A UConn Husky heard his name called on the second day of the 2026 MLB Draft. Left-handed pitcher Charlie West was selected in the seventh round with the No. 223 overall pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The South Setauket, New York, native pitched the past three seasons in Storrs.
West had a great spring for the Huskies, receiving All-Big East First Team honors after he led the conference in strikeouts with 111. He made 16 starts and had a 4.12 ERA in 87.1 innings, accumulating a 6-6 record on the mound. His best performance of the season came on April 12 when he struck out a career-high 14 batters against Butler.
The selection marks 21-straight MLB Drafts in which UConn has had at least one player drafted or signed by an MLB club. West is the 80th player selected under head coach Jim Penders, who has had a player drafted or signed in all but one of his 23 years leading the dugout in Storrs.
West will try and join the group of 10 other players who have made the big leagues in Penders’ tenure, most recently Kyler Fedko with the Minnesota Twins earlier this year. West is the 18th Husky to be picked in the first 10 rounds since 2009.
So far this summer, West has a 2.16 ERA in four starts for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League, striking out 26 batters in 16.2 innings entering Monday.
Former Husky pitcher Ben Casparius is currently in the Dodgers organization as well and is currently on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder injury.
Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman, a Dearborn Heights, Michigan native who played college hockey with the Western Michigan Broncos, has officially decided to hang up his skates.
Oesterle, 34, announced his retirement from the NHL after having skated in 409 career games, 97 of which were spent with the Red Wings between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Jordan, you showed the hockey world that hard work pays off. From going undrafted as a college free agent to creating a 12 year pro hockey career, there's no doubt you left your impact on the game and serve as an inspiration to others looking to follow in your footsteps.… pic.twitter.com/4Vd4Z0ixlf
Never drafted into the NHL, Oesterle signed an entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers in 2014, and would skate in 25 total games with the organization while mostly playing in the American Hockey League before joining the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017.
Eventually, the Blackhawks traded him along with the contract of former Red Wings forward Marian Hossa to the Arizona Coyotes in July 2018.
Oesterle then took the opportunity to play for his hometown team, inking a two-year, $2.7 million contract with the Red Wings in the summer of 2021. During his time with Detroit, he tallied a total of four goals with 15 assists.
Following his time with the Red Wings, Oesterle would suit up for the Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, and Nashville Predators.
Ultimately, he registered 23 goals and 73 assists in 409 career regular season games, while adding a goal with three assists in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games.
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Two of their unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), which were the last two first-rounders they had full control over to trade.
It’s no secret how badly the Lakers wanted – and needed – Walker Kessler. AP Photo/Anna Fuder
Two first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
In addition to the four-year, $130 million contract Kessler signed with the franchise that starts with a salary of $30.1 million for 2026-27, which makes him the 10th-highest paid center in the league (restricted free agent big man Jalen Duren’s 2026-27 salary from his contract will likely surpass Kessler’s).
A significant investment for a player who hasn’t made an All-Star, All-NBA or All-Defense team, and is coming off of playing five games after having left shoulder surgery in November.
Kessler is honored by the investment. And ready to prove the Lakers right.
“It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,” Kessler said on Monday during his first media availability since joining the Lakers. “And I think what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but like you said, assets. And for me, I’m somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I’m gonna run through a brick wall for them. That’s just how I’ve been wired my whole life and it definitely makes it a lot easier to go out there and compete for a team.”
It’s reflected in not just what various Lakers have said about Kessler since acquiring him from the Jazz in a sign-and-trade. Getty Images
Doncic made it clear entering the offseason he wanted the Lakers to acquire a high-level center who fits into the archetype he usually thrives alongside: A lob-catcher, rim-runner and rim-protector.
And the Lakers got the job done by adding Kessler, whose jobs will be made easier because of Doncic.
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Kessler has averaged 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes across 201 regular season games since the Jazz drafted him with the No. 22 pick in the 2022 draft.
“Passing the ball, he’s pretty good,” Kessler quipped. “He has such a big presence on the court, it makes every guy, all four guys around him, it just makes it a lot easier for them to do what they need to do.”
Kessler added: “I’ve never played with a point guard of that kind of size and stature to where he’s just a matchup nightmare.”
