The Mets used the long ball to come away with an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- Stay hot, Tyrone Taylor! With two runners on in the bottom of the sixth, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turned to right-hander Evan Phillips, but the move didn’t work out, as Taylor drove a fastball over the wall in left for a three-run shot, putting the Mets up 4-3.
Taylor now has five home runs in the month of July alone.
--The Mets scored some insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning thanks to some small ball and some not-so-small-ball, with A.J. Ewing at the heart of it. Ewing walked, moved to second on a ground out, advanced to third on a single, and then came in to score on a Dalton Rushing passed ball behind the plate.
Later in the inning, Marcus Semien, who entered as a defensive sub, blasted a three-run shot of his own, helping the the Mets blow things up at 8-3.
--It was another slog of a start for Freddy Peralta in what could potentially be his last start in a Mets uniform. The right-hander went just 4.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
It seemed like Peralta had traffic on the basepaths and dealt with long at-bats from the Dodgers all afternoon, pushing his pitch count up to 93 (57 strikes) by the end of his outing.
Peralta could potentially make another start before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but there’s also a chance he gets moved prior to that next start.
--The Mets played more shaky defense in the top of the fourth inning. A grounder to first couldn’t be handled by Jared Young, who was charged with an error, but Peralta also didn’t get over to cover first base, and there was a chance the Mets could have still recorded an out there if he had.
The Dodgers added their third run of the game in that inning, which was also Peralta’s last.
--Ewing snapped an 0-for-9 skid in the first inning, blooping a double in front of Andy Pages. Ewing then came around to score when Francisco Lindor poked an RBI single to right. He reached base three times on the afternoon, including a pair of walks, and played solid defense in center field.
Dodgers starter Emmett Sheehan gave up that early run, but was solid after that. The righty went 5.0 innings and allowed one run, and the only three hits he allowed were the first three batters of the afternoon. He struck out five and walked two.
-- Tip of the cap to the Mets relievers in this one. Cionel Perez, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams combined to go five scoreless innings. Weaver also made a spectacular defensive play to get the out at first base in a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning.
Game MVP
Taylor, who gave the Mets the lead in the sixth inning, and they never looked back
Highlights
Francisco Lindor flips one into right field to put the Mets on the board first! pic.twitter.com/R8ahAR6HNN
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Ziaire Williams, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton attend a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While Las Vegas served as a chance for the Summer League Lakers to excite fans about the future, that wasn’t the sole thing accomplished in the desert.
While typically a place to make an appearance before heading to the casinos and clubs, the Lakers did more than that this July. With a reshaped roster, a mixture of new signees and incumbents met in Vegas for a sort of player’s mini-camp to start working out with one another.
“There was a veteran’s camp in Vegas. I’m just going off the top of my head but I know Jake LaRavia was there, Walker Kessler was there. Sexton was there. Mamu was there. Bronny James was there. Jarred Vanderbilt was there. Jaden Hardy was there…That’s part of building chemistry. It started in mid-July in Vegas where you’re having veterans camp. They’re not doing anything crazy but getting workouts, getting to know one another, especially when it’s so many new faces. Austin Reaves was there. So many new faces that even stuff like that, that can help build chemistry and just help build familiarity.”
It might be a small thing that didn’t necessarily have a big impact, but seeing the players get together from the jump is something fans will always like. If nothing else, it lays the seeds for future workouts together this offseason.
On that topic, it was commonplace for the Lakers to have a minicamp just before the start of training camp during the LeBron James era. Will that continue in the post-LeBron era? Heading into a season where, as mentioned, there are a lot of new players joining the fold, it would make more sense than normal to get everyone together for some extra work before the season starts.
Jul 26, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Blue Jays 1 Red Sox 6
If the Jays aren’t going to put an effort into the game, I’m not going to effort into the headline.
That was far less fun than yesterday.
Kevin Gausman was pretty good, really. Some weak contact that fell in, but not much hit hard. He went 6 innings allowing 5 hits, 3 earned, just 1 walk and 6 strikeouts. He didn’t allow an extra base hit. It goes as a quality start, but the bats didn’t help him out at all. It is kind of sad that the team didn’t score for him in what might be his last start with the team. But then they never seem to score for him
And we didn’t do much on offense, 9 hits, but only 1 double for extra base hits. They were 0 for 6 with RISP, until Andrés Giménez finally singled in a run in the ninth. 1 for 8 in all.
The hits came from Giménez (3), Kirk and Springer (2 each) and Varsho and Clement (1 each).
Lukes (leading off against a lefty, which I didn’t understand), Vlad, Okamoto and Scheider/Piñango (sharing) had 0 for 4s.
