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Mannix: Spurs the ‘team to watch the closest' for Jaylen Brown

Mannix: Spurs the ‘team to watch the closest' for Jaylen Brown originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Not even Jaylen Brown is safe from trade talks this offseason as the Boston Celtics look to shed significant salary.

Just about everyone from the 2024 championship core is on the table with the C’s aiming to avoid the restrictive penalties associated with being in the second apron of the luxury tax. They will have to move at least one rotational player, but another option is to wipe the slate clean with a full reboot.

Brown, a four-time All-Star and 2024 NBA Finals MVP, has massive value if Boston opts to dangle him in trade discussions. Although sending Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a popular talking point, one up-and-coming Western Conference team seems like a more realistic trade partner.

“The team I’d watch the closest with Jaylen Brown is probably the Spurs,” Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated said Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’season special. “Sure, I think (the Spurs would) love to make a run at Giannis, but do the Bucks ask for Stephon Castle? Like, is that on their wish list? And if it is, I can’t see San Antonio doing a deal like that.

“One of the concerns people in San Antonio told me about is, you go and deal for a guy like Giannis, all of a sudden you’ve created a championship window, but it is a window with a closing date. You’ve got De’Aaron Fox, who’s in his late 20s, Giannis in his early 30s, and the last thing they want is to have a roster after those guys kind of age out where when (Victor) Wembanyama is maybe looking around going, ‘All right, where are the young guys I’m going to play with after that?’

“It certainly is a problem for another day, but that’s on the mind of the San Antonio Spurs. That’s why they want to hold on to Stephon Castle, so he can be that second guy opposite Wembanyama for a long time, assuming they trade that No. 2 pick.”

As Mannix puts it, the Celtics would be a more attractive trade partner for the Spurs because they likely wouldn’t require a player like Castle in return. Instead, the deal would center around the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft — likely Rutgers standout guard Dylan Harper.

“I think if you’re Boston, you’re not going to ask for a Stephon Castle. You’re not going to get a Stephon Castle in a potential Jaylen Brown deal,” Mannix added. “You would get the No. 2 pick back in return. You would get the Devin Vassells, the Keldon Johnsons, future first-round capital. That’s something I’d watch if and when the Giannis Antetokounmpo stuff shakes itself out over the next few weeks.”

Yahoo Sports NBA insider Kevin O’Connor asked Mannix whether the Spurs would put the No. 2 pick on the table for Brown in a potential swap.

O’Connor: NBA sources view Dylan Harper as a franchise-changing talent

“Oh, absolutely. I don’t think Boston does that deal without the number two pick,” Mannix answered. “I think Jaylen — for San Antonio — is worth giving up a player that most people talk about as a potential franchise guy in Dylan Harper.

“People that I talked to really like (Harper), but I think Jaylen Brown is — at his age with his contract status, his playoff pedigree — I think that’s worth it. And all of a sudden, you’ve got Fox, you’ve got Brown, you’ve got Castle, and you’ve got Wemby backstopping that team. That’s a championship contender in the Western Conference next season.”

It will be a fascinating offseason for the Celtics and unquestionably the most challenging yet for president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. Even if Brown stays put, Stevens will have to make some agonizing decisions this summer with other key players — perhaps as soon as this month, with the 2024 NBA Draft set for June 25.

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Latest buzz on Knicks' head coach search: Mike Brown to get second interview

Here's the latest news and buzz on the Knicks' search for a new head coach...

June 30, 5:50 p.m.

The Knicks will have a second interview with Mike Brown for their head coaching job, according to multiple reports.

Brown, 55, is one of four known candidates to have already interviewed for the vacancy along with Taylor Jenkins, Micah Nori, and James Borrego.

SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley noted on June 27 that Brown "has made a good impression during the interview process and garnered support."

ESPN's Shams Charania also mentioned that Brown has "emerged as a strong candidate" for the Knicks' job.

Brown owns a career 454-304 (.599) head coaching record with two Coach of the Year awards (2008-2009, 2022-2023) and has made one trip to the NBA Finals in 2007 with the LeBron James-led Cavaliers.

June 25, 6:26 p.m.

The Knicks have identified another assistant who could potentially be their next head coach.

New York is interviewing New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach James Borrego after the team granted the Knicks permission to speak with him, SNY NBA insider Ian Begley confirmed.

Borrego is the fourth known candidate to interview with the Knicks, joining Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and former head coaches Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown. Begley notes that the door is still not closed on Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.

Borrego, 47, does have head coaching experience. He was named interim coach of the Orlando Magic in February of 2015 and finished with a 10-20 record. After three years as a Spurs assistant, he was hired as the Charlotte Hornets head coach in 2018. In four seasons, Borrego had a 138-163 record.

June 24, 8:58 a.m.

The Knicks are interviewing Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori for the head coaching job, SNY NBA insider Ian Begley confirmed.

This makes three candidates who've interviewed for the vacancy, as New York completed its initial interviews with Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown last week.

Begley notes that the door is still not closed on Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.

Nori, 51, has been the lead assistant coach for the Timberwolves under Chris Finch since 2021 after previous stops as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors.

June 12, 5:10 p.m.

