Carson Wiggins has taken his first steps to Citi Field.
The Mets signed their top selection (27th overall) in this year’s draft on Wednesday in Queens, agreeing to a $3,466,500 signing bonus (the full slot value) with the 6-foot-5 flamethrower from Arkansas.
Wiggins, 21, has been touted by Mets officials as a potential “front-line” starter in the future, featuring a fastball that has touched 102 mph.
Carson Wiggins, who was the Mets’ top draft pick, poses for a photo during the 2026 Draft Combine at Arizona Grand Resort Phoenix on June 23, 2026 in Phoenix. MLB Photos via Getty Images
But the right-hander threw only 14 innings in college (3.21 ERA) after undergoing elbow surgery last year and missed his entire sophomore season with the Razorbacks.
After being selected by the Mets, Wiggins said he is done with his rehab and ready to pitch again.
MLB insider Buster Olney believes the Dodgers are only beginning to heat up with the postseason just a few months away. Getty Images
“I would definitely take the Dodgers. Look, they’re on a 101-win pace and think about what hasn’t gone well for them. Blake Snell hasn’t pitched. Tyler Glasnow is on the injured list. Kyle Tucker, who they spent so much money on in the offseason, he hasn’t played that well. And yet here they are, again,” Olney said.
“The team to beat. I think the best of the Dodgers is yet to come. After slow-playing these injuries, get Edwin Díaz and other guys back. They’re going to be a great team by the time we get to October.”
"The best of the Dodgers is yet to come. … [The Dodgers] are going to be a great team by the time we get to October."@Buster_ESPN and @MadDogUnleashed debate which team will win the World Series next pic.twitter.com/pJg49M2tBv
The Dodgers are chasing a third consecutive World Series championship in 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Olney is right, a lot of things have gone wrong for the Dodgers in 2026.
Injuries appear to be a staple story for LA in recent seasons, but the Dodgers have pressed forward even without key roster pieces. The struggles of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki could have also derailed the starting rotation’s success, but the right-hander’s 5.33 ERA hasn’t prevented the Dodgers from taking an 11 ½-game lead in the National League West.
The Dodgers stand tall with the NL’s best record (61-36) heading into the second half of the season, when reinforcements are poised to return imminently.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is expected to play in the team’s upcoming series against the Yankees. Getty Images
The Dodgers became the first team to win back-to-back championships in a quarter century but are looking to take the dynasty a step further by completing the three-peat. With the trade deadline only a few weeks away, the front office has the ability to make the roster even scarier by adding Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal.
While it’s no guarantee a trade happens, the fact the Dodgers can realistically acquire Skubal is simply infuriating for every other MLB team.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Michael Ajayi #10 of the Charlotte Hornets plays defense on Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game on July 15, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks exterminated the Charlotte Hornets 110-91 tonight, picking up their first victory of Summer League. It was a game of runs for Milwaukee, which built a big lead early, blew it, then ultimately took things back to blowout territory down the stretch. Nate Ament led the Bucks with 23 points (Brayden Burries didn’t play), while Hannes Steinbach dominated for Charlotte with 27 points and 15 rebounds.
Bogi Markovic got the party started for the Bucks, throwing down a driving dunk and drilling a catch-and-shoot three for the team’s first five points of the night. Charlotte’s “big three” of Christian Anderson, Hannes Steinbach, and Tidjane Saluan all got some buckets early, and Nate Ament knocked down a couple pretty jumpers for Milwaukee, including an and-one triple from the right corner. The young talent for both sides was on full display. Milwaukee mounted an extended 19-4 run after the 6:02 mark of the opening quarter and finished the period with a 28-18 lead. Zack Austin’s energy was a spark on both ends during the push— he blocked three shots in his first stint off the bench alone.
The Hornets promptly tightened the gap in the second quarter, with twin trey balls from Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Kylan Boswell cutting Milwaukee’s cushion to four by the 8:05 stamp. But, then the Bucks did what all good basketball teams do: they responded to the run with a run of their own. Ament and Markovic each swished a three before Pete Nance laid the ball up in transition, restoring a 12-point advantage and forcing a Charlotte timeout within two minutes of Boswell’s shot. The Hornets hung around with some help from Saluan, but Milwaukee escaped the first half up 53-37.