And Kessler will look to make Doncic, as well as the rest of his Lakers’ teammates, life jobs easier on the court, too.
He’s been one of the NBA’s best rim protectors since entering the league out of Auburn
“What I can do for [Doncic] is obviously play defense for him, set great screens,” Kessler said. “Get him some assists. It’s gonna be gonna be a lot of fun.”
Even on a Lakers roster that has already added eight players, Kessler still has familiar faces around him.
A significant advocate for Kessler in the Lakers’ pursuit of the 24-year-old center was franchise superstar guard Luka Doncic. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“I would say his mindset and being able to come in and give it his all each and every night,” Sexton said of why Kessler will be a good fit for the Lakers. “And he’s one of those people that’s very competitive, and I feel like the culture here is trying to bring good guys in who are ready to compete each and every night and give it their all.”
“He’s a big, goofy dude that just enjoys life and has fun,” Reaves said of Kessler. “Obviously you see what he does basketball wise and how he impacts the game. He’s good defensively, good in the pocket. Just a smart player. So I’m happy to have him on the team and get to play with him.”
Kessler averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds (4.6 offensive rebounds), 3 assists and 1.8 blocks across five games (30.8 minutes per game) during 2025-26 before suffering a season-ending torn posterior labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery.
He said his shoulder “feels better than it’s ever felt in my life” and that he’s “100% cleared” after sitting most of last season. Kessler shared that he originally suffered the injury in college but played through it before it got worse over the previous year.
“I’m just excited to play again,” Kessler said. “Sitting out a whole year definitely puts a lot of things in perspective. The heart grows fond in absence. I think falling in love with this game again and just realizing I just want to go win. I just want to play to win. And obviously still being able to do the stuff that I kind of showed in the first five games, it’s just going to be fun to play.”
Before his injury, Kessler further experimented with expanding his shooting range with a higher frequency, attempting 1.6 3-pointers per game compared to 0.3 3s per game in his first three seasons. He made 6 of those 8 attempted 3s last season after making 6 of 34 in 2024-25, 4 of 19 in 2023-24 and 1 of 3 in 2022-23.
“Coach JJ [Redick] is obviously hyper intelligent,” Kessler said. “Obviously, being a shooter himself, we’ve talked about it and he wants me to be able to do that. Because I think for a big to be able to stretch the floor like that or even have the threat of it, I think it makes other teams’ scouts really difficult. [Because] whether I can do that on the pop or catch on the pop, go second side or be able to roll. Both those things are gonna be really important.”
The New York Rangers have agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract extension with Braden Schneider.
This comes shortly after Schneider filed for salary arbitration and had a hearing set for July 29.
Schneider is coming off a two-year, $4.4 million contract with the New York Rangers, which expired after the 2025-26 season.
The 24-year-old defenseman was the subject of trade rumors throughout the 2025-26 season and went through a prolonged restricted free agency process, but the two sides ultimately agreed to go the bridge-deal route after reportedly gauging the trade market for Schneider.
“We think Braden is a really good young talented defenseman,” Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said. “So we drafted him, developed him, we like the skill set and what he does for us. I know he, along with me and us, are just trying to do everything we can to be better and help him be better, but he's an exciting player and a terrific all-around high character person in our organization.”
The Rangers added defensemen Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson this offseason, which will likely decrease Schneider’s role for the 2026-27 campaign.
Despite re-signing with the Rangers, Schneider is set to become a restricted free agent next summer, as Schneider’s long-term future in New York remains uncertain.
The San Francisco Giants reached the All-Star break with a win, but nobody inside the clubhouse seemed interested in pretending the first 96 games were anything other than a hot mess.
At 41-55, the Giants are now barreling toward an Aug. 3 trade deadline that could push the front office into a fire sale. For a team that entered the season expecting to contend under first-year manager Tony Vitello, the opening stretch looks like a complete implosion.
Tony Vitello and Logan Webb addressed the Giants’ ugly first half as San Francisco faces hard trade deadline questions. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Vitello did not try to dress it up.
Asked what he learned from the first 96 games, Vitello’s answer hinted at his big-league learning curve and the challenge of adjusting to the relentless pace of an MLB season.