Ranger Suarez was good for 4 innings in his first start back from the IL. And four relievers pitched the last 5 innings, giving up just the run in the ninth.
Jays pen had a rough time too. Braydon Fisher (on his birthday) gave up 2 hits and a walk, while getting 1 out. Brendon Little gave up two more hits, while getting the last two outs, adding up to 3 runs in the inning. Adam Macko gave up two hits in the 8th but no runs. One of the ‘hits’ was a ground ball to Vlad, several feet from first base, but instead of covering first, Macko ran to where Vlad and the ball were. It didn’t cost anything, but it was bad baseball.
No Jays of the Day. Giménez had the high mark at 0.06 WPA and made a couple of nice plays on defense, so let’s give him an honourable mention.
Other Award: Okamoto (-0.12), Varsho (-0.10) and Lukes (-0.09, though it isn’t his fault he was at the top of the other against a lefty, but then he didn’t hit the right-handed relievers either).
It was just one of those lifeless games from the Jays offense. I guess teams always look lifeless when they don’t hit, but there wasn’t a lot of great at bats.
Tomorrow the Jays will be in Washington to take on the Ex-Expos (I’m still bitter). The Jays are listing TBA for the starting pitcher for the full series. I guess we are likely to see Max Scherzer at some point.
James Click awoke on July 27, 2021, with a serious problem on his hands. The Astros were 61-40, one game behind the Red Sox for the American League’s best record. They had the league’s best offense and the American League’s best rotation. The bullpen, however, could best be described as shaky.
The night before, Click watched as the Astros blew a 6-0 lead and lost 11-8 in Seattle. Five relievers combined to allow five runs over 3 1/3 innings, punctuated by Dylan Moore’s pinch-hit grand slam off Brooks Raley.
Click’s bullpen finished that night with a 4.15 ERA, ranking 18th in Major League Baseball. It was the team’s lone glaring weakness, and with the trade deadline approaching, the then-Astros GM had work to do to ensure it wouldn’t prove fatal.
Despite overseeing one of baseball’s worst farm systems and having little financial flexibility, Click spent the next four days remaking the Astros’ bullpen—not only to position the club for a World Series run that season, but also to keep it in contention the following year while strengthening the organization’s future.
Trade 1: Joe Smith and Abraham Toro to Seattle for Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero
Smith, Pedro Báez and Enoli Paredes were supposed to anchor the Astros’ bullpen from the right side ahead of Ryan Pressly. Smith and Paredes were ineffective, while Báez struggled with both injuries and poor performance. Toro, who homered in that July 26 game in Seattle, was an analytics darling but was blocked from playing every day.
After transitioning to the bullpen the previous season, Graveman had emerged as one of baseball’s best right-handed relievers in 2021, allowing just three earned runs over 33 innings. Montero, meanwhile, had struggled all season.
Graveman posted a 3.13 ERA after the trade and allowed just two earned runs over 11 postseason innings. Injuries limited Montero to just four regular-season games with the Astros in 2021, but he rebounded to post a 2.31 ERA in 71 games the following season. He also recorded a 1.93 ERA in the postseason while appearing in 10 of the Astros’ 13 playoff games.
Trade 2: Austin Pruitt and Bryan De La Cruz to Miami for Yimi Garcia
De La Cruz was a 24-year-old outfielder putting up strong numbers in Triple-A, but he wasn’t considered a top prospect. He has since posted a career 90 OPS+ in 493 major league games. Pruitt was included in the trade to offset some salary and clear a roster spot.
Garcia’s impact was greater than his numbers indicate. He posted a 5.48 ERA in 23 regular-season appearances, but that drops to 3.86 if you remove an outing against the A’s in which he allowed four runs while recording just one out in a 12-2 loss. His 7.00 ERA in the postseason is also misleading. Garcia allowed runs in only two of his 10 postseason appearances.
Trade 3: Myles Straw to Cleveland for Phil Maton and Yainer Diaz
Straw was in the middle of the best season of his career, one that ended with 3.3 bWAR. He posted a 105 OPS+ in 60 games with Cleveland, earning a lucrative contract extension. He won a Gold Glove in 2022, but this trade became Click’s masterpiece.
Center field became a revolving door between Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers and Jose Siri, but the Astros didn’t experience much of an offensive drop-off. Phil Maton put together an outstanding three-year run in Houston’s bullpen, and Yainer Diaz is now the club’s primary catcher.
Maton recorded a 0.73 ERA with 14 strikeouts and one walk in 12 postseason appearances in 2021 after holding opponents scoreless in 14 of his final 16 regular-season outings. He went on to post a combined 3.42 ERA over the next two seasons and threw six scoreless innings in the 2023 postseason, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out six after a broken hand forced him to miss the Astros’ 2022 playoff run.