Charlotte came out hot in the second stanza. They were able to reduce the lead to single digits, 61-52, with a Michael Ajayi putback dunk at the 6:14 tick. A rolling layup for Steinbach thirty seconds later capped off a 10-0 burst for the Hornets. From there, the Buzz City boys kept rolling, and what seemed like a potential no-sweat Milwaukee win was suddenly flipped into a 63-62 barn burner with 3:43 left in the third. Again, though, the Bucks had an answer, as they built a 16-0 run in the waning minutes of the period that put them up 79-64 heading into the fourth.
The Bucks managed to hold on and snuff out the funny comeback business in the final frame, despite the best efforts of Steinbach and Salaun. Kam Jones, Milwaukee’s newest two-way contract man, was a catalyst in sealing the win, as was Ament, who strung together three finishes in a row with around four minutes remaining.
Stat That Stood Out
Eight players scored double digits for the Bucks tonight: Ament, Markovic, Nance, Jones, Austin, Brandon Boston Jr., Luke Travers, and Boopie Miller. Talk about a team effort!
Freddie Freeman appeared in his 10th All-Star Game on Tuesday.
At 36 years old, Freddie Freeman is coming off his 10th career All-Star selection.
In the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, the Dodgers first baseman batted third for the National League in what was his sixth straight appearance in the Midsummer Classic.
Freddie Freeman appeared in his 10th All-Star Game on Tuesday.
Freeman has spent the last five seasons in LA, helping the Dodgers win back-to-back World Series titles over the past two years. The star cemented himself in Dodgers lore when he hit a walk-off home run against the Yankees in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.
“I’ve always wanted to try and play until I’m 40 years old,” Freeman said at All-Star Media Day. “That would be three more years after this.”
Freddie Freeman previously admitted that the birth of his daughter changed his perspective on retirement. Laurence Kesterson/UPI/ShutterstockFreeman has played five seasons with the Dodgers, but his current contract expires at the end of the 2027 season. Getty Images
Freeman was reluctant to provide a set number as his Dodgers contract expires at the conclusion of the 2027 season.
“I’m not going to put a firm number on it,” Freeman said. “I would have to get another contract, so I’m only worried about this year. But 20 years in the big leagues would be kind of cool and special.”
While Freeman is closer to the end of his career rather than the start, he’s remained an elite player for the Dodgers. This season, Freeman is hitting .290 with 15 home runs, 49 RBIs and an .862 OPS. Defensively, the veteran ranks in the 82nd percentile in Outs Above Average with a plus-2 grade.
Beyond his talent, Freeman plays a leading role in the Dodgers’ clubhouse as a seasoned veteran. There are still questions about his Dodgers future, but the first baseman will certainly end up in Cooperstown.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
LAS VEGAS — Adou Thiero’s summer league debut didn’t go how he imagined.
The Lakers’ 2025 second-round pick came into the summer wanting to dominate. He had an idea of what being dominant looked like. And then when he tried to execute that vision during the July 3 loss to the Warriors, it didn’t go how he imagined.
The Lakers’ Adou Thiero is trying to strengthen his 2026-27 roster spot with a solid summer league showing. NBAE via Getty Images
He predetermined his drives. He didn’t let the game come to him, instead trying to force his will on the game.
The result was not only a 32-point loss but also Thiero shooting 3-of-10 from the field for nine points.
“Multiple conversations with coaches, multiple film sessions,” Thiero told The California Post about the aftermath of the first game. “I knew after the first game, I knew I didn’t play well myself. So just talking to coaches that night and picking their brain and already knowing what I got to do better for the next games.”
Since then, Thiero has changed his approach — allowing the game to come to him — and his performances reflect it.
“It’s just about him just being available and getting the reps,” Lakers assistant/summer league coach Ty Abbott told the Post. “And as he’s gotten more reps, he’s been able to get a better understanding of how teams are trying to guard him, what his strengths are, what he can go to, right? You don’t really know what you can do until you do it. It’s like a trial-and-error type of thing. He’s kind of gone through that a little bit, and now he knows how he wants to go, where he wants to go, and he’s slowed down.”
Thiero scored in double figures in all four of the games he’s played since the Lakers’ initial loss, including having his best and most efficient performances during the Las Vegas summer league games.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
There was the 20-point performance on 8-of-14 shooting to go with four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots during Friday’s win over the Thunder.
He had 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go with six rebounds and three assists during Tuesday’s win over the Clippers.