Tony Vitello #23 of the San Francisco Giants gets ejected after arguing with home plate umpire at Oracle Park Getty Images
“This is a grind like no other,” Vitello said. “I’m not playing, so it’s physical for the players. For us, it’s a little bit more mental. You got to find a way to separate every day.”
That has been easier said than done.
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
The Giants have been hurt by an inconsistent offense, a shaky pitching staff and a bullpen that has too often turned winnable games into soul-crushing losses.
Vitello admitted the Giants may have expected too much too early after a promising start.
“I think spring training was really good to us, and we expected to kind of take the world by storm to start the season, and it didn’t happen right away,” Vitello said. “There was early frustration right away and a multitude of other things, but those days are gone. All we got is the second half in front of us.”
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Logan Webb, one of the few Giants who (almost) survived the first half with his credibility intact, was even more blunt.
“We haven’t put ourselves in a good position,” Webb said. “I think that’s pretty truthful, right? It’s not like we’ve played very well.”
The ace said the break should force some honest self-scouting.
“I think we all just have to take a step back, look in the mirror and see what we want to be as a team,” Webb said. “How do we want teams to view us when we come to town or they come to town?”
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames (2), left, reacts with San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (1), after a double play during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies AP Photo/Thien-An Truong
Webb said Vitello’s message has been clear from the beginning: the Giants were supposed to be the aggressor.
“Tony’s message, I think it’s been the message from the get-go, is like, kick some people in the teeth, right, or punch them in the mouth,” Webb said. “I don’t think we did a good job of that.”
That failure is why the next few weeks could get uncomfortable.
The Giants are sending the message that nearly everyone is available except Webb and Jung Hoo Lee. More realistic trade candidates include veterans and expiring contracts, with Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray among the names who could draw interest from contenders.
San Francisco would probably like to move Rafael Devers or Willy Adames, but both deals now look close to untradable. With bloated contracts stretching into the 2030s, neither player profiles as a clean deadline trade chip unless San Francisco is willing to eat significant money.
Webb is not ready to call the season over, pointing to the 2021 Braves team that erased a 10.5-game deficit at the All-Star break and won the World Series.
“I’m not saying that it’s gonna happen. I’m not promising that,” Webb said. “But it’s baseball, and it can happen.”
The first 96 games taught the Giants they are not nearly as close as they believed.
The second half will reveal whether that lesson came too late.
A July 13 article from ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported that Green’s recent conversations with James, which took place while the two close friends were vacationing in Puerto Rico together, “have left [James] giving even stronger consideration to the idea than before.”
LeBron James and Draymond Green were vacationing in Puerto Rico together, as the latter reportedly made a face-to-face pitch to join Golden State. Getty Images
The report adds that Green was constantly pitching the Warriors to James during the vacation, selling him on the storyline of finishing his career by winning a championship alongside Stephen Curry. What’s more, Green was selling the idea that regardless of whether they won another NBA title, the 22-time All-Star would surely be able to enjoy his final few NBA season in Golden State.
It has been reported that Curry and James have been in contact as well. The sources Siegel spoke with didn’t confirm whether Curry and James spoke directly when the latter was in Puerto Rico with Green, but he said, “it’s not crazy to believe Green and LeBron spoke with Steph” during the trip.
Green reportedly told James he could cap off his career by winning a championship alongside Stephen Curry (left). NBAE via Getty Images
The Warriors have always been seen as one of several favorites to land James in free agency this offseason. Now Green’s face-to-face recruiting pitch to the future Hall of Famer appears to have increased their chances of actually signing him.
It’s also worth noting that the Warriors just hired Frank Vogel to be their associate head coach under Steve Kerr. Vogel was the Lakers’ head coach from 2019 to 2022, including when they beat the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals.
James has yet to select a team after his shocking decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers. APGreen and the Warriors appear to be making their push at the perfect time, as James’ decision seems imminent. Getty Images
This was the only championship James won with the Lakers, and Golden State bringing Vogel on board would appear to be another factor that could compel James to join them.
The belief is that James’ hotly anticipated decision could be coming within the next week. Green and the Warriors appear to be making their push at the perfect time.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 12: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards shoots a free throw during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 12, 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A potential battle between top-4 picks looms for the Washington Wizards on Tuesday as they take on the Chicago Bulls in their third NBA Summer League game.
