball, and in doing so killed their chances for this season. This team should still be pretty decent with Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Coby White launching threes around one of the league’s best offensive rebounding teams, but it’s hard to imagine they can make real noise without injuries to several other East teams.
20. Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg, meet Dusty May. Dallas welcomes back Kyrie Irving from a torn ACL this season, and I like the trade for Santi Aldama. Can Dereck Lively II return from injury? I will be interested to see how Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz continue to put their stamp on this team, because it feels like a lot of these players could be flipped around Flagg.
19. Phoenix Suns
The Suns feel like a classic high floor, low ceiling team. Devin Booker has some good role players around him in Collin Gillespie, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Mark Williams, and Oso Ighodaro. Miles Bridges is here now too to complete Mat Ishbia’s Michigan State dream. I’m mostly interested in how last year’s No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach develops in the middle.
18. Utah Jazz
The Jazz are ready to make a big leap. Darryn Peterson will be an instant impact rookie, and he joins a talented veteran core led by Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Keyonte George. If Will Hardy is as good as a head coach as everyone believes he is, this team should push for the playoffs.
17. Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta gave the Knicks their toughest playoff series in the first-round last season, and they continue to build out their future talent pool. Rookies Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor could be instant contributors, and picking up Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder for nothing was a nice move, too. Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum feels like a high floor, low ceiling group for this season, but the Hawks continue to move in the right direction.
16. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are going to be fascinating with the return of Damian Lillard and the trade for Ja Morant. That seems like a poor fit to me, but at least Portland gave up absolutely nothing to get Morant from Memphis. Donovan Clingan and Scoot Henderson are the two most important players on the roster for the future of the franchise, and both could take a leap this season. The defense should be really good, and Deni Avdija will continue to be a battering ram off the bounce, but I don’t know if this team has enough of a ceiling to build on last year.
15. Orlando Magic
Sean Sweeney is the new head coach tasked with getting the most out of a talent Magic roster. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner just haven’t worked as well as expected together, and this might be their last chance with a massive payroll looming. If Sweeney is good and Jalen Suggs can actually stay healthy, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Orlando ends up much better than this.
14. Miami Heat
Pat Riley finally landed his next superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the supporting cast needs work. The front court should be elite defensively with Giannis joining Bam Adebayo, but the offensive spacing will be a question mark. The backcourt has almost no shot-creation, but Erik Spoelstra is better than anyone at developing diamonds in the rough. He’s going to need to do it again for this team to win a playoff series.
13. Houston Rockets
The Rockets have been strangely quiet this summer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a big move coming before the season opens. For now, the main thing to get excited about is the return of Fred VanVleet. Houston’s young core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. remains enticing, and it feels like all of them can still go up another level this season.
12. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are loaded with top-end talent after the stunning Jaylen Brown trade, but it’s hard to say how it will all fit together. Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe is a great foundation even before you get to Joel Embiid, whose uncertain health hangs over every Sixers season. I’m concerned about the depth and the defense of this team, especially when Embiid inevitably misses half the season.
11. Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton is back from a torn Achilles, and the entire league will be wondering if he can pick up where he left off from Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The team around him is mostly pretty similar save for swapping out Myles Turner for Ivica Zubac, which should be a big upgrade. Indiana might be the most interesting team entering the season.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
I expect LeBron James to sign here, but we can’t bake that in yet. The Cavs are pretty good without him coming off a conference finals appearance. Donovan Mitchell is locked in long-term, and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen return in the front court. I just can’t count on a James Harden team (he’ll re-sign soon) to break through at this point.
9. Toronto Raptors
I love the Raptors’ playoff ceiling after the Kawhi Leonard trade if he can stay healthy through an entire postseason run. That’s a huge if. Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Leonard should be an elite defensive trio. Getting anything from Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl this year would be a big boost.
8. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons did some tinkering to the rotation, but it still feels like they have a lot of the same problems as last year. Cade Cunningham is awesome, and gives this team a high floor by himself. Jalen Duren should re-sign soon, and he’s better than he showed during the playoffs. Ausar Thompson might be the best wing defender in the league, and Ron Holland could make an impact there too if either of them could improve their outside shooting a little bit. Swapping out Tobias Harris for John Collins is … fine. Detroit could make the NBA Finals, but they have real pressure to at least make the conference finals this year.
7. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets haven’t done anything this summer as they wait out Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency. It definitely feels like they could make cost-cutting moves on the margins before the season starts, but we can’t factor those in yet. Denver looked old and slow last year, but they still have Nikola Jokic, who remains a top-3 player in the world. I can’t see the Nuggets falling too far as long as Jokic is around.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers went for broke to build around Luka Doncic this summer, and it better work. LA paid a ridiculous price for Walker Kessler, but he is exactly the type of defensive-minded center a team led by Doncic and Austin Reaves needs in the middle. My big hangup here is the lack of wing talent. I love Adou Thiero as much as the next draft guy, but it doesn’t feel great that the Lakers are legitimately counting on him to take a leap this year.
5. Boston Celtics
The Celtics are still going to be really good after trading Jaylen Brown. Boston is essentially replacing Brown with a full year of Jayson Tatum while adding Mitchell Robinson and Paul George. I’m buying a Payton Pritchard leap this year. The Celtics are going to launch threes, crash the offensive glass, and try to avoid turnovers, which is usually a great formula for the regular season.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
The LaMelo Ball trade will define this franchise for the next few years at least. I think Ball is a highly impactful star guard, but his constant injury issues have a chance to derail this entire experience. If Ball can stay healthy, his elite handle, pull-up shooting, and passing vision feels like a perfect fit next to Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels. This team really needs Gobert to fight off father time. I’d like this group more if they had a bigger player in Ayo Dosunmu’s spot.
Championship favorites
3. New York Knicks
The Knicks only won 53 games in the regular season before finding magic in the playoffs on their way to one of the most dominant championship runs in recent league history. The bulk of this team is back minus Mitchell Robinson, who was a sneaky important piece off the bench. The key for the Knicks is going to be avoiding any decline by Jalen Brunson, and keeping Karl-Anthony Towns locked in to the best version of himself. If that happens, another trip to the NBA Finals could very well happen.
2. San Antonio Spurs
How will Victor Wembanyama respond to his crushing NBA Finals loss? Wemby would be wise to pace himself during the regular season, but it doesn’t seem like it’s in his nature to do it. The De’Aaron Fox question hangs over this franchise, because there’s no doubt Dylan Harper is ready to take over as their lead guard. Harper and Wembanyama will be showtime, and the supporting cast around them is improved. I like adding Tobias Harris at power forward in free agency, and I think Stephon Castle could benefit from transitioning from guard to wing. San Antonio will be very, very good around Wembanyama for the foreseeable future.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder may have gone back-to-back if not for untimely injuries to Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Williams essentially lost the entire season with soft tissue strains, and the Thunder desperately need him back playing at his top level given how big his cap hit is now. Oklahoma City did a nice job keeping their core in place even as they trimmed some salary by trading away Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins. Will Lu Dort be on this roster opening night? Can Chet Holmgren shake off his horrific Western Conference Finals and regain his status as one of the league’s best bigs? The Thunder have an oustanding formula with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot creation and an elite defense. They remain the team to beat until further notice.
Jun 14, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) bunts in a run against the Murray State Racers during the fourth inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Next week, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game gets underway at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
But before this generation’s stars take the field, the next generation will take the stage in the City of Brotherly Love.
The 2026 MLB Draft gets underway on Saturday, and over 600 prospects will hear their names called during the 20 rounds that unfold, beginning with the Chicago White Sox at No. 1 overall. To get you ready, we have a mock draft to help set the stage.
For more on how the first round works, we have you covered here with this piece from Thursday. And a note on methodology: This is a “what I think will happen” mock draft, and not a “what I would do” mock draft. Mostly because I would draft Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson with every pick in that scenario. But there is still some “what I would do” sprinkled in …
Here are the picks, with some thoughts after.
Pick
Team
Player
Position
School
1
Chicago White Sox
Roch Cholowsky
SS
UCLA
2
Tampa Bay Rays
Grady Emerson
SS
Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
3
Minnesota Twins
Vahn Lackey
C
Georgia Tech
4
San Francisco Giants
Drew Burress
OF
Georgia Tech
5
Pittsburgh Pirates
Eric Booth Jr.