Former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins remains squarely on the Knicks' radar as they continue their search for a new head coach, per people familiar with the matter, according to SNY NBA insider Ian Begley.

Jenkins, 40, was fired by Memphis after nearly six seasons with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season despite having a 44-29 record at the time. It was reported that the Grizzlies were anticipating on firing him after a first-round playoff exit, per ESPN.

The Grizzlies still made the playoffs with a 48-34, earning the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They were eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in four games.

Jenkins owns a career coaching record of 250-214 (.539) with his best season coming in 2021-22 when he led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed. That team lost in the conference semifinals, falling to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

New York is not in any rush with its search and are casting a wide net of candidates, Begley reported Wednesday.

June 11, 9:07 p.m.

The Knicks reportedly asked another team about the status of their head coach and were denied again.

According to the Chicago Sports Network's K.C. Johnson, the Knicks reached out to the Chicago Bulls for permission to speak to Billy Donovan.

Per Johnson, the Bulls "value Donovan highly for his coaching acumen, communication skills and ability to connect with players and all members of the organization."

June 11, 6:03 p.m.

The Knicks requested permission to interview Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder but have been denied, ESPN's Shams Charania reports.

Syder is the fourth currently-employed coach to have their team deny the Knicks' request to speak with them, joining Ime Udoka, Jason Kidd and Chris Finch.

Snyder began his head coaching career with the Utah Jazz (2014-22), amassing a 372-264 record and a 21-30 record in the postseason. Snyder then joined the Hawks, where he's led the team to a 86-93 record in the regular season and a 2-4 record in the playoffs since the 2022-23 campaign.

June 11, 9:22 a.m.

The Knicks requested permission to interview Jason Kidd, which the Mavericks declined, per multiple reports.

New York also recently asked for permission to speak with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch -- with those requests also denied.

June 7, 2:58 p.m.

Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright is not a candidate for the Knicks job, SNY NBA insider Ian Begley confirms.

Knicks team president Leon Rose and Wright have a close relationship and speak regularly, but because of that, Rose knows Wright is very happy as a retiree, Begley notes.

Of course, many speculated Wright could be a candidate because he coached Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges in college. Wright retired in 2022 after 21 seasons at Villanova and is now a college basketball analyst on CBS and TNT.

June 6, 1:18 p.m.

Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, and Jason Kidd are among the coaches currently under contract who the Knicks have degrees of interest in, reports SNY NBA insider Ian Begley.

Per Begley, the Knicks will request permission from the Mavericks to interview Kidd.

Marc Stein was first to report the expectation that the Knicks would ask to speak with Kidd.

Kidd, 52, has been the Mavericks' head coach since 2021.

Udoka is the head coach of the Rockets, while Finch is the head coach of the Timberwolves.

Kidd wrapped up his Hall-of-Fame playing career with a stint with the Knicks, so there is some familiarity between the two parties.

If the Knicks wind up hiring Udoka, Finch, or Kidd, they will be required to send compensation to their former team.

June 4, 2:41 p.m.

The Rockets have "no interest in entertaining" a scenario where they allow head coach Ime Udoka to leave for the Knicks job, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Per The Athletic, Udoka and the Rockets are "committed to the long-term project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason."

Udoka, 47, has been the Rockets' head coach since the 2023-24 season.

He served as the Celtics' head coach from 2021 to 2023, and has worked as an assistant for the Spurs, 76ers, and Nets.

June 2, 12:40 p.m.

The Suns are hiring Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott to be their next head coach, which means potential Knicks candidate Johnnie Bryant is still available.

Bryant was reported to be one of the finalists for the job in Phoenix.

June 2, 3:02 a.m.

SNY NBA insider Ian Begley reports that it would be surprising if the Knicks found their next head coach by the end of this week.

Additionally, Begley noted that people recently in touch with the team have downplayed the idea of Mike Malone being a slam-dunk hire.

Begley also noted that the early read is that Dan Hurley isn’t at the top of New York’s initial list, adding that Ime Udoka was a name he had heard mentioned. To hire Udoka, the Knicks would have to get permission from Houston and give the Rockets compensation to let Udoka out of his deal.

As far as Jason Kidd, Begley reported that he can’t see the Mavericks even entertaining the idea of letting Kidd go.

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Posey's first roster shakeup sends message to Giants' slumping lineup

Posey's first roster shakeup sends message to Giants' slumping lineup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — When LaMonte Wade Jr. made his Giants debut in 2021, Buster Posey was in the dugout. Posey was there for all of the late-game heroics that year, and when Wade won the Willie Mac Award in September, he joined other past winners for the on-field ceremony. Posey considers the two friends, which made their short meeting late Tuesday night a difficult one. 

With Dominic Smith on the way, the Giants parted ways with Wade, a breakout star four seasons ago, but one of the worst everyday players in the big leagues this season. But they didn’t stop there. 

Catcher Andrew Knizner, a 30-year-old who was picked up late last month and had just eight games with Triple-A, also was added, taking the spot of Sam Huff, who was DFA’d along with Wade. Outfielder Daniel Johnson was in Mexico at the start of the season. On Wednesday, he swapped roster spots with infielder Christian Koss and started in right field over slumping veteran Mike Yastrzemski.