Game info
When: Wednesday, July 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas
How to watch: NBA on Prime, Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
What to watch for
The names on the marquee for this one are obvious: AJ Dybantsa and Caleb Wilson. The biggest question mark is whether or not the Wizards opt to keep Dybantsa out for this one.
Washington’s No. 1 overall pick poured in 23 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in his team’s 104-85 blowout win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. Will Riley caught fire in the contest, with 32 points on 6-of-8 shooting from beyond the three-point arc.
But nobody was hotter than Wilson on Friday, when the Bulls’ No. 4 overall pick broke the record for the most points in an NBA Summer League debut. The North Carolina alum erupted for 35 points on a 12-of-21 clip, and looked really comfortable shooting from deep with seven triples.
Dybantsa and Wilson did not face off during their one year of college, but they did play against each other in a preseason contest. Dybantsa paced BYU in scoring with 18 points and eight rebounds in a 78-76 win, while Wilson led all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Chris Cenac Jr. #12 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics lost 102-90 to the Atlanta Hawks in the team’s first loss of the Las Vegas Summer League, notably without 2025 draftees Hugo Gonzalez or Amari Williams.
Both teams were 2-0 and part of a six-member group of undefeated LVSL teams heading into the game. Following the loss, the Celtics are 2-1, and only the Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia 76ers remain undefeated.
The Celtics started 2025 draftee John Tonje, 2026 first-rounder Chris Cenac Jr. and second-rounder Dillon Mitchell, Curtis Jones, and Tucker DeVries. Boston did not play Gonzalez or Williams, who started both of the team’s first two games but watched from the bench today on the back end of a back-to-back.
The Hawks starters included Isaac McKneely, Gabe Madsen, Isaiah Wong, Devon Higgs, and Henri Veesaar.
Unlike the Celtics’ first two games in Vegas, they got off to a hot start against the Hawks.
DeVries, a 6’7” forward who went undrafted this year, immediately hit a pair of three-pointers to put Boston up before Atlanta even scored. John Tonje also hit a couple shots in the first quarter, including one from distance, for 5 early points. Celtics rookies Cenac and Mitchell also got a pair of buckets between them.
However, the Hawks kept pace and took a 20-17 lead with about three minutes left in the opening quarter, thanks to 9 points from Kobe Johnson (who hit all of his first four shots), 8 points from Veesaar (who hit his first three shots, including two three-pointers), and 6 points from Higgs.
Milos Uzan, one of Boston’s best Summer League players so far in Vegas, came off the bench again and scored a couple buckets to help keep it close.
Nevertheless, the first quarter ended with the Hawks ahead by 4, 29-25.
Mitchell got the second quarter scoring started with a nice dime to Hank Morgan, then hit a 14-foot jumper to briefly tie the game up at 29-29.
Unfortunately, Boston’s offense fizzled out in the second frame, while Atlanta’s remained hot. Veesaar hit his third three-pointer to give the Hawks a lead again, then Johnson cut into the paint for a layup to put them up by 5 points, 34-29.
Cenac hit a midrange jumper of his own, then blocked Johnson soon after using his length, but Atlanta recovered the ball and Johnson ended up hitting a three-pointer out of the scramble. Johnson hit another shot from distance only a minute later, giving him 17 points on 7/8 shooting from the field.
Behind Johnson and Veesaar, the Hawks’ lead ballooned to 15 points, 46-31, with about 3 minutes left to go in the half.
That lead got up to 19 points with about a minute to go in the half, but Boston was able to cut into the deficit with an Alondes Williams three-pointer, a DeVries putback layup, and a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Kyle Mangas to cap off a rough second quarter.
At the half, the Hawks led Boston by 13 points, 52-39, with three double-digit scorers (Johnson with 19 points, Veesaar with 13, and Higgs with 10). DeVries led the Summer C’s in scoring at the half with 8 points. The team as a whole shot only 41.2% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range.
As the third quarter began, Cenac’s hands were all over the game, for better or for worse. He fouled a Hawks shooter, gifting Atlanta a free throw that it hit for its first points of the second half, and set an illegal screen a couple minutes later. However, Cenac also scored the first 8 points of the half for Boston and became the team’s first double-digit scorer of the night. He hit a couple impressive shots in the paint, a free throw, and an emphatic putback dunk.