OF
Oak Grove HS (MS)
6
Kansas City Royals
Jackson Flora
RHP
UC Santa Barbara
7
Baltimore Orioles
Justin Lebron
SS
Alabama
8
Athletics
Ryder Helfrick
C
Arkansas
9
Atlanta Braves
Jacob Lombard
SS
Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
10
Colorado Rockies
Tyler Bell
SS
Kentucky
11
Washington Nationals
Ace Reese
3B
Mississippi State
12
Los Angeles Angels
Christopher Hacopian
2B
Texas A&M
13
St. Louis Cardinals
Derek Curiel
OF
LSU
14
Miami Marlins
Gio Rojas
LHP
Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
15
Arizona Diamondbacks
Trevor Condon
OF
Etowah HS (GA)
16
Texas Rangers
Mason Edwards
LHP
USC
17
Houston Astros
Daniel Jackson
C
Georgia
18
Cincinnati Reds
AJ Gracia
OF
Virginia
19
Cleveland Guardians
Jared Grindlinger
OF/LHP
Huntington Beach HS (CA)
20
Boston Red Sox
Cameron Flukey
RHP
Coastal Carolina
21
San Diego Padres
Zion Rose
OF
Louisville
22
Detroit Tigers
Hunter Dietz
LHP
Arkansas
23
Chicago Cubs
Liam Peterson
RHP
Florida
24
Seattle Mariners
Tegan Kuhns
RHP
Tennessee
25
Milwaukee Brewers
Sawyer Strosnider
OF
TCU
26
Atlanta Braves
Carson Bolemon
LHP
Southside Christian HS (SC)
27
New York Mets
Cole Carlon
LHP
Arizona State
28
Houston Astros
Brody Bumila
LHP
Bishop Feehan HS (MA)
29
San Francisco Giants
Cameron Borthwick
RHP
South Walton HS (FL)
30
Kansas City Royals
Aiden Ruiz
SS
The Stony Brook School (NY)
31
Arizona Diamondbacks
Logan Schmidt
LHP
Ganesha HS (CA)
32
St. Louis Cardinals
Bo Lowrance
3B
Christ Church Episcopal HS (SC)
33
Tampa Bay Rays
Aiden Robbins
OF
Texas
34
Pittsburgh Pirates
Cade Townsend
RHP
Mississippi
35
New York Yankees
Logan Reddemann
RHP
UCLA
36
Philadelphia Phillies
Taj Marchand
SS
James Island HS (SC)
37
Colorado Rockies
Jack Radel
RHP
Notre Dame
If you want to get a little deeper into this class, read on.
Thoughts on the top ten
Let’s dive into the top ten selections a bit more.
1. Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
It is by no means a done deal, but UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky remains the consensus top player in the class. And with the White Sox trying to sign him out of high school, the pairing between player and team fits. But there is a lot to like about Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson, as well as Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey, who stand out as the top three players in the class. Chicago likely goes with Cholowsky, who might have the highest floor of the three, but Emerson might have the highest ceiling.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
If Cholowsky indeed comes off the board first, Tampa Bay runs to the podium for Emerson. The high school shortstop has a silky smooth swing from the left side of the plate, is coming off another monster season where he slashed .532/.648/1.013, and was just the second high school player in the past 48 years to be named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, joining Bobby Witt Jr. on that short list.
3. Minnesota Twins: Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech
The Minnesota Twins sit in a decent spot, as they would be happy to take Vahn Lackey, who slashed .397/.519/.722 as part of Georgia Tech’s monster offense this season.