The Wade move alone would have felt significant given his time with the organization, but this was more than that. It felt like a message being sent by a front office that knows this pitching staff is good enough to reach the MLB playoffs and make some noise there if the offense can just make the modest jump from two to four runs per game. 

“It’s been a rough go the last two and a half weeks,” Posey said Wednesday in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. “I hope that for however long I end up doing this, I hope it’s never easy to have to tell players that you’re taking a job away from them — whether it’s optioning them or not — it’s not an enjoyable thing to do. But the way we’re going right now, we’ve got to change some things up. We’ve got to hopefully get some different looks from some different hitters and get this thing going.”

As Posey sat in the dugout Wednesday afternoon, he talked of how the only experience he can personally rely on is his time as a player. But he also leans on former Giants general managers Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans, the latter of whom is back with the organization. Current general manager Zack Minasian was part of plenty of roster flurries the last few seasons. 

Farhan Zaidi seemingly would put out a press release like this once a month. But this is new to Posey. He can no longer control a slump with his bat or a few pointed words in a hitters’ meeting. Now, it’s with the transaction wire, which was busy Wednesday after three weeks of historically poor production. 

“For me, the easy thing to point to is early in the year it felt like were doing a really good job of moving runners when we needed to. We were hitting and scoring runs with runners in scoring position, popping a homer here and there,” Posey said. “[Now], it’s a little bit of everything. I’ve been on teams where the offense has struggled. Sometimes it’s one game and you get going, a couple of games when you get going, and we’re talking about how good the offense is in three weeks. I hope next time time I talk to you, that’s what we’re talking about.”

That spark has been missing for weeks, which led to moves that sent a message, and not just to a fan base that has grown appropriately disgruntled. This is a message to the team’s core players, too. Had any of them come through more often in recent weeks, Wednesday’s series of moves might not have gone down the same way. Koss and Huff haven’t jumped off the page, but they seemed to get caught up in a push to make big changes. 

For Wade, this day has been telegraphed for several weeks. He had two rough months, but it goes deeper than that. Since the start of the second half in 2024, he is hitting .188 with just six homers. The Giants would have needed to make a move there even if Smith had not come available over the weekend, although Posey said he wasn’t quite sure what that would have looked like. 

“It’s hard to say. There might have been something else that we were looking at at that point,” he said. “There might have been more at-bats for [Casey] Schmitt or [Jerar] Encarnacion or [Wilmer] Flores, but it’s hard to say.”

Posey is hopeful that Wade gets an opportunity elsewhere, and he will. There’s a lot at stake for the 31-year-old who is about to hit free agency for the first time, but he’s healthy and teams are always looking for change-of-scenery candidates this time of year. The Giants have one of their own now, and on Wednesday, Dominic Smith went right into the lineup at first base, hitting fifth, one spot ahead of slumping shortstop Willy Adames. 

The Giants never imagined being at this point, but there’s also a silver lining as they look forward. They made the moves at a time when they’re just half a game out of a playoff spot, nearly entirely thanks to what might be the deepest pitching staff in baseball. The pitching Posey has seen in recent weeks called for urgency, and on Wednesday, the shakeup finally arrived. It wasn’t hard to view that as a message to the other half of the clubhouse.

“It’s time to go,” Posey said. “I think we all believe we’re better than we’ve been with the bats the last two to three weeks. It’s time to go.”

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Mannix: How teams are viewing Celtics ahead of pivotal offseason

Mannix: How teams are viewing Celtics ahead of pivotal offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics might be the most fascinating franchise ahead of what could be a very exciting NBA offseason.

The Celtics are one of three teams in the second apron, and based on what their roster could cost next season, it would make sense to shed some salary this summer and create future flexibility.

With superstar forward Jayson Tatum sidelined as he starts a lengthy recovery from Achilles surgery, the Celtics could choose one of several different paths. Do they make a couple minor changes and try to remain competitive in a weak Eastern Conference next season? Or do they take a bit of a step back, make moves with an eye toward the future and look to be a serious contender two seasons from now?

And what does the rest of the league think of the Celtics’ dilemma?

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix answered that question Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston’s The Off C’Season YouTube show.

“Whenever I talk to teams about Boston, they’re almost viewed as a target where they’ve got a little something for everybody,” Mannix said. “If you want a wing player, you can try to pull Sam Hauser out of there. If you need a defensive-minded guard, Jrue Holiday is available. I just think teams are waiting to see how deep the cuts with Boston are going to go. We all know they’re going to slice away some of this payroll.”

Which players could be available if the Celtics are looking to shed salary?

“Hauser, to me, is the most likely candidate to go, just because you have (Baylor) Scheierman there to effectively fill his role,” Mannix said. “I think they’d love to find a home for Jrue Holiday, just because of the contract and where they are as a team. (Kristaps) Porzingis, who knows? I don’t think they want to take on contracts that go on longer than Porzingis’ deal, but he’s certainly available.

“Teams I’ve talked to just aren’t fully sure what Boston wants to do. Do they want to just nibble around the fringes and get under the second apron, or do they really want to reboot this thing, take that full gap year, and go into 2026-27 with Jayson Tatum and some other stuff as the centerpiece of the team?”