Cenac was subbed out for a quick breather after he missed a thunderous dunk attempt. He was subbed back in after less than a minute on the bench, but did not have the same impact on the rest of the game as he did to open the third.
DeVries hit another three-pointer to bring the lead to 10, 60-50, but the Celtics were unable to build on that momentum as they could not find a way to slow down Johnson and Veesaar. With less than 3 minutes to go in the third quarter, the pair had 42 points between them and the Hawks had a commanding 20-point lead, 75-55.
It wasn’t all negative, though. Cenac had an impressive block (his fourth of the night) that led to an easy Mitchell layup, then a dunk a minute later. Mitchell continued to show a willingness to shoot from the perimeter and buried an open three-pointer to end the quarter.
At the end of the third, the Hawks led 83-62.
Mitchell opened up the fourth quarter with a slick turnaround fadeaway jumper, but the Hawks kept up their pace and hit a pair of three-pointers and a layup over the first two minutes of the frame to take a 91-67 lead.
Johnson continued his hot night, hitting a three-pointer and a layup to get up to 30 points, and helped keep Atlanta in control for the remainder of the game.
With about 5 minutes to go, Boston emptied the bench, and the move seemingly reenergized the team. The bench players narrowed the lead to 14 points after Morgan hit a three-pointer and a free throw, but the bench burst came too late to make the game a real competition.
Overall, Cenac led the way for the Celtics with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 blocks on 46.2% shooting from the field. He also had 5 turnovers and 5 personal fouls.
Mitchell and DeVries tied as the team’s second-leading scorers with 11 apiece. It was the first Summer League game where Mitchell did not record a block or steal.
On the other side, Johnson and Veesaar combined for 50 points.
The Celtics’ next Summer League game will be at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, against the Sacramento Kings and the seventh pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Darius Acuff Jr. It will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Jul 13, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A general view of the stadium and field as fans look on before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
It’s Dinger time (and not the Rockies mascot). Tonight includes a couple Phillies on the list:
LeBron James’ roots in Akron, Ohio run deep. Can they be deepened?
The recent time James has spent in his hometown only has heightened excitement about him possibly rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Listen, this is an exciting time for us, right?’’ Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson told Sirius XM NBA Radio on Sunday, July 12. “Like we’re in the mix for the greatest player of all-time.’’
(No, Atkinson was not referring to Michael Jordan.)
It’s customary for James to spend time in the offseason in Akron, which helped launch him into basketball stardom. But it seems ever more meaningful as he searches for what likely will be the final destination of his celebrated NBA career two weeks after informing the Lakers he will play elsewhere next season.
If you’re reading tea leaves, James has posted on his Instagram page twice in about the last two weeks. The first was about a custom 1,200-square-foot putting green that’s been installed at the LeBron James Family Foundation headquarters.
The second was of James standing inside “Buckets Restaurant,’’ where chicken is served in buckets. Of course, what everybody really wants to know is, where will James be scoring buckets next season?
ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania addressed the timing of James' decision on NBA Today.
“It’s decision time for LeBron James,’’ Charania said. “Because all of the information for the most part is in. GMs, presidents, owners, they’ve all been heard from. They’re continuing to have conversations with agent Rich Paul here this week as well. Players have also reached out to LeBron James to recruit him.’’
According to Charania, the leading suitors have been Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota.
What Polymarket says
The Polymarket prediction market posts by percentage the chances of James signing with the following teams:
Cleveland Cavaliers (45%): It’s the one place James could chase another ring (his fifth) and not be derided as a ring chaser. In Cleveland, he’ll always be the prodigal son.
Golden State Warriors (25%): It’d be a blast to watch James team up with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. But their collective gas tank might be empty when the playoffs start.
Miami Heat (18%): Could anyone fault James for taking his talents back to South Beach, where he won his first two NBA titles? Well, of course they could!
According to Polymarket, it's also still too early to count out the Philadelphia 76ers (7%), not to mention the Minnesota Timberwolves (3%), San Antonia Spurs (1%) and Denver Nuggets (1%).