Summation
Straw has posted 7.8 bWAR with Cleveland and Toronto since the trade, while Toro has compiled just 0.8 bWAR across four teams. De La Cruz has performed at replacement level with four different clubs, while Joe Smith followed a solid finish to the 2021 season in Seattle by posting a 4.61 ERA with Minnesota before retiring.
That’s not much to give up for four relievers who combined for a 2.39 ERA over three postseason runs, plus a primary catcher who has already been worth 8.8 bWAR in his first 450 major league games.
There has only been one player to appear in a regular season game with the number 67 for the San Jose Sharks. Right after departing the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League, Jacob Middleton brought the number 67 to the Bay Area.
Middleton was a quality depth defenseman for the Sharks after making his NHL debut during the 2018-19 season, but it wasn't until his final season in teal, the 2021-22 campaign, that he finally got a shot to play a substantial role at the NHL level. That season, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild, where he remained for four and a half seasons.
Then, earlier this summer, his time in the State of Hockey came to an end as he was traded north of the border to the Calgary Flames. At this point, Middleton has appeared in 381 career NHL games, but only 59 of which were with the Sharks.
Middleton will be looking to play a big role in Calgary, as he's entering the second season of a four-year contract worth $4.35 million per season.
Jul 26, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Romy Gonzalez (23) high-fives third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) after a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The Red Sox are in the middle of a difficult stretch of their schedule. Without even considering the opponent, they’re currently playing ten games in ten days. After that, they play 16 games in 16 days. Baseball season is inherently a grind, but this stretch in particular is testing the pitching staff’s stamina. Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett are at or near career highs in innings pitched. Patrick Sandoval is pitching for the first time in two years. Today, Ranger Suarez was activated to reinforce the group, but he did so without a rehab appearance, limiting his pitch count.
Suarez did his job, throwing four innings of shutout baseball. He was as sharp as ever, nibbling on the edges with each of his pitches, striking out six in the process. His velocity was down a smidge, but throwing hard isn’t in his vocabulary, so no need to sound the alarms. Despite Suarez’s effectiveness, Chad Tracy couldn’t afford to extend him, going to the bullpen after just four innings. Greg Weissert, Tyron Guerrero, Justin Slaten, and Ryan Watson combined for the final five innings to secure the 6-1 victory.
The victory didn’t look certain until the later innings, though. Ceddanne Rafaela singled home their first run in the third inning after a Carlos Narvaez sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position. They grabbed two more in the fourth inning after Jarren Duran brought in two runs following a sacrifice bunt by Romy Gonzalez to move the runners over. With the score at 3-0 in the seventh inning, Jahmai Jones doubled off the fall to score two runs after, you guessed it, another sacrifice bunt from Narvaez to move the runners over. The sixth run was sacrifice-buntless as Wilyer Abreu doubled in Jones.
A win is a win, but during stretches like these, you’re playing for tomorrow, today. That’s why the seventh inning rally was so important. It allowed Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman to remain in the bullpen (although both warmed up), and keeps them fresh for tomorrow. Both high-leverage relievers have appeared in five games since the All-Star Break, tied for the most in baseball. Whitlock has thrown in 11 games in July, second-most in baseball this month. Keeping them fresh down the stretch is important to win tightly contested games in September and October.
Next stop: the final West Coast swing of the regular season for seven games against the Athletics and Dodgers.
Studs
Jahmai Jones (1-1, 2 RBI)
Pinch hitting is really, really difficult. As a whole, pinch hitters have a 30% strikeout rate and a .203 batting average this season. Jones entered the game in the seventh inning with two runners on base and doubled off the monster to add to the Red Sox’s lead and keep Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman out of the game.
Ranger Suarez (4 IP, 0 ER, 6 K)
Jarren Duran (3-4, 2 RBI)
Duds
Masataka Yoshida (0-3)
By my count, Yoshida is the only player who didn’t reach base or sacrifice bunt. He’s the only dud today.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 26: Bryan Baker #47 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates a save against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on July 26, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All the Tampa Bay Rays needed was one run, allowing one hit, to win one more game and complete the series sweep over the Cleveland Guardians and remain undefeated in their throwback Devil Rays uniforms this season.
Rays’ starter Drew Rasmussen recovered from a leadoff double to deliver seven scoreless innings. Steven Kwan lined the game’s first pitch into right field for a double, immediately putting a runner in scoring position with nobody out.
He never advanced.
José Ramírez flew out before Rasmussen struck out Chase DeLauter and Brayan Rocchio to strand Kwan. The right-hander kept the same energy in the second, striking out Angel Martínez and Kyle Manzardo during a clean inning.
The Guardians created another opportunity in the third when Petey Halpin was hit by a pitch and stole second. Rasmussen again kept him there, getting Kwan to fly out in foul territory before striking out Ramírez.
Parker Messick was just as difficult on the other side.
The Cleveland left-hander retired the first seven Rays before Nick Fortes doubled in the third. Richie Palacios moved Fortes to third with a groundout, giving Tampa Bay its first chance to score, but Manzardo went airborne to catch Yandy Díaz’s liner and end the inning.
With neither starter giving much away, Chandler Simpson created something in the bottom half of the fifth inning.
He opened the inning with a ground-ball single to left, then took second when Messick bounced a wild pitch. Ben Williamson’s groundout moved Simpson to third, allowing Cedric Mullins to turn a well-placed bunt into an RBI single and the only run scored in the game.
Rasmussen retired the side in order in both the sixth and seventh, striking out DeLauter and Travis Bazzana along the way. After Kwan’s opening double, he allowed only a walk and a hit batter while retiring the final 12 batters he faced.
In his 150th career appearance, Rasmussen completed seven innings on 87 pitches, allowing one hit with nine strikeouts and one walk. He improved to 9-5 and lowered his ERA to 3.07 continuing his impressive All-Star season.
Messick refused to let the game get away from Cleveland. Simpson singled again in the seventh, and Williamson reached after Tampa Bay successfully challenged what was initially ruled a catch by Kwan. With two aboard and one out, Messick struck out Mullins and Fortes to preserve the one-run deficit.
Messick pitched 7.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks. His ERA dropped to 2.59 despite the loss, which was especially cruel considering his first major-league victory came through seven scoreless innings against the Rays last August.
Garrett Cleavinger handled the eighth on 11 pitches. Baker took the ninth and it got a little interesting retiring Kwan and Ramírez before walking DeLauter. He recovered by striking out Rocchio to earn his 28th save and second in as many days.
The Rays will take Monday off before continuing their homestand Tuesday against Texas. After losing five straight last week, they have responded with six wins in seven games and another series sweep.
If you were to assemble a list of the Top 10 Ottawa Senators who got away, Zdeno Chara would rank pretty high on that list.
Chara was traded to the Senators at the 2001 NHL Draft as part of a deal to acquire perennially disgruntled star forward Alexei Yashin. He spent four seasons in Ottawa before leaving in free agency in 2006 and signing with the Boston Bruins.
Not to torture Sens fans, but after leaving Ottawa, Chara did it all. He won the Stanley Cup as captain of the Bruins, was nominated for six Norris Trophies, winning once, and last year, he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Next month, on August 21st, Chara will be honoured at an event in Trenčín, Slovakia, called "Zee's Final Shift." Organizers describe it as a farewell and "a definitive and natural end to his great career."
The farewell game will be held at the Winter Stadium in Trenčín, which is named after former Senator Pavol Demitra, who perished in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL team plane crash in 2011.
Chara is inviting mainly NHL players to his farewell, and that includes three other former Senators.
Naturally, one is Marian Hossa, his Sens teammate for three seasons. It's often been speculated that Chara might have pushed harder to stay in Ottawa if Hossa, one of his best friends, hadn't been traded a year earlier. The deal that sent Hossa to Atlanta for Dany Heatley happened just hours after Hossa had signed a three-year contract with Ottawa.
Also at the event will be Chris Kelly, who was Chara's teammate in Ottawa before they went on to win a Stanley Cup together in Boston.
And hockey trivia buffs might also remember former Sens defenceman Radek Hamr, who played 11 games with the Sens in their expansion years. Hamr never played with Chara but works for the European arm of the player agency Chara belongs to.
Other confirmed guests include Thomas Vanek, whose son Blake was a Senators third-round pick last year, and Michael Ryder, the former Bruin and Hull Olympique.
The rest of the guest list is loaded with NHL stars, mostly from the past: Patrice Bergeron, Johnny Boychuk, Ray Bourque, Andrew Ference, Michal Handzuš, Jaromír Jágr, Tomáš Kaberle, Duncan Keith, Anže Kopitar, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, Adam McQuaid, Daniel Paille, Žigmund Pálffy, David Pastrňák, Mark Recchi, Robert Reichel, Andrej Sekera, Dennis Seidenberg, Miroslav Šatan, Marco Sturm, Aaron Ward, and Jakub Voráček.
It's an impressive lineup for a special night honouring one of the most unique players in NHL history.