Hauser is about to enter the first season of a four-year extension worth $45 million. He is a career 42 percent 3-point shooter and can hold his own defensively. Hauser’s quality outside shooting and modest salary could make him attractive to a bunch of teams.

Holiday has two more years, plus a 2027-28 player option, left on his contract with an average annual salary of $33.6 million. The veteran guard is still a decent scorer, is a very good defensive player and has plenty of championship experience.

Porzingis is entering the final year of his contract with a $30.7 million salary cap hit. The veteran center is a good 3-point shooter and a strong interior defender, but he’s not very durable. Porzingis has played in 99 of a possible 164 regular season games since joining the Celtics.

The Celtics ran it back with their championship roster in 2024-25, and just like the previous five defending champions, they didn’t make it past the second round of the playoffs. Now the hard part has arrived. How will Brad Stevens and his front office staff tweak the roster? It’ll be exciting to watch it all unfold.

Watch the full episode of The Off C’Season in the video below:

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Avalanche Fill Out Center Lineup with Brock Nelson Contract Extension

Denver, Colo. - The Colorado Avalanche can officially put their search for a second-line center to rest.

The Avalanche announced this morning that they have re-signed forward Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension, $7.5 million AAV. 

The Avalanche acquired Nelson on March 6th in a trade with the New York Islanders in exchange for forward prospect Calum Richie, defenseman Oliver Kylington,  a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a conditional third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft (which was not met).

BREAKING TRADE NEWS: Avalanche Acquire Brock Nelson from the New York IslandersBREAKING TRADE NEWS: Avalanche Acquire Brock Nelson from the New York IslandersIn the middle of a game? No problem for the Colorado Avalanche!

According to Avalanche PR, Chris MacFarland states that the team is "thrilled" to have Nelson on board for three more seasons. "He’s been a great center in this league for a long time, and he brings professionalism and a dedicated work ethic on and off the ice. We think he’s a great fit and is a stabilizing presence to our second-line center role with his size and ability to touch all areas of the ice. We’re excited to see what his contributions will be over a larger sample size with the Avalanche.”

In 19 games with the Avalanche, Nelson totaled 13 points (6 goals/7 assists). Over 80 games with both the Avalanche and Islanders, he tallied 56 points (26 goals/30 assists).

The Warroad, Minnesota native was also a participant in all four games for Team USA at the Four Nations Face-Off Tournament in February.

My family and I are excited to be staying in Colorado. Having spent my entire career with one organization, we weren’t totally sure what to expect when we arrived in Denver. But getting the opportunity to play for the Avalanche, to compete with a great group of teammates in that locker room, and in front of the tremendous fans at Ball Arena, we knew this was where we wanted to stay. I’d like to thank the Kroenke family, Joe Sakic, Chris MacFarland, Jared Bednar, and our coaching staff for the opportunity. Obviously, the way the season ended last year was disappointing, but I can’t wait to get back on the ice soon and continue to push for our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.
- Brock Nelson on staying in Colorado
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How DFA'ing Wade, other roster moves impact Giants moving forward

How DFA'ing Wade, other roster moves impact Giants moving forward originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Waiting wasn’t an option. The Giants shook up their roster Wednesday ahead of their game against the San Diego Padres, highlighted by designating first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. for assignment, and new faces immediately were slotted into manager Bob Melvin’s lineup. 

“We’re building a new group and we’re trying to change things up a little bit,” Melvin said. “Giving it a little different look is important.” 

The Giants’ plethora of roster moves included DFA’ing Wade and catcher Sam Huff, as well as optioning infielder Christian Koss to Triple-A Sacramento. To fill their spots, the Giants signed veteran first baseman/left fielder Dominic Smith to a one-year major league contract, while also selecting outfielder Daniel Johnson and catcher Andrew Knizner from Sacramento. Both Smith and Johnson are starting Wednesday night in their Giants debuts. 

Smith is playing first base and batting fifth. Johnson will roam right field and bat seventh, and Knizner is expected to be the starting catcher Thursday to conclude a four-game series with San Diego. 

Between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds, Smith had six home runs and a .691 OPS in 93 games last year. He’s yet to play in the big leagues this season, but had eight homers with a .782 OPS for the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate in 45 games prior to his signing. 

Johnson has only played 32 major league games in his career, but had been impressing in Sacramento with five home runs and an .846 OPS.

Adding three players and dropping three will affect multiple players and positions, most notably first base. Smith, a left-handed hitter, is getting the first crack against right-handed starter Nick Pivetta. Smith for his career has shown much more power against righties and should see himself in a platoon situation more than anything else. He’s the Giants’ lone left-handed bat that has experience playing first base.

Melvin still has a handful of right-handed choices. Jerar Encarnación has the ability to play first base, but likely will see most of his action at DH and right field. Casey Schmitt also is an option there as well. Wilmer Flores already has played 60 of the Giants’ 61 games after playing 70 all of last year, and Melvin hopes to get him some more rest. 

“Just gives us a few more options depending on how guys are swinging at the time,” Melvin said. 

Notably, Johnson, a left-handed Vallejo native, is starting in right field and not Mike Yastrzemski. Melvin is going to give Yastrzemski some days off, and Johnson’s long experience playing center field could even spell a breather here and there for Jung Hoo Lee.