4. San Francisco Giants: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
This might be the first departure from consensus, as a bit of “what I would do” works its way into this mock draft. But in addition to Lackey, outfielder Drew Burress was a huge part of the Georgia Tech offense this past season. He slashed .358/.473/.675, while belting 16 home runs to break Jason Varitek’s school record of 57 career home runs, as Burress hit 60 during his time in college. The San Francisco Giants have been linked to several bats in this class, but Burress’ power stands out.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Eric Booth Jr., OF, Oak Grove HS (MS)
Mississippi outfielder Eric Booth Jr. is something of a consensus pick for the Pirates, and Pittsburgh dipped into the Mississippi prep waters recently with some success with Konnor Griffin. Eric Booth Jr. is considered the top prep outfielder in the 2026 MLB Draft class, hit .467 as a junior in 2025, and followed that with a .481/.699/.922 slash line this past year:
Eric Booth Jr. is one of the most exciting athletes in the 2026 class.
In his junior year, he hit .467 with six home runs, five triples, 12 doubles and 27 stolen bases.
6. Kansas City Royals: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
It’s time for the first pitcher to come off the board, and it is UC Santa Barbara right-hander Jackson Flora. Flora set a new school record with 133 strikeouts this season, as he finished with a 12-0 record, an ERA of 1.06, and a WHIP of just 0.853. Flora features high-level velocity — his fastball rests in the upper 90s and hits triple digits regularly — but he can mix in two different sliders, as well as two different changeups.
If Flora is off the board, high school arm Gio Rojas could be a pick for Kansas City here.
7. Baltimore Orioles: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
Here is another selection where the college influence creeps into my mind. Consensus is mixed on Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron, who could come off the board anywhere from No. 8 to the late teens.
So I concede I might be higher on him than consensus, but the tools are there and the shortstop was critical to Alabama’s run to Omaha this season. According to multiple reports the Orioles are looking at college bats with this pick, and Lebron makes a great deal of sense.
8. Athletics: Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas
As noted by other outlets, the Athletics are looking at college bats, and Ryder Helfrick sliding to this spot would offer a nice combination of positional value and power at the plate. Helfrick slashed .305/.420/.616 for the Razorbacks in 2025 along with 15 home runs, and followed that with a .283/.417/.562 slash line in 2026 along with 18 big flies.
Plus, there is a track record of success with the wood bat, as he slashed .261/.323/.837 for Brewster on the Cape during the summer of 2024, along with 11 home runs.
9. Atlanta Braves: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
This might be a bit low for Jacob Lombard, who is coming off boards earlier than this in other industry mock drafts. But with the board falling like this, the Braves would be happy to see Lombard available. The Florida infielder carries some “swing-and-miss” risk, particularly against upper-level velocity, but he offers an intriguing mix of power at the plate and speed on the bases.
10. Colorado Rockies: Tyler Bell, SS, Kentucky
The Colorado Rockies are another team linked to college bats in the 2026 MLB Draft, and Kentucky infielder Tyler Bell certainly fits the bill. Bell slashed an impressive .343/.510/.608 for the Wildcats this past season, with nine home runs.
The switch-hitter also has power from both sides of the plate. Here is a home run against West Virginia in the College World Series Regionals:
Sep 18, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Luis Vazquez (52) fields the ball for an out during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 5, Syracuse Mets 4 — F/10
Norfolk let a two-run lead slip away but walked it off in the bottom of the tenth. Josh Walker kept the Mets off the board in the top of the frame, and Luis Vázquez drove in the automatic runner with a single to right field.
José Barrero got the Tides on the board with a solo homer in the second inning, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand launched a three-run shot in the bottom of the third. Norfolk only tallied five hits across the ten innings. Heston Kjerstad went 1-for-4, and Sam Huff singled in four trips.
Christian Herberholz limited Syracuse to two runs (one earned) over five innings. He allowed two hits, walked three, and struck out one. Dietrich Enns allowed a run over two innings, and Yosver Zulueta allowed a run in the eighth.
Chesapeake starter Evan Yates came within one out of a quality start, but he took the loss after allowing three runs over 5.2 innings. Yates allowed five hits, walked two, and struck out four. Micah Ashman allowed a pair of runs and failed to complete an inning of work.
Douglas Hodo III gave the Baysox an early lead with a solo home run in the top of the first. Aron Estrada doubled, walked and scored a run. Frederick Bencosme walked twice, and Thomas Sosa recorded a pinch-hit single in his only at bat.
High-A: Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) Frederick Keys — PPD
The game was postponed for inclement weather and will be made up on July 11.