“With more reps, it’s just gonna keep slowing down for me,” Thiero told the Post. “So I just got to keep going out there playing and keep getting a feel for the game. And it’s just going to keep getting easier.”
Thiero’s playing time was limited during his rookie season due to knee injuries.
He played in 25 regular-season games, averaging six minutes, with most of his playing time coming in the G League.
Thiero didn’t play well during his first summer league game this year, but he has continued to grow after the opener. NBAE via Getty Images
Thiero played in six playoff games, including being in the rotation for a few games.
“I feel like during the season, it was a little easier for me, whatever, older guys helping me, putting me in places,” Thiero told the Post. “So now I’m out there. I got to be that leader for everybody. And that’s just getting easier as time goes on.”
At 22 years old, 6-foot-8 with a 220-pound frame and otherworldly athleticism, Thiero will have a spot on the Lakers’ 2026-27 roster if his development during the summer carries over into the fall.
The Lakers need a player of his archetype, even after their roster reconstruction.
And Thiero knows that starts with improving as a point-of-attack defender, which has been a point of emphasis from coach JJ Redick.
“Just pressuring the ball,” Thiero told the Post what he’s been working on defensively. “Just going out there, trying to be physical on defense, talk, trying to lead on the defensive side for my teammates. And just trying to set the tone. Every night we come into the game, set the tone with the physicality and everything. Chris [Manon] does a good job at it. So just trying to be up there with him.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Tarris Reed Jr. #10 of the San Antonio Spurs poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
The Summer Spurs looked completely out of it after being blown out in their first game in Vegas by the Atlanta Hawks after a fruitless 0-3 California Classic campaign, but just like Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber, there’s a chance for the Spurs to make it into the Summer League playoffs. Only the top four teams in Las Vegas Summer League make it into the championship, but there are only two unbeaten teams left, which means that at least two one-loss teams will make it into the tournament. All the Spurs have to do is beat the Jazz by a lot of points to get into the first or second spot among the one-loss teams. At the time of writing, that would require about a 30 point win, but could be more or less depending on how the rest of the games play out.
The Spurs might not want to get into the playoffs, because they’ve pretty much accomplished what they needed to in Summer League, with the team playing with nice energy and a little bit of cohesion after a slow start. If they don’t make it into the championship tournament, they’ll have one more game scheduled this weekend, to practice against another one of the also-rans and give the summer warriors a bit more run. My guess is that tonight is the last time you’ll see this year’s draft picks in the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League. Hopefully the Spurs will get a chance to face the Summer Lakers and Robbie Avila, who is becoming my favorite player of this year’s Summer League. It just goes to show that slightly overweight guys with coke bottle glasses can play this game.
This game will be on Prime, which is the NBA’s way of telling you that you need to buy every streaming service if you want to watch the games, even if you’re already paying for League Pass.
Game Prediction:
Corliss Williams pulls all of the starters in the fourth quarter after the Spurs build a big lead, trying to avoid the possibility of getting into the SL playoffs and playing an extra game.
San Antonio Spurs vs Utah Jazz(Las Vegas Summer League) July 15, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT Streaming: Prime TV: Prime Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts to his error during the ninth inning when the New York Mets played the Boston Red Sox.
The Mets are just two seasons removed from falling two wins short of the World Series, a little more than a year since they held the best record in baseball, and less than four months since being labeled contenders again.
But now the Mets (40-57) are on pace to finish in last place for the first time in 23 years, returning from the All-Star break after posting their worst first-half mark since 1995.
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.
Steve Cohen is spending roughly a half-billion dollars on a roster that ranks 26th in batting average (.234), 29th in on-base percentage (.303), 27th in slugging percentage (.381), 26th in quality starts (23) and tied for the second-most errors (65).
Coming off a home sweep by the Red Sox, the Mets resume their seasonlong slog Thursday at Philadelphia, beginning what is MLB’s toughest remaining schedule (.539 opponents win percentage) over the final 65 games.
Following a three-game set against the Phillies, the Mets will play three consecutive series against first-place teams (at Milwaukee, vs. Dodgers, vs. Atlanta), as part of 25 straight games against winning teams. The Mets will not face a team that is currently worse than one game under .500 until the final weekend of August.
