Chris MacFarland has made clear his plan for the future of the Nashville Predators following the start of NHL free agency.
On Wednesday, he traded for Dallas forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and signed Utah center Alex Kerfoot, Colorado defenseman Jack Ahcan and St. Louis defenseman Hunter Skinner.
That's also on top of signing center Jack Drury to a five-year, $22.5 million contract after trading for him on June 24, sending Zach L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov.
"We want to surround our young NHL players with character builders, guys that have seen winning, have touched winning, that know what it looks like," MacFarland said. "They can teach these young guys what goes into that on and off the ice.
"Some of the players that we've added, like Jack Drury, Maverick Bourque and Ross Colton, they've seen what winning looks like, and they can certainly impart some things to our young guys."
Bourque's acquisition was MacFarland's biggest win of the day. The Stars center logged 41 points in 82 games last season from their third line. His addition gives the Predators a massive boost from the middle of the lineup.
MacFarland said that they are still hammering out the details on Bourque's contract. He was previously signed to a one-year, $950,000 contract.
He's an attractive, aged player who's proven in this league at 24 years old," MacFarland said on Bourque. "We believe he can play and be a good player in the middle of the ice. And I think that was probably the biggest draw for us...
"He's a smart, heady hockey player. He's a good two-way guy that we think the arrow is still pointing up for. We intend to give him every shot at playing in the middle."
MacFarland also hinted at that the Predators are not done making roster moves.
So far, Nashville has 15 forwards under contract and seven, possibly eight, defensemen. The Predators are likely looking to shrink some of those numbers and add more depth on the backend.
Ahcan and Skinner will likely play in Milwaukee. Lyubushkin is the only defensive acquisition that will likely earn a roster spot.
"The back end is something that we want to find a little bit more puck skill and a little more transition as part of our game," MacFarland said. "It's not easy to do, right? As you can see by free agency, there weren't a lot of those defensemen available. There's a reason for that. Those are the hard-to-get assets."
What the Predators have gone out and done so far is build more stability in their bottom six.
Moving players like Erik Haula, who signed with the Kings, L'Heureux and Svechkov out made room for the Predators to trade for and sign veteran players who can give Nashville that spark from the third line.
Early projections have Drury centering Colton and Matthew Wood and Bourque centering the second line of Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault. On the fourth line, Kerfoot would be centering the newly acquired from the Vancouver Canucks Nils Hoglander and Joakim Kemell.
"You're gonna need depth, right? This is a really hard league and injuries happen," MacFarland said. "You're gonna need a lot of players to get through a National Hockey League season. From (Jason) Blakey to Jamie Langenbrunner in the front office, competition is really, really important. It's healthy. It raises the bar for everyone.
"The players are gonna tell us in training camp (who will make the roster), and then players are gonna have to tell us, again, in October and November, by their play."
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 30: Jaden Schwartz #17 of the Seattle Kraken is congratulated by Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche after their 2-1 loss in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 30, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t expected to be a big free agency day for the Colorado Avalanche as the calendar flipped to July 1st and the beginning of the 2026-27 league year but GM Joe Sakic was able to get a couple cheaper contracts inked before closing shop for the summer.
Enter Jaden Schwartz , a 34-year-old left wing most recently of the Seattle Kraken but was part of the St. Louis Blues 2019 Stanley Cup team. Colorado inked him to a three-year deal at a $3.25 million cap hit per year. He scored 26 points and 11 goals in 50 games last season as he was limited with injury. Sakic mentioned Schwartz as having a top nine role and will likely be utilized all over the lineup.
The #GoAvsGo signed 34 y/o F Jaden Schwartz to a 3 year $3.25M cap hit contract
There was just enough money left over to make one more addition to the Avalanche roster and that is in right shot defenseman Noah Juulsen who is most recently of the Philadelphia Flyers where he played 52 games and scored 10 points last season. He signs for two-years at $1.1 million in each year. This feels like a classic seventh defenseman addition and gives Colorado a depth option with size. They have a plethora of right handed defensemen again but are used to working with that type of personnel.
The #GoAvsGo signed 29 y/o D Noah Juulsen to a 2 year $1.1M cap hit contract
Joe Sakic met with the media and reiterated the plan is to mostly start with this group and then accrue cap space for the trade deadline. Barring something they can’t pass up, the organization seems comfortable with the moves made this offseason. More minor league signings will follow and new acquisition Fabian Lysell needs a contract extension but until the Cale Makar contract is (hopefully) executed, this feels like a quiet summer ahead.