And a player that Senators fans wish they'd been able to hang on to.
Jul 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Cole Carrigg (16) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Rockies were almost holding their own until the sixth inning when things went sideways on Jimmy Herget.
But the Rockies like to arrive at the party late, and there’s a lot of game left, so you know what that means.
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 5: The Brooklyn Nets logo before the game against the Miami Heat during a preseason game on October 5, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The LeBron James wait is over and the 41-year-old will be wearing No. 23 in Philadelphia trying to win his fifth NBA ring in his fourth NBA city which would put him in the same league as … Robert Horry who won seven in three cities.
With that settled, we’ve seen a couple of moves like the Thunder tendering an offer sheet to Spencer Jones of the Nuggets. The Nuggets have until Sunday night to match the Thunder’s two-year $12 million contract. With the Nuggets closing the second apron and with Denver’s ownership not wanting to pay, expect other developments. Will they involve the Nets? Don’t know, but we don’t expect Sean Marks to make the first call. The Nets have the assets other teams need get them out of apron hell.
The next shoe to drop will be Adam Silver’s ruling on the Kawhi Leonard/Aspiration scandal. At this point, we don’t know the full story despite all that’s been written and discussed. The latest revelation by Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic is that there may be a second company involved in funneling money to Leonard outside salary cap limits. If that turns out to be true, expect the hammer to fall heavily on the Clippers ownership and management as well as Leonard. Silver has generally been more conciliatory than his predecessor, David Stern, but the rising tide of scandal in the NBA, between Kawhi and gambling, is likely to change that … just a guess. Will that affect the Nets? It would seem unlikely unless it gives the Nets an advantage over the Clippers in some situation.
If you think we’re referring to Peyton Watson, so be it. We know nothing! As we’ve written, pundits don’t see Brooklyn among those teams likely to work a sign-and-trade for the 24-year-old but PWat and former teammate and big pal, Michael Porter Jr. continue to be seen together in the city in high profile settings: The Fanatics FanFest, the World Cup Final and a visit to the Nets practice facility where Watson was described as a “friend” of a player all got attention. And now a club.
On Saturday night, Jairo Media which tracks celebrity comings and goings, posted video of the two of them entering a club the same time as Jalen Brunson and his wife.
Take look. MPJ and Watson enter at the end of the video…
We continue to think that MPJ is just helping his pal get some leverage in negotiations with the notoriously rich and notoriously tight-fisted Kroenke family. The more media, the better.
‘Mikel is the steal of the Draft’
The fan base is justifiably excited by what they saw from Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. in both Sacramento and Las Vegas. The Nets may have had bad luck in both the 2025 and 2026 draft lotteries but seem to have done well with what they wound up: a 20-year-old backcourt whose positional height and versatility — franchise watchwords — fit together so well on and off the court.
It’s a big deal for the short and long term of the franchise and in ways fans may not fully appreciate. Despite all their picks, there is no guarantee the Nets will ever wind up with two single-digit picks in back-to-back drafts, particularly in drafts seen as generational. They’d need some very good fortune in the lottery which as has been noted has been lacking. That’s how crucial their success with Demin and Brown Jr. becomes. (For the record, the only time the Nets ever had two single-digit picks in back-to-back drafts was 1995 and 1996 when they took Ed O’Bannon and Kerry Kittles.)
On Egor Demin: “He’s a lot more comfortable going into Year 2. I think from the pre-draft process, all the way through his rookie year, we probably over-indexed on his three-point shot too much. I mean Egor, his trainers, our front office, our coaches, everyone. You saw out here (at Summer League), that he was getting downhill more. This year is about putting him in even better spots to shine as an all-around player,” a Nets front office executive said.
On Mikel Brown Jr.: “You’re probably going to hear this about every guy, including A.J. (Dybantsa) at No. 1, but we feel like Mikel is the steal of the draft,” A Nets front office executive said. “He was a little wild here (at Summer League) and in California (at California Classic Summer League), but that’ll round out with time. Having him go against Keon (Ellis) and Terance (Mann) every day in practice is going to be huge for him.”
The Nets, we hear, had Brown Jr. at No. 5 on their internal board not far behind, in their opinion, the Big Four of A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. (That might not have been the Nets order, just the draft order.)
There’s something else as well in Demin and Brown Jr.‘s favor. They are box-office, two smart, likeable and charismatic personalities … who know it. So do the Nets who have filled their social media outlets with images and videos that highlight them and their personalities. Might that change come the season when Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle (hopefully) start putting up big numbers? Maybe but at the moment they are the faces of the franchise with the second year a bit more so than the rookie.