“Continue to fight,” Francisco Lindor said after the final game before the break. “At the end of the day, that’s the only thing we can do. And we’re going to try to be better. We’re going to play as hard as we can in the second half, and hopefully we put ourselves in a much better position. Because right now, it’s not where we want to be.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts to his error during the ninth inning when the New York Mets played the Boston Red Sox. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“It’s not to the standard that we have here, and definitely not what we expected … We just have not played up to our potential.”
Whatever potential the Mets appeared to have in March doesn’t matter anymore, sitting 12 games back of the final wild-card spot and behind all but one team in the National League (Rockies).
“It’s a better team than that,” said interim manager Andy Green, who has gone 6-10 since replacing Carlos Mendoza, the first Mets manager to be fired in-season since 2008. “There’s too much talent in the room to be in this spot right now.”
Soon, the room will have even less talent.
After David Stearns whiffed on nearly every offseason move — including moving on from franchise fixtures such as Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Edwin Díaz, while bringing in Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. — the Mets president of baseball operations will attempt to recoup some of his losses by the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
The Mets’ first sell-off since 2023 began last month, when they traded David Peterson to the Cubs, and could end with several more players leaving Queens, including Peralta, Williams, Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazobán and others. Earlier this month, Cohen told The Post that he was “extremely worried” about the team’s future because of “regression in [their] farm system.”
There is nothing left to fear this season. It’s hard to imagine how it could get any worse.
Devin Williams (38) walks in a run during the ninth inning when the New York Mets played the Boston Red Sox. Robert Sabo for NY Post
But there is still time.
“We have to take a level of ownership of it ourselves,” Green said of the team’s record. “Every single person on this team has a level of responsibility to flip the script going into the second half.”
The superstar Knicks guard took home a trio of ESPY Awards on Wednesday night for Best NBA Player, Best Championship Performance and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports.
To end the awards spectacle, the Knicks won the Best Team ESPY, beating out eight other squads across the sports spectrum.
Brunson was announced the winner of the NBA-focused award earlier Wednesday and earned his second and third honors at the award show at Lincoln Center in New York.
Jalen Brunson accepts the Best Championship Performance award onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images
Brunson, on hand with his wife, Ali Marks Brunson, accepted his awards on the David H. Koch Theater stage while dressed to the nines in a tuxedo.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my family for sacrificing everything day in and day out,” Brunson said after winning the championship performance ESPY. “Thank you to [owner] Jim Dolan and the Knicks organization, [president] Leon [Rose], the front office, Mike Brown, my teammates — without them, none of this would be possible. They allow me to be me. I’m forever indebted to them.”
He beat out United States hockey gold medalists Aerin Frankel and Connor Hellebuyck and Texas softball’s Teagan Kavan for the championship performance ESPY. Argentina soccer legend Lionel Messi, Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford were up for the men’s athlete award.
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks Brunson. Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
A group of Knicks, including Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and president Leon Rose, joined Brunson to accept the team award. Knicks superfan Fat Joe fittingly closed down the show with his song “All the Way Up.”
He scored over 30 points in four of the five contests, with 36 in the Knicks’ historic Game 4 comeback before dropping 45 in the Game 5 clincher on the road in San Antonio.
Making it all the more impressive was that Brunson dealt with pain in his left hand and wrist, something that bothered him during the final two rounds of the playoffs, he revealed earlier Wednesday on ESPN Radio.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson with the Championship trophy riding on a float. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Post previously reported he underwent surgery for the issue July 7.
“I just remember being at the free-throw line in the third or fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals,” Brunson said. “My wrist was starting to feel weak. I was like, ‘Where is this coming from?’ From that point on, I was trying to figure out what was going on, and how I can push through, because I wasn’t going to get anything done during that time.”
The youngest sons of the late Dr. Jerry Buss could soon be branching out into sports ownership of their own.
According to a report from The Athletic, Joey and Jesse Buss are pursuing ownership of a team in NBA Europe through Buss Sports Capital, their business venture launched a year ago after they were both fired from their positions in the Los Angeles Lakers front office following the $10 billion purchase of the team by Mark Walter.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced plans for the NBA's European league in 2025 and reportedly hopes to begin play in 2027 with London, Manchester, Rome, Milan, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Munich, Athens and Istanbul identified as potential cities for licensed teams. In addition to 12 permanent cities, the league also would have four annual qualifiers to put the number of teams competing in the league at 16.
Some markets have reportedly received bids of more than $1 billion.
“We’ve had tremendous interest from multiple cities in Europe, including cities that we didn’t even ask for bids from,” Silver told reporters on July 14 at the Board of Governors meetings in Las Vegas. “We discussed with our board that we’re in the process of finalizing those bids for an initial group of cities. Many of the people who are involved in those bids, the European bidders, are actually going to be in New York for the World Cup final on Sunday.
“Given their presence in New York, I would say we’re hoping to wrap up some of those deals over the next several weeks, and then announcements will be forthcoming.”
The Buss brothers also are reportedly considering a minority stake in the San Diego Padres under their new owners, José Feliciano and Kwanza Jones.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday a revamped format for the men’s 2027 one-day international World Cup that could lead to an additional fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 15: Koa Peat #18 of the Phoenix Suns looks on in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have finished Summer League 3-1 with a +13 plus-minus as a team across the four games.
Maluach, Fleming, and Peat had their hands all over this one, as you love to see from your top prospects. The Suns had a strong opening and closing quarter to secure the win despite the Pistons looking in control in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
The next timeout break came with a 22-11 Phoenix advantage. The Suns’ defense was on point, holding the Pistons to just 13 first-quarter points. The Suns led 27-13 after one.
Maluach was all over the glass, grabbing five boards in his first 9 minutes of action. He also had a block and that emphatic slam we highlighted above.
The ball movement was crisp offensively as well, leading to a catch-and-shoot triple from Rasheer Fleming for his second three of the game midway through the 2nd quarter. Moments after writing this, the ball found him again for his third.
Phoenix was in control for most of the half, but the Pistons went on a furious run to close out the half and cut Phoenix’s lead down considerably. After a strong first quarter, they were outscored by 7 in the second.
At halftime, Phoenix led 53-46. Fleming led all scorers with 17 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field.
Second Half
The Pistons carried that momentum over early in the third, with them starting off on a 13-to-7 run.
The Suns would show some fight, answering the Pistons’ run to jump back out in front, led by a pair of triples from second-year man Khaman Maluach.
Maluach made his presence felt on the glass and dominated the interior yet again, which is an excellent sign of progress for the Suns’ sophomore.
The Suns led it 78-74 after three. Detroit outscored Phoenix by three in the quarter.
The teams continued to trade buckets in the second half. Koa Peat continued to show his playmaking chops in transition with the no-look dime after a steal.
Koa Peat steals it ➡️ completes the no-look dime in transition!
To be determined. We now await the rest of the games to see if the Suns qualify for the semifinals, but at 3-1, they gave themselves a shot. And more importantly, their prized young prospects looked (mostly) promising throughout.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 12: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz looks on in the fourth quarter of a 2026 NBA Summer League game against the LA Clippers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 12, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A keen eye’s glance at the Utah Jazz Summer League injury report would reveal that one prominent name is shockingly absent: Darryn Peterson.
Looks like Darryn Peterson is available tonight for the @UtahJazz:
Despite being deactivated prior to Utah’s blowout win against fourth-overall pick Caleb Wilson and the Chicago Bulls (this team really comes alive without Peterson, don’t they), Utah’s prized draft selection and prophesied hero of the wandering franchise is listed as available in the Jazz’s scheduled Summer League duel against the San Antonio Spurs, a team clearly horrified by the idea of squaring Victor Wembanyama against the flashy Jazz rookie — put him in your lineup, you cowards!
Typically, when a franchise star is shut down in the Summer League, that decision marks the end of their summer circuit experience. This is the case for AJ Dybantsa, the number-one pick. The chance of an injury delaying a player’s official NBA debut simply isn’t worth the risk in a meaningless Summer League exhibition. Shutting down the superstars and making way for the two-way hopefuls is standard procedure.
But if Peterson wants to take the court once more before Summer League is up, I say let him.
He’s fighting against two naysaying narratives at the moment. The first being a perceived lack of love for the game of basketball — I do not subscribe to this storyline — and the second being his offensive inefficiencies since the beginning of the Las Vegas leg.
Yes, his scoring totals have been fantastic, but with an average hovering around 33% from the field, I’d like to see DP employ more thoughtful shot selection and continue getting his teammates involved (five assists in his last appearance!). He can open up the floor for himself if he becomes a distributor like he was against Memphis in a 25-point, 12-assist performance; I’d love confirmation that a night like that was no fluke.
The Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs square off in a Summer League showdown at 7:30 pm, MT on Prime Video.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
A native of Alpharetta, Georgia, Marcus Ward attended Kings Ridge Christian High School. A four-year letterman there, playing football as well as baseball, he was a First All-Region Team honoree this past spring, helping lead the Tigers to a 30-4 record and their second-consecutive Georgia High School Association Final Four.
At the plate, the 6’, 175-pound left-hander stands closed, holding his bat high, wrapping it behind his head almost parallel to the ground. He swings with a slight leg lift, shifting his weight forward with a whippy, long levered, planar swing that he is currently able to level out against pitches upstairs. He sprays the ball around the field with gap power, regularly posting exit velocities in the mid-80s in exhibition games and reaching as high as 99 MPH, but his slim, athletic frame is likely to fill in and add some natural muscle mass and power.
In the outfield, Ward has shown the ability to track balls well and take expeditious routes to them. He has a quick first step and his above-average speed gives him plenty of range. Once put outs are made, he has a strong and accurate arm, with throws from the outfield measured as high as 84 MPH.
An outfielder for the Tigers, Ward was drafted as a left-handed pitcher by the Mets. This may be a clerical error, or they may be interested in trying Ward out on the mound, where his fastball has been clocked as high as 89 MPH, complemented by a mid-70s slider, mid-60s curveball, and low-70s changeup.
Ward has a commitment to Western Carolina University.
Brown and Tatum were selected with the No. 3 overall pick in back-to-back NBA drafts in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The duo helped quickly shape the Celtics back into a perennial contender after a brief, post-Big 3 rebuild and eventually led the franchise to its 18th NBA title in 2024.
But that partnership came to an end on July 6, when the Celtics traded Brown to the 76ers for a package including 36-year-old veteran Paul George, two future first-round picks and two future second-round picks.
Tatum referred to the fact that "the NBA is a business" while expressing his understanding of the trade. Nonetheless, he acknowledged moving past the trade wasn't necessarily easy.
"There's still a human element of it that you feel those emotions. The city feels those emotions," Tatum said. "But there's also a side of like, we have to welcome our new teammates in with open arms, and we still have to attack the new season."
"So, there's like a balance," he added. "But it's weird."
As Tatum mentioned, his focus in wake of the trade will be on preparing for the 2026-27 NBA season. He will be looking to help the new-look Celtics improve upon a 2025-26 campaign that saw them suffer a disappointing first-round playoff exit at the hands of the 76ers.
Meanwhile, Brown will be looking to elevate a 76ers team that already has a strong core featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Philadelphia also remains a player in the LeBron James sweepstakes and could emerge as the Eastern Conference favorite if the 41-year-old signs with the Sixers in free agency.
During a Wednesday appearance on “Good Morning America,” Curry delivered his most direct recruiting pitch yet, selling James on championship pedigree, team chemistry, sunshine, golf and the opportunity to close his career alongside a former rival.
Stephen Curry pitched LeBron James on joining the Warriors, selling him on winning, great weather, golf and a fitting career ending. NBAE via Getty Images
“The Bay: We know how to win, beautiful weather, great golf. I know he’s into that,” Curry said. “We just know how to play basketball, and I think that he would enjoy just the idea of what it means to finish your career the right way.”
The timing was difficult to ignore.
ESPN insider Shams Charania left Golden State off his list of teams in the James sweepstakes, identifying the Cavaliers, Heat and 76ers as the current focus of the 41-year-old’s decision. Fellow insider Marc Spears doubled down on that, saying James is now solely looking to the Eastern Conference, calling the Warriors a dark horse in the race.
Curry tried to persuade James a final time before he picks a team. ABCJames and Draymond Green (right) recently played golf together. Getty Images
Curry has plenty of material to work with. He and James developed immediate chemistry while leading Team USA to gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics under Steve Kerr. Their four consecutive NBA Finals battles also created an unusual bond between two stars, who spent years trying to end each other’s seasons.
Draymond Green has handled the private lobbying; he recently used a golf trip with James to deliver what he described as a “crazy” pitch that he hoped would make his longtime friend reconsider any decision already forming.
Curry’s pitch included discussion of the chance to close James’ career alongside a former rival, as the two went head-to-head in four consecutive NBA Finals. ABC