A historic Big Bash League season opener in India has been officially locked in, with Cricket Australia announcing the full fixtures and venues for the upcoming BBL|16 season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on June 09, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the All-Star break, the Dodgers embark on a three-city, nine-game, 11-day road trip that will take them to New York, Philadelphia, then back to New York with a little stop in Washington D.C. in between. First up is The Bronx for a three-game series against the Yankees beginning Friday night at Yankee Stadium.
The Dodgers have the best record in baseball at the break (61-36) and the best run differential (+149). The Yankees are tied for the fifth-best record (54-42) and own the third-best run differential (+91).
Dodgers on the road this season are averaging a whopping 6.04 runs per game and top MLB with a 125 wRC+ away from home.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 20, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) reacts after LA Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) was called for an offensive foul in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on February 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Once again, Austin Reaves is showing how badly he wants to win with the Lakers.
Prior to the start of free agency, Reaves agreed to a reported four-year, $185 million deal to stay in Los Angeles. However, with some time for the Lakers to plan for the future after agreeing to other deals, the two sides adjusted the contract with Reaves taking less money to help the team’s flexibility.
Update on Austin Reaves’ contract with the Lakers: Final terms are four years, $180 million, with a player option in 2029–30, league sources tell me. Reaves agreed to a lower amount than the previously reported $185 million to help give Los Angeles more future flexibility.
This isn’t the first time the Lakers have gotten creative with a contract this offseason. Sandro Mamukelashvili’s contract features a dip in the second year as well.
The rationale? Well, it appears the Lakers are looking to create enough cap space to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception next summer.
Reaves’ decision, sources told ESPN, will give LAL more financial flexibility moving forward – making it possible to pursue a player with the non-taxpayer midlevel exception next summer. https://t.co/7AHGDG2Pbu
The Lakers are going to operate as an over-the-cap team not just for the rest of the summer, but likely for the rest of the Luka Dončić era. That means they’re going to have limited means to notably upgrade the roster.
One of those means, if they navigate things correctly, would be the non-taxpayer MLE next season. It will give LA a big contract they can offer in free agency next year and a real big way to upgrade the roster.
The non-taxpayer MLE not only would allow them to sign a player to a deal with an AAV of roughly $15 million, but it would also allow them to trade for someone in that range. LA will be a contending team with the ability to make an attractive offer to free agents next summer.
To ensure the ability to offer that type of deal and make that upgrade to the roster, though, Reaves had to skim a little bit off his deal. Ultimately, it’s a millionaire making a few less millions, so there’s only so much credit he’s going to get, but it’s not common for player to do what he did, so he does deserve some praise.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 13: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies warms up before the 2026 Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park on July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’ll admit, I have no interest in the home run. I think my lack of interest comes, in part, from listening to Chris Berman saying back back back back back back, like he was a chicken. But, mostly, because it the home run derby is the same thing over and over.
But I realize, my experience isn’t everyone’s.
The players in the derby are:
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox Kyle Schwarber, Phillies Junior Caminero, Rays Bryce Harper, Phillies Jordan Walker, Cardinals Willson Contreras, Red Sox Jac Caglianone, Royals Ben Rice, Yankees
Of course, maybe I’m not interested in the home run derby because I don’t care about any of the players in it. I don’t know who I would cheer for in that group. Hmmmm Bryce Harper? I don’t know. I have no allegiance to any of them.
But, if you are watching and want to chat, you can do it here.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 20: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Bryce Harper #3 at home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning during the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Just because there are no Dodgers involved doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy this Home Run Derby with a field that makes up in raw power what it might potentially lack in terms of star appeal.
This year’s format has gone through some changes. Gone are the clocks, and the event will be split into three rounds with each hitter receiving x number of swings per round. There’ll be 20 per hitter in the first round, then 15 apiece in the following two.
The first round will not have any head-to-head matchups, with the top four advancing. Those four hitters will be seeded based on their output, with H2H matchups between 1st vs. 4th and 2nd vs. 3rd. The winners of those two matchups decide who takes home the trophy.
One wrinkle to this format is that if a player hits a homer on the final swing of their round, they can keep going until one does not leave the yard.
Here are the contestants for this year’s edition of the Home Run Derby in the order that they’ll bat:
