The Mets’ 2026 season is the gift that keeps on giving. In the team’s series-opening loss to the Dodgers last night at Citi Field, Juan Soto was pulled from the game with left calf tightness after just two plate appearances as a designated hitter. The team said that he’ll undergo an MRI today, and interim manager Andy Green acknowledged that it’s possible that Soto lands on the injured list.
Back in early April, Soto suffered a right calf injury and spent three weeks on the injured list. On the same day that he returned, Francisco Lindor suffered a calf injury of his own, one that turned out to be more severe, as he spent two months on the injured list. The fact that the Mets’ two best position players have so rarely played together this season—having come into the year as two of the most durable players in the sport—kind of sums up the season. If both had been healthy all season, you’d have reasonably expected them to combine for something like 11-12 WAR, and here we are in late July with them having combined for just 3.7 fWAR and 3.4 bWAR.
When he has been healthy, Soto has been the best hitter in the National League. In 359 plate appearances, he’s hit .283/.408/.539 with a 159 wRC+. Only two American League hitters—Yordan Alvarez and Ben Rice—have been better by wRC+ at the time of this writing.
If everything goes right, 10 years from now Aiden Ruiz hopes he will be “on a similar path as Francisco Lindor, a Hall of Fame shortstop.”
The Queens native took a step toward that goal Wednesday, signing a $3.5 million deal with the Pirates after they selected him in the second round of the MLB draft.
“My parents were crying, my siblings were crying. It’s just something we all dreamed of for me,” Ruiz told The Post about getting drafted.
Aiden Ruiz fields a ball during baseball practice at the Stony Brook School in Stony Brook, N.Y. on May 13, 2026. Heather Khalifa for NY Post
“Everybody was all in, and there’s no way I would have accomplished it without them.”
Ruiz and his family grew up in New York after his late grandfather, Sandalio, left Puerto Rico for a new life.
It was there Sandalio shared his love of the game with his family, inspiring them all to pick up the bat at some point.
Ruiz’s dad, Sam, played in the minor leagues and his brother for Division III Northern Ohio, while both his mom and sister played softball.
The 19-year-old said despite being a Mets fan, if his grandfather were there to see his name called, he would have thrown off his Amazin’ hat to don the Pittsburgh black and yellow.
Aiden Ruiz was drafted by the Pirates. Heather Khalifa for NY Post
New York is also where Ruiz played for Stony Brook School on Long Island, slashing .403/.547/.625 with six doubles, two triples, two home runs, 17 RBIs, 21 walks and 23 stolen bases on his way to a NYSAIS state championship his senior year.
His impressive play led to a commitment to Vanderbilt, which he will pass up on in favor of joining the Pirates system.
The shortstop said playing in New York “put a chip on [his] shoulder” and added grit to his game because “Northeast players are not found enough.”
Living in the baseball-crazed city gave him the chance to watch legendary players take the field for the Mets and Yankees every summer as well.
One of those superstars, Lindor, is now his mentor.
Francisco Lindor celebrates after he scores on his solo home run during the sixth inning of the Mets’ loss to the Red Sox at Citi Field on July 12, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The two are represented by the same agency and train together in the summer at Lindor’s former Florida high school, Montverde Academy.
Ruiz said they talk a lot about fielding, something that has helped the shortstop play “future Gold Glove-caliber defense,” according to MLB.com.
Now signed with the Pirates, the 19-year-old has added a few more mentors in the form of teammates.
Though they play the same position, Ruiz doesn’t see their relationship as a competition and is just focused on perfecting his own game.
“What separates Konnor Griffin from other kids that are his age is knowing that you belong there, seeing his confidence and the way he walks, the way he talks,” Ruiz said.
If given the chance, Ruiz added he would play anywhere for the Pirates, as long as he can help add to the “winning culture” and learn from the veterans on the team.
The Chicago Blackhawks should have a goalie battle to watch once we get to training camp. Prospect Drew Commesso will be looking to earn himself a spot on Chicago's roster over Arvid Soderblom, and the possibility of him doing so should not be ruled out.
Commesso showed a lot of promise during his few chances with Chicago last season. In three games with the Blackhawks last season, the 2020 second-round pick posted a 2-1-0 record, a 2.31 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage. He also made a big statement with his 36-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Jan. 10.
If Commesso can impress at training camp, he very well could earn a spot on the Blackhawks' roster to start the season. The 24-year-old has shown promise at the AHL level for multiple seasons now. His best season with the Rockford IceHogs was in 2024-25, when he had an 18-15-4 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 2.54 goals-against average.