“All in all, a little bit more versatility and flexibility, move guys around a little bit and also give some guys some days off who have had extreme workloads,” Melvin said. 

The Giants’ offense has been historically bad as of late, and the team has lost the first two games in their series with San Diego. They’re searching for any kind of spark, and their decision to drop Wade and others will affect plenty of players and positions.

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Reds place Hunter Greene on 15-day injured list and sign Wade Miley to 1-year contract

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds placed ace pitcher Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain and signed veteran left-hander Wade Miley to a one-year contract.

Miley, 38, who had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in May 2024, gets a $2.5 million salary while in the major leagues and $300,000 while in the minors. He would earn a $15,000 performance bonus for each inning pitched from one through 100.

He signed a minor league contract with the Reds on Feb. 4 that included an opt-out clause if he didn’t reach the big leagues by June 1. The 14-year veteran executed that clause but remained in Cincinnati while he pursued potential deals with other clubs, and he stayed in touch with the Reds.

“I was able to spend some time with the family, just being a dad, going to Little League games,” Miley said. “I’m appreciative of the Reds organization and the way they handled it. We always stayed in contact. I feel healthy. I’m really excited to be back. I’m ready to go to work.”

Miley is the third left-hander in the Reds rotation, joining Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott. He made 34 appearances including 32 starts for the Reds in 2020-21, going 12-10 with a 3.55 ERA. He tossed the 17th no-hitter in Reds franchise history, and his first, on May 7, 2021, at Cleveland.

Miley has posted 108 victories for eight different teams in his 14 seasons. Manager Terry Francona said Miley’s veteran presence is a welcome addition for the Reds’ young rotation.

“He and (Reds president of baseball operations) Nick (Krall) talked multiple times,” Francona said. “I know how much he appreciated Nick’s honesty. We were going to have him in the bullpen and then knowing at some point we would probably need him. Well, it happened a little quicker.”

Francona said Miley will be available out of the bullpen for the series finale against the Brewers. If he’s not used, he’ll pitch the first game of the upcoming Cleveland series, then move into the rotation.

“He was in full (uniform) early this morning,” Francona said. “It’s really welcome. We’ve been waiting for him. He’s a bright light. He brings a lot. His ability to compete, he won’t shortchange you.”

It was another setback for Greene who made three starts since a 15-day stint on the injured list last month due to a groin strain he sustained May 7 during a start in Atlanta.

In a 4-2 win over the Brewers, Green threw 85 pitches before leaving the game after five innings when he felt discomfort in his groin. An MRI was scheduled, but Francona said there was no need to wait for the results.

“We talked to him, we talked to trainers, it was kind of an easy decision even without seeing the MRI,” Francona said. “We’ve got to get him healthy.”

Greene — who made his first All-Star appearance last season — is 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 11 starts this year.

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Suns hire Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as head coach, AP source says

PHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns hired Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as their head coach, opting for a young, emerging leader to rebuild a franchise that has regressed over the past few seasons, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the hire hasn’t officially been announced.

Ott will be the team’s fourth head coach in four seasons and replaces Mike Budenholzer, who was fired following a miserable 36-46 season that ended without a trip to the playoffs despite the high-priced trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

The 40-year-old Ott has worked for the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Cavaliers. He also worked as a video coordinator under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, which is where Suns owner Mat Ishbia played as a walk-on from 1999 to 2003.

It remains to be seen if Durant or Beal will be on next season’s roster - both could be moved in trades. Booker seems like the only player on the roster who is truly untouchable after 10 seasons in the desert, including four All-Star appearances.

Ott and fellow Cavs assistant Johnnie Bryant were the two finalists for the job. Both worked under Kenny Atkinson, helping lead Cleveland to a 64-18 record this season, which was the best record in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

Ishbia and general manager Brian Gregory led a lengthy, deliberate search that lasted 1 1/2 months and included more than a dozen candidates. Gregory also has Michigan State ties as a former assistant coach.

ESPN first reported the hiring.

Ott takes over a franchise that's had a quick rise and fall over the past five years.

The Suns made the NBA Finals in 2021 with a core that included Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Chris Paul, Cameron Johnson and coach Monty Williams, but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Phoenix had the best record in the NBA the next season before losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.

Ishbia blew up that nucleus shortly after purchasing the team in 2023, trading for a superstar in Durant, but the Suns lost again in the postseason's second round, this time to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. Williams was fired following the season, which started the franchise's sideline shuffle.

The Suns traded for Beal - a three-time All-Star - and hired coach Frank Vogel during the ensuing offseason, but the group never seemed to gel. Phoenix was swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs in 2024, leading to Vogel's firing.

Budenholzer replaced Vogel before last season, but the Suns didn't even make it to the play-in tournament in 2025. Ott worked under Budenholzer as the Hawks' video coordinator from 2013 to 2016.

---

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

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Rockies’ 2nd straight win in Miami ends MLB-record streak of series losses at 22

MIAMI — The woeful Colorado Rockies have ended their ignominious, record-setting MLB streak of 22 consecutive series losses, which dated to last season.

A nervy 3-2 victory at Miami, highlighted by Hunter Goodman’s third home run in two games, gave Colorado two straight victories over the Marlins to ensure the Rockies would leave town with their first series victory since taking two of three games from Arizona in Denver in mid-September.

“That was big-time for the boys, to get that first series win,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “Who would’ve known it wouldn’t come until June. But the time is now. I’m happy for them.”

Colorado, a major league-worst 11-50, won consecutive games for just the second time this year after beating Atlanta on April 30 and San Francisco the next day. They now go for a series sweep against the Marlins.

Goodman called the Rockies’ recent form “more encouraging than discouraging.”

“We had some rough games in the first part of the year, and being able to just be in ballgames and have a chance to win is always better than just not being in it,” he said.

Goodman’s teammates seemed unsurprised by his pivotal role in securing the Rockies’ first series win of the season.

“He’s just raking, and when he’s hot, he’s one of the best hitters in the game,” centerfielder Brenton Doyle told Rockies.tv. “I hope he keeps it up. He’s one of my good buddies and that was awesome.”

Rockies reliever Seth Halvorsen earned his third save, but only after Heriberto Hernández drove his 1-1 pitch about 400 feet to left center, where Doyle made a game-ending, running catch at the wall.

“I’m not going to lie; off the bat, I thought that was a homer,” Schaeffer said. “But it wasn’t, so it’s all good. It’s the best having (Doyle) in center field.”

Excluding one-game series, the Rockies are the fourth team since MLB expansion in 1961 to go 18 series before recording their first series win in a season. The 1987 Padres, 1969 Montreal Expos and 1962 Washington Senators all won their first series of those seasons in their 19th series.

Before the Rockies arrived in Miami, they’d gone 3-28 on the road — the worst road mark at that point of season in more than a century — and had not won back-to-back road games since last Sept. 5-6.

“It’s nice to get a couple wins. It’s good to get that first series win,” Schaeffer said. “Now we just move forward.”

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19 OHL Players Invited To NHL Scouting Combine

The 2025 NHL Scouting Combine started on Monday. A total of 19 of the OHL's top draft eligible players were invited to the combine ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

"The NHL Combine is the final showcase event before the NHL Draft," said Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr. "It's a week full of interviews, medicals and fitness testing where the players get to interact with NHL personnel and the NHL clubs get to learn as much as possible about the future stars of our game."

In total, 90 players were invited to the combine. That means that the OHL made up just over 20 percent of the players invited to the event. 

At the end of the day, the combine is another event where players have an opportunity to impress NHL teams and show why they should be selected on draft day. 

IceDogs Name Frank Evola General ManagerIceDogs Name Frank Evola General ManagerYesterday, the Niagara IceDogs announced that longtime Windsor Spitfires' Director of Scouting and Hockey Operations Frank Evola will become the sixth GM in franchise history. 

The 19 players invited to the combine, in no particular order, are as follows. 

Kashawn Aitcheson (BAR)

Henry Brzustewicz (LDN)

David Bedkowski (OS)

Kieren Dervin (KGN)

Ethan Czata (NIAG

Kristian Epperson (SAG)

Tyler Hopkins (KGN)

Jack Ivankovic (BRAM)

Aleksei Medvedev (LDN)

Brady Martin (SOO)

Porter Martone (BRAM)

Michael Misa (SAG)

Jack Nesbitt (WSR)

Jake O'Brien (BFD)

Cameron Reid (KIT)

Malcolm Spence (ER)

Simon Wang (OSH)

Matthew Schaefer (ER)

Luca Romano (KIT)

Knights Take Care Of Business At Memorial CupKnights Take Care Of Business At Memorial CupTwo words followed the London Knights throughout the 2024-25 season: unfinished business. 

The 2025 NHL Draft will take place on June 27 and 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The New York Islanders have the first-overall pick in the draft, followed by the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks. 

There has been a lot of discussion online about whether the Isles will take Schaefer or James Hagens with the first-overall pick. NHL Central Scouting ranked Schaefer at the top of their list of North American skaters, however, Hagens is from Long Island. There is a segment of hockey fans who believe drafting the local boy could come ahead of taking the top prospect in the draft. 

Based on the rankings, the OHL will have a heavy presence in the top-five picks at the 2025 NHL Draft. We will see whether that is the case come draft night. For now, the players will continue to prove themselves at the combine.

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Padres at Giants Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 4

It's Wednesday, June 4, and the Padres (35-24) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (33-28). Nick Pivetta is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Kyle Harrison for San Francisco.

Jake Cronenworth's go-ahead RBI in the top of the 10th inning lifted the Padres over the Giants, moving them to 2-0 in the series.

Manny Machado was also big for the Padres yesterday. He went 4-4 with two RBIs. None bigger than his RBI single in the top of the 10th inning to tie the game.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Padres at Giants

  • Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCS BA, Padres.TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Padres at the Giants

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (-114), Giants (-106)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for June 4, 2025: Nick Pivetta vs. Kyle Harrison
    • Padres: Nick Pivetta, (6-2, 2.74 ERA)
      Last outing (Pittsburgh Pirates, 5/30): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Kyle Harrison, (1-1, 2.51 ERA)
      Last outing (Miami Marlins, 5/30): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Giants

  • The Giants have won 12 of their last 20 home games
  • The Giants' last 3 games at home versus the Padres have stayed under the Total
  • The Padres have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 1.62 units

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Padres and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Francisco Giants on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Francisco Giants at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Cool Jazz back at Yankee Stadium as Chisholm’s homer sparks New York to 3-2 win over Cleveland

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees had been missing their cool Jazz.

Sidelined since April 29 by a strained right oblique, Jazz Chisholm Jr. drove Tanner Bibee’s first pitch of the seventh inning toward the right-center stands. He shuffled up the first-base line, holding his bat, convinced it was a tiebreaking home run.

And it was, barely, caught by a fan in the first row, 358 feet from home plate.

“Our hitting coach told me a story about Reggie Jackson,” Chisholm said after the 3-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians. “He hit a homer that barely went over the fence. And he was like, `Hey, Reggie, how did you know that was gone?’ And he’s like, `Well, I hit 567 (actually 563) of them.’ So I told my coach, my story is that I’ve hit 1,000 homers in my dreams, so I had to know that one was gone, right?”

Chisholm went 2 for 3, also blooping a fifth-inning single for the Yankees’ first hit and scoring on DJ LeMahieu’s single. Anthony Volpe went deep six pitches after Chisholm, giving New York back-to-back homers for the fifth time this season.

“Honestly, I pictured a 3 for 3, but I’d take a 2 for 3,” Chisholm said.

He returned to third base, his position with the Yankees last year, after making 29 starts at second through April 29, when he got hurt at Baltimore. New York manager Aaron Boone decided to leave LeMahieu at second, where he’s started since coming back from a spring training calf injury on May 13.

Chisholm didn’t complain about the position switch and gushed: “This is my favorite organization I’ve ever been a part of.”

“I just want to win. I want a ring,” Chisholm said. “You got (Aaron) Judge. You got Volpe, and they come and talk to you and when you have such a good relationship with the manager, I mean, you don’t mind doing anything for a guy that you have a good friendship with.”

An All-Star with Miami in 2022, the 27-year-old played middle infield for the Marlins from 2020-22, was moved to center field from 2023-24, then inserted at third when the Yankees acquired him in a trade last July 27.

“Everyone’s really pumped for him and happy for us that he’s back helping us,” Volpe said. “He’s just so smooth and has such a great arm that you can play wherever you want to play with him over there.”

Wearing a baby blue, 11 1/2-inch glove from his own company, Absolutely Ridiculous Innovation for Athletes (ARIA), Chisholm grabbed Ángel Martínez’s grounder down the line in the third and made a strong one-hop throw to first from foul territory for an inning-ending out. The glove is intended to be used for Father’s Day on June 15 and Chisholm started to break it in during three rehab games at Double-A Somerset.

“Sometimes you catch the ball over there at third base and you look at the first baseman and you’re like, wow, he’s pretty far,” Chisholm said.

He is batting just .194 with eight homers and 18 RBIs. But in addition to his bat and glove, Chisholm adds a vivacious personality.

“Really excited to have him back and good to see him have that kind of impact right away,” Boone said.

Devin Williams, back as closer after Luke Weaver strained a hamstring, allowed Carlos Santana’s one-out double and pinch-hitter Daniel Schneemann’s two-out RBI single in the ninth, then retired Bo Naylor on a flyout for his sixth save as AL East-leading New York won for the 11th time in 14 games.

During spring training, Boone and the Yankees talked of Chisholm combining with Volpe, the third-year shortstop, on an exiting double-play combination.

“I really thought I was done at third base,” Chisholm said. “I thought I left my career over there with a good stamp, but I guess we’re back again. We got to shine again. We can’t let that reputation go down at third base.”

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Who Is New Pittsburgh Penguins Coach Dan Muse?

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced they have hired Dan Muse as their 23rd coach in franchise history. This is Muse’s first opportunity at being an NHL bench boss.

Muse is Kyle Dubas’ first head coaching hire as the GM and president of hockey operations of the Penguins. The Mike Sullivan parted ways with the team after the season and since joined the New York Rangers.

“During this process, we met with many candidates who we felt would have been a fit as the next head coach of the Penguins, but ultimately, Dan Muse stood out as the best choice,” Dubas said in a statement.

“What separated Dan was his ability to develop players, win at all levels where he has been a head coach and his consistent success coaching special teams in the NHL,” he added.

Muse spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Rangers. His other NHL experience was as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators between 2017 and 2020.

He helped both teams earn three division titles. The Predators claimed the Central Division title in 2017-18 and 2018-19, while the Rangers topped the Metropolitan Division in 2024. The Predators and Rangers also won one Presidents’ Trophy each, with Muse behind the bench in 2018 and 2024, respectively.

In these roles, Muse was in charge of the penalty kill. Despite the Rangers finishing 22nd in the league this season, they had the 11th-best penalty-kill percentage. Last season, the team had the third-best penalty kill in the league.

John Hynes and Dan Muse (Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images)

In the 2017-18 season, when Nashville won the Presidents’ Trophy, they had the sixth-best penalty kill. Pittsburgh’s GM took note of that.

“His leadership of special teams units at the NHL level in both Nashville and New York produced elite results consistently,” Dubas said.

“His overall body of work, attention to detail and vision for our group showed us that he is the best coach to take our team forward. We’re excited to welcome Dan, and his family, to the city of Pittsburgh.”

Muse does have previous experience as a head coach. The 42-year-old was the bench boss of the U-17 and U-18 USA Hockey National Team Development Program teams.

He won a USHL title in 2016-17 and a U-18 World Junior Championship gold medal in 2022-23.

Promo image credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

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Red Sox manager Alex Cora proclaims his team ‘not getting better’ following 8th loss in 10 games

BOSTON — Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been proclaiming recently that he didn’t think his team was far from putting good baseball together following a dismal stretch of games.

Those days of optimism appear to be dwindling after Boston’s latest setback.

The Red Sox lost their 17th one-run game of the season, this time falling 4-3 to the Los Angeles Angels in 10 innings filled with missed opportunities, poor execution defensively and another inconsistent night from the bullpen. It was their eighth loss in 10 games. They are now 9-10-1 in series play, including 4-5-1 at Fenway Park.

“We keep making the same mistakes. We’re not getting better,” Cora said after the game. “At one point it has to be on me I guess. I’m the manager. I’ve got to keep pushing them to be better. They’re not getting better. They’re not. We keep making the same mistakes. I’ll be honest about it and very open about it.”

The loss came a night after Boston also lost by a run to an Angels team that had lost seven of eight and three consecutive series.

The game started out with some promise.

Starting pitcher Brayan Bello pitched a scoreless first to snap a four-game streak of Boston pitchers allowing at least one run in the opening inning.

But then the Angels took a 3-0 lead in the third inning via an RBI single by Zach Neto and a two-run single by Nolan Schanuel.

Boston got one run back during its half of the inning but failed to close the gap more despite having runners on second and third base with no outs.

The Red Sox outhit the Angels for the second straight game. But also also committed three fielding errors.

“You get frustrated, but at one point, OK, what are you going to do? What’s going to change? We keep doing the same thing,” Cora said.

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Count On Bobrovsky, Panthers Limiting Oilers Offence in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Finals

Florida Panthers look to shut down Edmonton Oilers offence in Stanley Cup Finals rematch. 

Image

One of the most highly-anticipated Stanley Cup Finals in years starts on Wednesday with the star-studded Edmonton Oilers hosting the defending Champion Florida Panthers. 

It promises to be an eventful series, marking just the third Stanley Cup Final rematch in NHL history. The Oilers are out for redemption after falling short in game seven last year, nearly completing a dramatic comeback from a 3-0 series deficit.

Game one will be a crucial one for both sides as the team that wins game one of the Stanley Cup Final has won the series 64 out of 84 times, which improves when that opening win comes on home ice, as the odds jump to 51 out of 61 times in history. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: 2025 Stanley Cup Final Betting Preview: Oilers-Panthers Set for Epic Rematch

Edmonton Oilers vs Florida Panthers Game 1 Best Bets:

  • Under 6.5 goals (-132)
  • Panthers ML (+104)
  • Sam Bennett Over 0.5 points (-120)
  • Carter Verhaeghe Over 0.5 points (-115) 

More NHL: Oilers vs. Panthers: Breaking Down Game One Trends Ahead of 2025 Stanley Cup Finals

The public seems to expect that an offensive shootout is coming as the sportsbooks have the game listed at over/under 6.5 total goals. The sense is that the Oilers will want to rebound after last year's loss and push the Panthers into a high-scoring affair for a series-opening win. 

I expect the opposite effect to work as we've seen both teams using their defences to shut down the best of opposing offences and make for low-scoring outcomes.

This happen in last year's game one of the Finals, where the Oilers were blanked in a 3-0 loss. In game two, they were limited once again with the Panthers managing to continue their smother of the Oilers offence for a 4-1 victory. 

This is the third straight Finals appearance for the Panthers and they know what they are doing with their mindset likely being that they aren't going to let in a goal at all costs.

I expect this mentality to shine through once again as the Oilers are coming in with a new team and the highest of expectations as they are expected to win the series. 

With that in mind, we will need to see some scoring from someone as a goal has to be scored and we gave a pretty lengthy deep dive recently on what players excel in series-opening games. For the Cats, the most notable name is Sam Bennett, who has made a knack out of scoring clutch goals. 

More NHL: New Mitch Marner Next Team Betting Odds Highlight Unexpected Frontrunner

The Canadian forward found the net against the United States in the Four Nations Championship and has built a reputation for strong starts, scoring in three consecutive Game Ones and tallying four goals in his last five series openers. 

Bennett has been playing on a line recently with the dynamic duo of Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk, who both have a stellar history of opening up series with a bang. Verhaeghe offers better value in this spot, having consistently delivered in series openers. 

He scored in last year’s Stanley Cup Final game one and has totaled four goals and five assists in his last seven Game Ones. This postseason alone, he’s recorded one goal and four assists across three series openers. The two forwards should come together for a much needed goal in a tight low-scoring affair. 

More NHL: 2026 Stanley Cup Odds: Oilers, Panthers Lead Early Contenders But One Unexpected Favourite Emerges