The Philadelphia 76ers just pulled off a massive trade, shipping Paul George and two first-round picks to the Celtics for Jaylen Brown. However, it appears they're not done trying to revamp their starting lineup. Tony Jones, who covers the 76ers for The Athletic, reported shortly after the Jaylen Brown trade that the 76ers were interested in signing free agent LeBron James.
SOURCES: The Philadelphia 76ers have reached out and are expressing interest in acquiring LeBron James. The story, is here. Please read - https://t.co/x3dKMkMj3l
After the trade for Jaylen Brown, the 76ers' starting lineup would be:
PG: Tyrese Maxey SG: VJ Edgecombe SF: Jaylen Brown PF: Dean Wade C: Joel Embiid
Dean Wade is a solid floor spacer who's shot 36.7% from beyond the arc during his seven-year NBA career, but he's not a strong rebounder and has averaged 5.3 points in 20 minutes per game in his career. He is a strong defender, which is an area of need for the 76ers, but he fits best as a rotation piece and not a starter on a potential title team. Of course, with Maxey and Edgecombe leading the way, the 76ers don't need another primary scorer in their starting lineup.
This presents an interesting question for LeBron James. At 41 years old, James will certainly welcome not having to shoulder a huge burden. He played in just 60 games this season, his fewest since 2022-23, and he attempted just 15.3 field goals per game, his lowest total ever. Obviously, playing next to Luka Doncic meant that James wasn't needed to initiate offense as much, but that would likely be the same situation while playing alongside Maxey, Brown, and Edgecombe. LeBron remains a strong facilitator, who had 7.2 assists per game last season while turning the ball over just 3.0 times per game, his fewest since 2012-2013. LeBron would have to be OK filling even more of a facilitator role among a group of younger scorers who are going to push the pace in a way that James may be unable to keep up.
Moving Wade to the bench would also deepen a bench unit that is a major weakness right now, with just Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti, Dominick Barlow, and Labaron Philon as likely contributors.
What Other Teams are Interested in LeBron James?
The Warriors still remain at the forefront of the James sweepstakes, along with teams like the Heat, Cavaliers, and Nuggets. The Spurs seem to be out of the running after signing Tobias Harris, but all cards are on the table when it comes to LeBron James. We should have some resolution in the next few days.
It just keeps getting worse for Paul Skenes. Not only has he not won a game in nine starts, but on Wednesday, July 1, the Phillies made it sting. Philadelphia battered the Pirates' ace for a career-high seven earned runs, and eight total, in an outing that lasted just four innings.
Trea Turner put a three-run homer in the seats, Brandon Marsh tacked on a solo shot and the Phillies had an 8-4 lead before most fans had finished their first hot dog and beer.
Skenes hasn't picked up a win in a start since May 12 and Pittsburgh hasn't won a game he has started since then, either. That last win was against the Rockies and five days later, the Phillies started his spiral. They tagged him with five runs in five innings on May 17.
During this slide, Skenes has allowed 28 earned runs and seven homers in 47 innings, good for a 5.36 ERA. In his first two seasons, Skenes never finished with an ERA over 1.97.
It's a jarring stretch for a pitcher with Skenes' talent and resume.
He won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and then followed that up with a Cy Young Award in 2025. Lately, however, his numbers just haven't looked as dominant.
Jul 1, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) reacts after hitting a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves have been one of the best teams in the National League for the first half of the 2026 season, but the St. Louis Cardinals have shown they can compete and Tuesday night was no exception at Truist Park at least for the first 7 innings. Michael McGreevy kept the Cardinals close through the first half of the game. However, the Cardinals bats were deadly silent and the bullpen let the game escape in the late innings.
The St. Louis Cardinals grabbed an early lead starting in the top of the 1st inning. After JJ Wetherholt flied out to deep center, Iván Herrera turned a 95 mph four-seam fastball into a ground rule double. Two batters later, Jordan Walker hammered a sharp single to right scoring Herrera who made a great slide into home getting his hand over the base just before the tag making it 1-0 Cardinals. Spoiler Alert: St. Louis could just not spark any kind of real rally against Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez. Would you believe these would represent the only Cardinals hits of the game?
That lead would not last long unfortunately. The Atlanta Braves answered in the bottom of the 1st inning a single from Drake Baldwin who scored on a double by Ozzie Albies tying the game at 1-1.
The Braves took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning and it was Ozzie Albies fault again. He ripped a 92 mph four-seam fastball from Michael McGreevy into a 380 foot home run to right-center making it 2-1 Braves and that’s the way it would remain until the late innings.
Michael McGreevy overall had a solid outing as he gave the Cardinals 6 full innings allowing just 3 hits, 2 earned runs while striking out 3 and walking just 1. He simply had no run support from the Cardinals offense. Max Rajcic entered the game in the bottom of the 7th inning. He walked Mauricio Dubon to lead off the Braves 7th, but was then able to get Smith to ground out and he struck out the slumping Austin Riley. Dubon advanced to third on a wild pitch by Max before Rajcic walked Mike Yastremski to give Atlanta runners on first and third. Fortunately, Mateo would pop out to Blaze Jordan at third to end the scoring threat and keep the Cardinals within a run.
José Fermín would ALMOST tie the game in the top of the 8th inning off of Braves reliever Dylan Lee as he came within an eyelash of homering to left field, but left fielder Dubon made a leaping grab against the wall to deny him. Dang.
Justin Bruihl entered the game in the bottom of the 8th inning with the sole purpose of keeping Atlanta from adding an insurance run. He would not be successful. The defense behind him was not supportive of his cause either. After Bruihl walked Drake Baldwin, Blaze Jordan botched what looked like an easy groundball from Ozzie Albies that could have been a potential double play starter. Instead it was E5 with Matt Olson at the plate with runners on first and second with nobody out. Olson flew out to deep right which allowed Baldwin to advance to third, but Albies did not advance to second even though Jordan Walker’s throw went to third instead of second. Michael Harris II made Bruihl (and the Cardinals) pay for that leadoff walk as he singled into left-center scoring Baldwin and giving the Braves a 3-1 lead. That would cause manager Oli Marmol to remove Bruihl and bring in Gordon Graceffo to stop the bleeding. He sadly couldn’t. Dubon executed a sacrifice squeeze that Alec Burleson made a great effort on, but his throw was too late to home as Albies slid home safely making it 4-1 Braves. It nearly got worse when Smith singled to right, but Jordan Walker threw a laser beam to home and Pedro Pages made a great tag for the second out. It wasn’t enough to stop the Braves from continuing to pile on. Austin Riley would single to left on the first pitch he saw scoring Dubon and giving Atlanta a commanding 5-1 lead. That would be the score going into the top of the 9th.
The St. Louis Cardinals 9th inning would feature the top of the order starting with JJ Wetherholt. He would end the game 0-3 with a weak groundout off of Braves reliever Iglesias. Iván Herrera then struck out and then Alec Burleson ended the game with a weak flyball to left field representing one of the Cardinals poorer offensive efforts of the season so far.
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their visit to Atlanta with a Thursday night game against the Braves. Dustin May will make the start for the Cardinals. Atlanta has not yet named their starter for Thursday’s game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:15pm central time with the game TV broadcast being handled by Cardinals.tv.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers dives into third base safe against the Athletics in the top of the seventh inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on June 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a bullpen game for the Dodgers, as they look to sweep the Athletics on Wednesday.
Updated lineup:
Ohtani DH Pages CF Freeman 1B Muncy 3B Tucker RF Edman LF Freeland 2B Rojas SS Robinson C Dreyer P https://t.co/UlBcs54qNP
Mar 29, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a glove save against the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
New general manager John Chayka’s transformation of the Toronto roster isn’t dependent on youth alone.
Days after selecting play-making 18-year-old forward Gavin McKenna with the first pick in the NHL draft, Chayka added veteran depth — with Stanley Cup Final experience — in a series of moves highlighted by the signing of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21 million contract as free agency opened on Wednesday.
At nearly 38, Bobrovsky is a two-time Cup champion and leaves Florida to fill what’s been a long-unaddressed need in Toronto.
“Sergei’s a real game-changer for us in terms of the stability, the consistency, the durability,” Chayka said. “We think he’s really motivated to come into the largest hockey market in the world, and it’s important to him that he finish his career strong.”
Among the other more active teams were the San Jose Sharks. They signed free agent defenseman Jacob Trouba and forward Mason Marchment, while also acquiring defenseman Darnell Nurse in a trade with Edmonton.
Utah, coming off its first playoff appearance, signed former Islanders captain Anders Lee to a three-year, $16.2 million contract and Vincent Trochek of the Rangers as the Mammoth muscled up their front line.
Aside from Lee, and with veteran forward Patrick Kane and defenseman John Carlson still available, Bobrovsky was considered among the most prized free agents on the market.
“A sincere thank you to Sergei Bobrovsky for all he did for this organization,” said Panthers general manager Bill Zito, who this past week had traded for goalies Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid. “Things happen where decisions get made and people move on. It’s part of our game. We have nothing but appreciation for Sergei.”
Though nearly a decade removed from winning the Vezina Trophy for a second time as the NHL’s top goalie with Columbus in 2017, Bobrovsky represents an upgrade for a Leafs team that’s gone through a carousel of netminders, including five alone last season. Toronto is attempting to retool on the fly with a new coach after finishing last in the Atlantic Division standings to snap a nine-year playoff run.
The Leafs also acquired veteran forward Nick Paul in a trade with Tampa Bay, while also signing center Teddy Blueger, who won a Cup in 2023 with Vegas, center Colton Sissons and center Jack Roslovic.
Rangers wheel and deal
The Rangers made four trades in a five-hour span, most notably sending Trocheck to Utah for defenseman Sean Durzi, prospect Cole Beaudoin and a third-round pick in the draft next year. They also acquired Marcus Pettersson from Vancouver for a conditional 2030 first-rounder, shipped fellow defenseman Will Borgon to Boston for picks and made an additional trade with the Bruins to get backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo.
New York also signed former Tampa Bay forward Oliver Bjorkstrand to a one-year, $4.5 million contract.
Sharks stock up
The fast-improving Sharks are suddenly a destination. They acquired Nurse in a deal that sent defensive prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp to Edmonton. Trouba signed a four-year, $33 million deal and Marchment signed a five-year, $33.75 million contract.
After the Sharks enjoyed a 19-win jump in the standings and barely missed the playoffs, Trouba called being part of a team on the rise behind Macklin Celebrini one of the biggest reasons he signed in the Bay Area.
“You want a team that you feel like you can grow with and make an impact and help these young guys,” Trouba said on a video call with reporters. “It’s important to get into where everybody wants to be is on a contending team, and I think we have a good opportunity in San Jose to do that.”
Goalies on the move
The Oilers shuffled goalies by acquiring Buffalo’s minor league prospect Devon Levi in a trade and added veteran Frederik Andersen on a $2.8 million contract for next season. Andersen was Carolina’s goaltender on the way to the Cup final before getting injured and exiting the series.
Winnipeg signed Stuart Skinner to a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Winnipeg. The Jets’ goaltending depth could be in flux with the team listening to trade offers for three-time Vezina Trophy-winner Connor Hellebuyck. Minnesota signed Calvin Pickard, while Tampa Bay got Denis Hildeby from Toronto for forward Nick pPaul.
Free agent signings
— Washington, still waiting on Alex Ovechkin’s decision about whether to return for a 22nd NHL season, signed Columbus winger Boone Jenner ($23 million) and San Jose defenseman Vincent Desharnais ($16.8 million) to four-year contracts.
— The Los Angeles Kings signed Nashville forward Erik Haula to a two-year, $7.2 million contract. And Mats Zuccarello left Minnesota to sign with L.A..
— Chicago got veteran defenseman Ian Cole (Utah) for next season at $4.75 million.
— Colorado signed former Seattle winger Jaden Schwartz to a three-year, $9.75 million contract.
— Detroit signed Swedish winger Viktor Arvidsson (Boston) to a two-year contract worth $10 million.
Staying put
In the meantime, teams were also busy retaining players.
-- Florida signed rugged defenseman Radko Gudas, who just turned 36, to a six-year deal worth $1.5 million annually for a total of $9 million. The 36-year-old Gudas played in Florida for three seasons from 2020-23 and acquired in a trade with Anaheim on Monday.
— New Jersey locked up captain Nico Hischier by signing the Swiss center to a five-year extension worth $58.5 million with an annual cap hit of $11.7 million from 2027 through 2032.
— Montreal re-signed Ivan Demidov to an eight-year, $73 million contract after the 20-year-old Russian forward led all NHL rookies with 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) last season.
— Philadelphia got two extensions done, signing forward Tyson Foerster to an eight-year, $56.8 million contract and extending goalie Dan Vladar for five years at $27.5 million.
Will Smith remains on the IL because of a neck injury. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
The first half of the season will conclude with Will Smith in the same place he has been for the last month: the injured list.
The Dodgers’ three-time All-Star catcher has been on the IL since June 8 because of what the Dodgers list as neck inflammation. Smith said he had been diagnosed with an inflamed disk.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he “just can’t see any world” in which Smith would return before the All-Star break, which concludes July 16.
“It’s certainly longer, I know, than all of us expected,” Roberts said. “But I don’t think it’s anything real, kind of affecting-the-season type thing.”