The Nets are also very high on their 28th pick, Joshua Jefferson, the sweet-passing 6’9”, 240 pound point forward from Iowa State. Jefferson had dropped for a number of reasons. He had mid-first round mock draft vibes early in the season but fell back in part because he was a four-year college player — a consensus All-American but a player who turns 23 in November. He is in fact the eighth oldest player on the current roster! He, like Brown Jr., got hurt just as March Madness was beginning. A sprained ankle kept him out of all but the opening minutes of the opening game.
The Nets got the No. 28 pick in an exchange of first and second round picks — part of the Randle/Claxton trade. That deal didn’t get approved till July 9, the first day of the Vegas Summer League. Until then, Jefferson couldn’t practice with the team, couldn’t scrimmage. So his three games in Vegas were not seen as any indicator of his potential.
In general, a Nets executive told Smith the roster may not be done and pointed out how the y9ung players’ development has been prioritized in the addition of what was described as “legitimate NBA rotation players and potential rotation players.”
“It’s a work in progress. Unless you are the Thunder or the Spurs or the Knicks, I don’t know how you feel like you roster is ‘done’,” a Nets front office executive said. “We probably still lean a little too young, to be honest. The good news is that adding guys like Julius (Randle), Keon (Ellis) and Moe (Wagner) will help these guys grow up a lot. Those are real, physical, sometimes nasty, NBA guys. I can’t wait to watch them help our young guys grow.”
Final Note on deals
Nets will likely go into the 2026-27 season without much if any difference from what they look like now, other than signing Moe Wagner and extending (or not) Michael Porter Jr. It appears the Wagner signing delay is about wanting to have a tidbit of flexibility if something arrives on the door step at 168 39th Street in Industry City.
Both the Nets and MPJ are saying nice things about each other, as we’ve reported, but it would appear that the Nets may want a shorter-term deal than Porter and his agent Marc Bartelstein. Teams are less and less willing to take on long-term commitments because of the onerous nature of the second apron, not just in financial terms but also in terms of flexibility.
They took few risks with the signings of Day’Ron Sharpe ($20 million over two with a team option in year two); Josh Minott ($8 million over two with a team option also in year two), Moe Wagner ($19 million over two with a mutual option in year two) and Keon Ellis ($18 million over two, also with a mutual option.) The mutual option guarantees the full amount of the deals, but gives both sides the right to move on. More than one pundit praised the Nets for the reasonable nature of the deals.
Keith Smith pointed out that the Nets also believe they can win more now that they’ve added veterans, with one Nets assistant admitting, “Not to speak ill of last year’s team, but we were down to rookies and non-NBA-level players by the end of the year. This year, we’ve got depth and the kids are improving too.”
They will still likely be the youngest team in the league again this year and should have a lot of cap space, as much as $68 million, writes Smith in a separate post. That of course does not include any short-term raise MPJ may get or the still unsigned Moe Wagner’s $9.2 million. Still, they’re likely to once again enter the off-season in the top three of cap space.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Corey Seager took live batting practice Sunday for the first time since the Texas Rangers shortstop was sidelined by a back injury for the second time this season on July 1.
Seager finished the session with a home run and was planning to take live BP again Monday before what would appear to be a minor league rehab assignment.
The two-time World Series MVP played two games in the minors in early June when he was returning from a three-week absence because of lower back inflammation. Seager spent two more weeks on the injured list in June after getting a concussion.
“It’s just tough to mimic some in-game stuff,” manager Skip Schumaker said of a possible rehab stint. “It’s always up to the player. Because he missed so much time, we’re going to discuss it. Looked like today was really good. See what it feels like tomorrow, and then we’ll discuss the rehab assignment.”
Seager was removed from a game at Toronto in the first inning on June 30 because of back discomfort. The five-time All-Star is almost certain to play his fewest games since joining the Rangers in 2022.
Seager has been limited to 51 games in what has been the worst season of his career. He is hitting .182 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs. Seager was in an 0-for-27 slide, the worst of his career, when he was sidelined by the back injury the first time.
After returning from the concussion, Seager played in three games before his back flared up. He wasn’t ready to say he had a better handle on dealing with a balky back for a second time.
“I would love to tell you yes, but backs are not what you want,” Seager said.
The Rangers also are hopeful for the return soon of a pair of left-handers who haven’t pitched in the big leagues since 2024.
Jordan Montgomery underwent the second elbow reconstruction surgery of his career last year when he was with Arizona. He joined the Diamondbacks after playing a key role for the Rangers when they won the World Series in 2023. Montgomery rejoined the Rangers on a one-year contract this year.
Cody Bradford, who had elbow surgery in June 2025, made 34 appearances in 21 starts over his first two big league seasons with the Rangers before getting shut down during spring training last year. Bradford also had a strong showing in the World Series when he was a rookie.
Steph Curry wanted LeBron James to join the Warriors, but his restrained reaction after James chose the 76ers suggested he never allowed himself to count on the partnership.
“That’s why you don’t envision anything until it happens,” Curry said from Moses Moody’s youth camp. “There’s a lot of moving parts.”
Curry’s public response contained no criticism of the Warriors and little visible disappointment. The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II believes that may be because Curry had already begun reconsidering Golden State’s repeated pursuit of another superstar.
The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II believes Steph Curry may be tired of the Warriors’ star chasing and ready for a deeper, younger roster around him. NBAE via Getty Images
Speaking on KNBR, Thompson suggested Curry probably knew before the public that James was leaning elsewhere and may have grown weary of waiting for the next blockbuster addition.
“I think he’s probably a little tired of the star chasing,” Thompson said.
Golden State has spent years searching for another difference-maker to extend Curry’s championship window. The Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler in 2025 and have since explored possibilities involving James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown and Anthony Davis.
None of those latest pursuits produced another star.
Thompson wondered whether Curry would now prefer the Warriors to build a deeper, younger roster rather than repeatedly pinning their hopes on one transformative move.
“Let’s give me some eager youngsters and we got to it,” Thompson said while imagining Curry’s potential viewpoint. “Let’s go the Davidson route, right? Let’s go the [Southern Conference] route. Just put together the best team.”
LeBron James (left) Steph Curry would have been an intriguing partnership with the Warriors. AFP via Getty Images
That interpretation remains Thompson’s speculation, not a position Curry has publicly confirmed. Curry has continued emphasizing his desire for Golden State to construct the best roster possible, and he acknowledged that the organization discussed creative ways to improve.
The circumstances surrounding the Warriors have also changed dramatically.
Butler is recovering from a torn ACL, while Moody is working his way back from a torn patellar tendon. Their injuries altered Golden State’s plans long before James made his decision.
“The whole calculus of everything changes,” Curry said. “How do you get through their absence and still stay at a certain level? And then how that goes into this year. It’s the same deal. So, I’m a realist on that.”
The Warriors’ roster didn’t change much during the offseason. NBAE via Getty Images
That realism does not necessarily mean Curry has accepted another season outside championship contention. He is entering the final year of his contract at age 38, and Thompson previously suggested the timing of a possible extension could give Curry leverage to keep pressure on management.
But Curry also appears to understand that Golden State cannot construct its future around hypothetical trades or free agent decisions.
“We don’t live in any alternative universe,” he said.
In this one, the Warriors may need Curry to carry another depleted offense while Butler and Moody recover. Kristaps Porziņģis brings additional talent but has struggled to remain consistently available. Draymond Green is expected to return to an aging core.
Jimmy Butler (left) and Curry are hoping for better seasons healthwise in 2026-27. Getty Images
That leaves Golden State in an uncomfortable position: hoping for one more elite Curry season while remaining reluctant to sacrifice every future asset for a move that may not make it a legitimate contender.
Thompson believes the repeated cycle of anticipation and disappointment could be taking its toll.
“His championship hopes is tied to something completely else,” Thompson said. “And I think he’d much rather it be tied to him.”
Curry has not publicly turned against the Warriors’ strategy. His comments instead sound like someone who has learned not to build expectations around a star who has not yet arrived.
After another failed pursuit, Golden State may soon have to determine whether Curry still believes in chasing the next big name — or would rather the franchise finally try something different.
A former No. 5 pick of Orlando who played five seasons in the NBA before returning to Europe and becoming one of the best players on that continent, Hezonja agreed to return to the NBA at age 31 on a $2.8 million minimum contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania, who was told by Hezonja's agent (Michael Tellem of Excel Sports Management). Reports of Hezonja’s return had been floating around for a while, but like many, he had to wait for the LeBron James situation to play out before things would come into focus.
Hezonja's first NBA stint did not play out as expected — he averaged 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds a game, shooting 31.9% from 3, never developing into the hoped-for star — and on the way out the door he said, "The NBA is more show than the game itself."
He returned to Europe, where scouts have told NBC Sports his game has improved. Last season he was the Spanish ABC League MVP playing for Real Madrid, where he averaged 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. There are certainly minutes for him in Cleveland, where there are gaps with Dean Wade and Keon Ellis gone (that is the role the Cavs hoped LeBron would fill).
Signing Hezonja is one of a series of moves the Cavaliers are expected to make after missing out on LeBron. Re-signing James Harden is high on that list as well. Cleveland now has 13 guaranteed spots filled on the roster and $35.5 million below the second apron (via ESPN’s Bobby Marks), and one of the two remaining spots has to be spent on re-signing Harden (likely for around $30 million a season). While the Cavaliers have interest in Jonathan Kuminga, he would have to come in for the $7 million remaining on the Cavs mid-level exception (he wants more than that, but that's all the Cavs can offer, and a sign-and-trade like Kuminga reportedly wants hard caps the Cavaliers at the first apron, and they would have to cut a lot of salary in that situation, making it highly unlikely).
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 11: Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred announces Derek Curiel as the fifth overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2026 MLB Draft presented by Nippon Express at Pennsylvania Convention Center on Saturday, July 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With just about 48 hours until Monday’s 5 pm ET deadline, Derek Curiel signs his professional contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His signing bonus is $6.2 million, well below slot value of $8,336,500.
Curiel delivered two fantastic season in Baton Rouge, helping LSU capture their 8th National Championship as a freshman in 2025. In his first season, he hit .345 with a ridiculous on-base percentage of .470. He started his career by reaching base in 43 consecutive games, a freshman record, breaking that of his predecessor Dylan Crews. Getting on base in nearly half of his at-bats let to 67 runs scored in the leadoff spot. He also drove in 55 RBIs.
As a sophomore, Curiel upped his batting average at .353, scoring 64 runs in 10 less games, and driving in 46 RBIs. Those numbers are especially impressive considering he had a slow start in 2026 due to a broken ankle that he sustained in November. Curiel revealed after the season on After Further Review that the rumors of his ankle injury were, indeed, true.
“I had three weeks to prepare for the season. It was my back foot and it was kind of hard for me to load in to my back leg,” Curiel told Matt Moscona.
The injury made his .292 average through the first few weeks of non-conference play make a lot more sense. He caught fire, once LSU started conference play, hitting .331 against SEC opponents. Mid-week opponents got scorched by a then-healthy Curiel, as he went 16-32 for a .500 average during that stretch.
The decision to bet on himself and pull his name prior to the 2024 MLB Draft turned out to be a great one. While he was ranked as the #10 high school player by Perfect Game, Baseball America and MLB Pipeline had him at #78 and #117 among all draft prospects, which pitted him somewhere in the 3rd-4th round and in the $600K-$700k range.
Two years later, that decision has led Derek Curiel to be the #5 overall pick, $6.2 million richer, an All-American, National Freshman of the Year, a National Champion, and forever a Tiger.
Former Knicks swingman and draft bust Mario Hezonja is back in the NBA, agreeing to a one-year, $2.8 million deal with the Cavs, per ESPN. The 31-year-old is returning to the NBA for the first time since 2020 — and four years after saying he would never do so.
“No, I’m not going to return to the NBA”, Hezonja said, according to Basket News in April of 2022. “There was a lot I didn’t like there, I didn’t get the respect that I deserved.”
Hezonja added, “In my opinion, the NBA is more of a show than the game itself.”
Mario Hezonja last played in the NBA during the 2019-20 season. NBAE via Getty Images
The news arrives following the stunner of LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers over the Cavs and Miami Heat, who were among the other teams in pursuit.
The Dubrovnik, Croatia native was selected No. 5 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, one slot behind the Knicks, who selected fellow European standout Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4.
Hezonja spent his first three seasons with the Orlando Magic, who declined his fourth-year option, which made him a free agent in 2018, when he was signed to a one-year deal by the Knicks.
Mario Hezonja had an extremely fruitful tenure with Real Madrid from 2022 to 2026. Euroleague Basketball via Getty
His best NBA season came in 2017-18, his last in Orlando, where he posted 9.6 points per game and shot 44.2 percent from the field, both career-highs.
His most recent NBA stint came in 2019-20 with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Over the last four seasons, Hezonja has starred for Real Madrid, one of the premier basketball teams worldwide, where he had a very successful tenure.
While in Madrid, Hezonja won a prestigious EuroLeague title in 2023, his first season with the club, and was named to the All-EuroLeague Second Team in 2024 for the first time in his career.
Mario Hezonja receives the Liga ACB MVP award at Movistar Arena on June 2, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. Real Madrid via Getty Images
Madrid also competes in the Spanish ACB league domestically, where Hezonja and the team won the Liga Endesa title in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
At Madrid, Hezonja also won the Liga ACB MVP for his play in the 2025-26 season.
This past season, Hezonja averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while logging 23.1 minutes per contest.
Hezonja also actively plays for the Croatian national basketball team, having just participated in the FIBA 2027 World Cup Qualifying window earlier this month.