Roberts said Smith has not been able to accelerate his rehabilitation to the point of doing baseball activities.
Dalton Rushing, who has taken over as the Dodgers’ primary catcher in Smith’s absence, is batting .213 with one home run and 19 strikeouts in 18 games while Smith has been on the injured list. The Dodgers gave Rushing the day off Wednesday.
The Dodgers were 14-6 with Smith on the IL entering play Wednesday.
Also Wednesday, the team scratched shortstop Mookie Betts from the starting lineup because of a sore right wrist.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero has become the youngest player since at least 1900 to homer in six straight games.
Caminero hit a 425-foot shot to left off Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo in the first inning on Wednesday night for his 24th homer of the season. The Rays star will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Sunday.
The youngest player before Caminero to homer in six straight games was Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr., who did it at the age of 23 in 1993.
The only other players since 1900 to homer in as many as five consecutive games before their 23rd birthday were San Francisco’s Jack Clark in 1978, Atlanta’s Brian McCann in 2006 and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2018.
Caminero becomes the first player to homer in six straight games since Rafael Devers did it for Boston in May 2024. Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber, Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson and the Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami had all homered in five straight games this season.
The only other Tampa Bay player ever to go deep in six straight games was Carlos Pena in June 2010, according to Sportradar.
Caminero has eight homers over his last six games. He began this stretch by going deep three times in a 13-2 victory over Kansas City on Thursday.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 17: A general view of Chase Field during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants conclude this three-game road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Trevor McDonald, who enters tonight’s game with a 4.94 ERA, 4.01 FIP, with 45 strikeouts to 19 walks in 51 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Friday, in which he allowed three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
He’ll be facing off against Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, who enters tonight’s game with a 6.15 ERA, 5.24 FIP, with 52 strikeouts to 27 walks in 86.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Diamondbacks’ 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, in which he allowed five runs on four hits with two walks in six and two thirds innings.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 8: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Sixers are reportedly looking to talk to LeBron James … yes, you are reading that correctly.
SOURCES: The Philadelphia 76ers have reached out and are expressing interest in acquiring LeBron James. The story, is here. Please read – https://t.co/x3dKMkMj3l
Tony Jones is as plugged in as anyone across the NBA media landscape. While he doesn’t mention anything about how receptive LeBron would be to the idea of joining the Sixers, it does make a good bit of sense:
“Philadelphia makes sense from a basketball perspective. The 76ers have enough scoring, depth and ballhandling at the top of the roster to allow James to ease into a role. And with James — or even without him — Philadelphia projects as a championship contender. The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are also considered among the frontrunners for James’ services.”
There are connections with James and president of basketball operations Mike Gansey. The two crossed over for a few years in Cleveland. LeBron was leading the franchise to its first ever NBA title while Gansey served as the team’s director of development league operations before being promoted to assistant general manager.
But their connection goes back a bit further. As we all know, LeBron was born in Akron, Ohio. Gansey is from Olmsted Falls, Ohio. As Mike’s younger brother Steve reminded everyone, Mike and LeBron crossed paths as high-level high school players.
For all the jokes about LeBron getting Bronny enrolled at Malvern Prep or seeing him at the Wawa in Port Richmond a few years back, it would be something for this to happen now.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Bogoljub Markovic #23 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 16, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Per Jake Fischer, the Milwaukee Bucks have signed Bogoljub Marković, their 2025 second-round draft pick, to a four-year rookie contract, with the news confirmed on the Bucks’ official NBA.com page. According to Fischer, the deal is worth $9.3m and includes a team option in the final season.
After being drafted by the Bucks with the 47th pick in the 2025 draft, Marković spent last season playing for Mega Basket in Serbia’s Adriatic League (ABA), where he averaged 18.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 blocked shot in 31.8 minutes per game. As discussed by Deolu in May, Marković’s play earned him the league’s MVP award, while he also took home the Top Prospect Award for the second year in a row and was named to the “Ideal Starting Five,” Serbia’s form of an All-NBA award.
But this success shouldn’t have come as a complete surprise—Finn urged us all to not give up on Marković after his largely disappointing play during last year’s Summer League with Bucks, citing his self-belief, basketball understanding, shooting, and fluidity as strengths that hold him in good stead, and likening him to Lauri Markkanen. Wouldn’t that be something?
The soon-to-be 21-year-old fits what seems to be Milwaukee’s movement of high-character, driven, and mouldable prospects, who will have every opportunity to improve under the tutelage of Taylor Jenkins, Joe Boylan, the recently added T.J. Ford, and the rest of the coaching staff. Undoubtedly, Marković adds to Milwaukee’s intriguing collection of young talent and provides an additional option at the four spot, alongside Kyle Kuzma and Pete Nance.
Here’s hoping his MVP form in the ABA is a sign of things to come for the Bucks.
Brew Hoop community, how do you feel about Marković signing? Let us know in the comments section below.
More than 50 years after leading the White Sox to the 1972 AL West title, Dick Allen continues to inspire a new generation of fans through the documentary series "My Father, Dick Allen." | (Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
Once upon a time, the Chicago White Sox endured a dreadful season, losing more than 100 games, finishing an appalling 42 games out of first place in the division, and drawing less than 500,000 fans all season. From the doldrums, the team ascended from Baseball Hell and re-established the White Sox as a competitive team, leading to a winning season and a reinvigorated fanbase. Sound familiar?
The parallels between the 1972 Chicago White Sox and the current team are many. Still, unlike the roster-wide juggernaut currently working its way into the All-Star Break with a winning record and sole possession of first place, the former team was carried on the back of a single prodigious player.
I had the honor of being invited to a special screening of “My Father, Dick Allen,” a five-part documentary series that chronicles Allen’s life, career, and overdue posthumous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. I wasn’t alive for Allen’s baseball career, so I called my dad, a lifelong White Sox fan, and asked what he remembered about him.
“Dick Allen was one of my favorite players!” he answered.
Naturally, I had Dad accompany me to the screening at The Chicago History Museum. After collecting our Cracker Jacks, we fangirled over resident South Side Queen Nancy Faust (as per usual) and sang along quietly to “Rosanna,” by Toto, a classic Nancy tune.
The night was emceed by five-time Emmy-winning broadcaster and living legend Kenny McReynolds, whose profound baseball wisdom was on display in real time. Also in attendance was Allen’s teammate (and seemingly his biggest fan besides McReynolds), Rich “Goose” Gossage. Ferguson Jenkins, who played with Dick in Little Rock for the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league affiliate, The Travelers, was also on the post-screening panel. John Owens, who penned the book “Chili Dog MVP,” which tells the story of the 1972 White Sox and Allen’s impact on the team, and serves as the foundation for the documentary series, was also on the panel along with fellow writer David Fletcher.
The most special guest was Dick Allen Jr., also known as “Doobie,” a nickname affectionately given to him by his father. The story of his father and his life in baseball is told through his eyes, and shortly after the screening began, I learned that Dick Allen, the person, was even more important than Dick Allen, the player.
Yes, Dick Allen, the player, saved the White Sox in 1972, so he, too, is of great importance. His genuine nature, unwillingness to be anyone other than himself, and his pure strength of will are the stuff of legends, and that’s not even mentioning the man’s fabled forearms. As talented as Allen was, the real celebration lies in his lifetime of being himself through the trials and tribulations of a true baseball pioneer.
The screening covered two episodes of the docuseries: first, his early life and the beginning of his baseball career; then, a jump to episode five, covering Allen’s time on the South Side.
Dick and his family grew up in Wampum, Pennsylvania, and by high school, he and his five brothers were already making tracks in sports, both in baseball and basketball. Wampum was integrated, and Allen’s experience growing up hadn’t prepared him for the prejudice and intolerance he’d soon face in his career.
In 1963, Allen became the first African American player on the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers. Although Jackie Robinson paved the way for Black players two decades before Allen was signed, he was still subject to unjust treatment.
Imagine being as talented as Allen and playing unyieldingly with your team, but not being allowed to stay at the same hotel or eat at the same restaurants as your teammates. Through death threats, intimidation, harassment, heckling, and worse, Allen shone. He was voted the International League’s Most Valuable Player.
Allen’s first full season in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies remains one of the most distinguished rookie seasons of all time for any player. He led the MLB in runs, triples, extra-base hits, and total bases, and also in errors, still being green at his new position as third baseman. Here was a man who could adapt to any spot they placed him — a truly elite athlete.
Despite his Rookie of the Year title, Allen still endured worsening adversity. During his time in Philadelphia, which spanned five seasons, he averaged 20 home runs and 90 RBIs per season. His impressive lines in Philly didn’t make his career a walk around the baseball diamond, however.
“When Dad began to speak out against the racism he experienced at the ballpark and in the city of Philadelphia, his situation became worse,” Allen Jr. wrote. “Our family was subjected to some pretty unfortunate things, too, like having trash thrown on our front lawn, or having to hear the nasty boos when we went to the ballpark to watch Dad play. Although he pleaded with the Phillies to trade him to another team, they refused because Dad was their best player. The longer he stayed with the Phillies, the more he spoke out against the racism he experienced.”
Allen had initially withstood verbal jeers and threats, but after speaking out about the racism he’d endured in Philadelphia, it grew worse instead of better. Phillies fans threw fruit, ice, trash, and even flashlight batteries at his head, but the physical abuse wasn’t enough to make him quit. He simply wore his batting helmet when taking his eventual position in left field, like an absolute boss, and challenged the racist abuse with an even louder voice, always trying to shine a light on the truth of his experience.
In 1969, Allen was finally traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and found some respite from the unjust harassment. After time on the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland A’s, he was eventually traded to the Chicago White Sox in December of 1971.
The myth of Allen being “difficult” to work with was perpetuated by the racism he’d had to endure since the start of his career. White Sox manager Chuck Tanner had a special relationship with Allen and nurtured his talent, permanently placing him at first base so he could focus on his offense, which paid off. That year, Allen led the American League in home runs, RBIs, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS, winning him the AL MVP. That was also the year he single-handedly saved the Chicago White Sox.
The most memorable Allen game in 1972 was the fabled “Chili Dog Game”. During the second game of a doubleheader on June 4, 1972, Dick Allen was called up to the plate to pinch-hit. Tanner had given him the second game of the day to rest, as he’d played in every single game the entire season up to that point. Over 51,000 White Sox fans were in attendance, with standing room only, as fans illegally sat on stairways to catch a glimpse of greatness; more than 8,000 additional fans were unable to gain access to the ballpark. That game broke an 18-year attendance record, and most of the fans were there to witness a piece of Allen’s record-breaking season.
Tanner was saving Allen for late-inning heroics, much to the chagrin of White Sox owner John Allyn, who wanted to give fans of the beloved Allen a show.
It was the bottom of the ninth inning, and the White Sox were losing 4-2 to the despised New York Yankees. Tanner was waiting for a couple of runners to be aboard, and the time had come after Beltin’ Bill Melton walked, and Mike Andrews singled. He made the call for Allen.
But he wasn’t ready. Allen was eating a chili dog when he realized that Tanner had summoned him, and he wasn’t being careful, either.
“I had chili all over my shirt, so I put on a new one and a pair of pants with no underclothes,” Allen remembered in an interview.
Allen ambled out with his heavier-than-heavy bat. He took a strike, then a ball, and then proceeded to launch a 370-footer into the stands for the ninth walk-off dinger of his career, winning the game for the South Siders. The electric crowd remained in the stands long after the game was over. And thus, the Chili Dog Game became legend.
Unfortunately, some legends take a long time to be cemented into history. The important part of Allen Jr.’s story lies in his efforts to get his dad inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Regardless of how beloved Allen was by his teammates and those who had the privilege of watching him play, his achievements were muddied by the negative spin the press had put on his career. Despite being the highest-paid player who broke record after record, and despite the deep admiration from his teammates and players from around the league, Allen always had to fight to be seen. In 1994, writer Bill James wrote that Allen “did more to keep his teams from winning than anyone else who ever played Major League Baseball. And if that’s a Hall of Famer, I’m a lug nut.”
Well, Bill, you lugnut, thanks for your lousy non-contribution.
Allen was celebrated as a leader, a cornerstone, a genuine, funny, loving, caring guy who tried his hardest to be the best he could be. He wasn’t just a larger-than-life baseball star. He knew his worth and fought for himself, leaving an example for generations to look up to when they’re struggling with their own self-worth and feel an urge to make themselves smaller to avoid controversy. It wasn’t just his teammates who knew this about him, either. He cared for his family, his rivals, his friends, and his fans, and with profound humility. Yet, the uphill battle to get Allen the spot in the Hall of Fame that he deserved was anything but easy.
Over 50 years after his career ended, Dick Allen was inducted into the Hall of Fame, where he belongs. “My Father, Dick Allen” covers this journey in a reverent, real, and fascinating way. I hope you get the privilege to see it soon.
Dick Allen was always a Hall-of-Fame player, despite the long road to get there. There is so much more to this epic story that I couldn’t cover here, so if you haven’t already, do yourself a favor and pick up “Chili Dog MVP” by John Owens and Dr. David Fletcher. Note:I purchased this book and am not being incentivized to endorse it.
After learning about Allen from those who knew him best, it’s easy to see why he is a fan favorite to this day. In honor of him, and one of his best quotes, I will now accept the inherited mantle of hating the Phillies.
“I’ll play first, third, left. I’ll play anywhere — except Philadelphia.” — Dick Allen Source: The Sporting News (April 11, 1970)
Brandon Pfaadt gave the Snakes everything they could have asked for yesterday. Despite having a modest pitch count limit, Pfaadt spared the bullpen any undue stress. He completed five innings and allowed only one run. Additionally, Max Kepler finally showed up for a game, the first time since joining the Diamondbacks. Now, the Diamondbacks will look to remain perfect against the Giants in 2026, running their streak against the Bay Area team to nine games.
Will the real Zac Gallen please stand up? Sadly, there is a very good chance that we have been seeing the real Zac Gallen. Gallen’s last outing was a mixed bag. Had Torey Lovullo not sent Gallen back out for the seventh inning, he pitches a quality start. But, Gallen’s first inning was atrocious, matched and surpassed by just how bad his abbreviated seventh was. With the Giants reeling and the Diamondbacks enjoying some home cooking, this is the time for Zac Gallen to keep the good times rolling. A strong start from Gallen helps the Diamondbacks with their momentum. It will also keep the Diamondbacks above .500, an important bellwether mark for the upcoming trade deadline.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 27: Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green #23 battles Memphis Grizzlies' Santi Aldama #7 for a rebound in the second quarter of their NBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
It’s been quite a journey for the Golden State Warriors’ 2030 first-round pick. It first changed hands in the summer of 2023, when the Warriors sent half of their “second timeline” to the Washington Wizards (Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, Patrick Baldwin, Jr.), a 2027 second, and the 2030 first-rounder for whatever was left of Chris Paul’s 38-year-old body.
The pick, protected for selections 1-20 in 2030, settled down in the District of Columbia for the next two seasons as the Wizards slowly traded away their good players for picks, took on other team’s bad contracts for picks, and tanked so effectively that they ended up with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. But when the Wizards decided to disable the tank for the 2026-27 season, the Warriors’ old pick was part of the trade that sent Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks to the nation’s capital.
Now the protected pick belongs to the Memphis Grizzlies, who traded forward Santi Aldama to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for AJ Johnson, two second-rounders, and that 2030 Warriors first. At time, the Warriors were effectively trading a 12-year-old for a 38-year-old, though now that potential pick is probably in his sophomore year of high school. Lest we forget, Dallas also receives the rights to Tarik Biberovic, a 25-year-old Bosniak forward who plays professionally in Turkey.
The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Santi Aldama to the Dallas Mavericks for AJ Johnson, a protected 2030 Warriors first-round pick and two future second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ctrDPu0tcC
The Grizzlies are no strangers to taking on protected Warriors first-rounders. They got the Warriors’ 2024 first for taking on Andre Iguodala’s salary in the summer of 2019, which led to the Dillon Brooks Dynasty in Memphis after the young team pretended to be furious about Iguodala forcing his way to the Miami Heat and the 2020 NBA Finals. Eventually, it simply put the Grizzlies in the Path of Destruction forged by Steph Curry.
Eventually, that pick found its way to Washington after being involved in trades for Marcus Smart, Jrue Holiday, Deni Avdija, and Kristaps Porzingis. The draft is a flat circle. The pick eventually turned into Carlton Kaleel Carrington III, better known as “Bub,” who will known be mentored by noted veteran leader Trae Young.
The 2030 pick will only convey to Memphis if it lands between No. 21 and No. 30, in which case it becomes a Warriors second-rounder. That’s good business from the Dubs front office, considering Steph Curry will turn 42 that season. The Grizzlies have a giant stockpile of picks after trading Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson, Jr. in the last 12 months, so the Dubs’ beloved pick may be relocating a few more times before draft night 2030.
In other ex-Warriors news, Harrison “The Black Falcon” Barnes re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs, Andrew Wiggins opted-in to his player option and signed an extension with the Miami Heat, Buddy Hield surprisingly had his $9.7M option picked up by the Atlanta Hawks, and Nico Mannion received a qualifying offer from the Warriors while currently unemployed in the Italian league. Forever Warrior Justinian Jessup is under contract with Bayern Munich through 2028.
Nashville Predators Acquire Mavrick Bourque, Ilya Lyubushkin In Trade With Dallas StarsNashville bolsters its lineup by landing a prolific young scorer and a battle-tested veteran, sacrificing future draft capital to sharpen their competitive edge for the coming seasons.