Soderblom, on the other hand, appeared in 26 games last season with the Blackhawks, where he had an 8-13-3 record, an .880 save percentage, and one shutout. This was after he posted a 10-18-7 record, an .898 save percentage, and a 3.18 goals-against average with the Blackhawks during the 2025-26 season.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Blackhawks' backup goalie situation. Soderblom may have the edge right now, but a strong training camp from Commesso could change things on that front.
It wasn’t
so long ago that Martin St-Louis’ nomination as the Montreal Canadiens’ coach
raised more than a few eyebrows. On that cold day of February 2022, GM Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton announced that a man who had only coached minor hockey until then would be taking the helm of one of the NHL’s most prestigious franchises in a market that lives and breathes hockey.
Many
believed that the lack of experience meant that the Hall of Famer would be a
temporary solution, a patch to put on a lost season and evaluate what the Habs
actually had in their locker room, but over four years on, he’s still there.
The bench
boss has shown himself to be much more than a temporary fix. What we didn’t
know back then was that St-Louis had been training to be a coach even when he
was a player, taking to the whiteboard and explaining to his teammates what
they should be doing. In La Presse on Friday, Mathias Brunet’s interview with
Steve Begin revealed that he was even doing it when he was playing in the
Calgary Flames’ AHL system, long before he became one of the top
players in the game.
St-Louis
has now been behind the Canadiens’ bench for 365 regular-season games, and he
has a 162-155-47 record for a .511 points percentage, that’s very impressive when
considering the state the team was in when he first took over. He now also has
24 games of playoffs experience in his back pocket with a 10-14 record that includes
to seven-game series win over some of the best coaches in the league in Jon
Cooper and Lindy Ruff.
Beyond the
numbers, though, what’s more impressive about what St-Louis has accomplished is how much he’s helped players individually. He’s a brilliant communicator and teacher as well; that’s not always true for former players who were brilliant at playing the game but fall well short as a coach- think of Wayne Gretzky with the Arizona Coyotes, for instance.
In the
Canadiens’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, St-Louis showed
that he could adapt to another team’s style of play. After holding firm on
matchups in the hope that his top line would find a way to get the better of
the opposition, he realized that it wasn’t likely to happen, and he started
juggling lines like the best of them. Getting the better of Cooper is no easy
task, but he still did it.
Of course,
St-Louis isn’t perfect; nobody is. His shortcomings and lack of experience were
exposed against Rod Brind’Amour and the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round, where the Habs were beaten in just five games and outplayed at nearly every
turn. Still, just like his players, the coach will have learned from the
experience.
As things
stand, he is the fifth-longest-tenured coach in the league behind Cooper, Jared
Bednar, Brind’Amour, and Andre Tourigny. His contract with the Canadiens is set to expire at the end of the season, and while Hughes did say that’s something that was on his to-do list this off-season, there’s been no news on that front.
What did
happen though was that the Canadiens appointed Derek Lalonde as an associate
coach, because Trevor Letowski reportedly wants to take a step back and have
more time to spend with his family. He was St-Louis’ right hand man and there’s
no doubt that seeing him come out of the bench won’t have please him. Still, it
would be surprising if St-Louis started the season without a new deal in his
back pocket, he has proven over the years that he’s what the Habs needed.
When Kyle Davidson took over as the Chicago Blackhawks GM, he had a vision. That vision was to tear the team down to nothing and then build it back up through the draft. It was intentional to go through some painful years, which they certainly have.
Part of that teardown was the trade that sent Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers ahead of the deadline in 2023. He finished that year with New York, a first-round exit at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, and has played with the Detroit Red Wings ever since.
On Thursday, the Blackhawks announced that Kane would be coming back on a two-year deal ($8 million AAV) at the age of 37. This comes just a couple of years after Davidson said that Kane’s time in Chicago was done, and it was a necessary move for the growth of the team. He continued to shoot down any return rumors from that point on.
At first, it made sense to let both Kane and Jonathan Toews go so that new leaders within the franchise could emerge. However, in 2024, Davidson mentioned that he doesn’t ever see them going back on that.
So, what changed? Davidson was asked that question during Friday’s presser reintroducing Kane:
"When Patrick departed a couple years ago, we were in a totally different spot as a franchise,” said Davidson. “We were much more at the outset of this whole project. Now that we’ve got some of these draft picks that have entered and established themselves in the NHL, the time was right with what he provides."
With Connor Bedard already reaching star status, along with Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and others on the rise, the organization felt like now would be a good time to bring back a franchise icon to help them grow.
Kane's production on the ice may fluctuate over his final few years in the NHL, but his impact will be felt no matter what. His wisdom that comes from the experiences that he's had as an NHL player will be invaluable to the younger members of the team.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 16: Klay Thompson #31 and P.J Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks high five during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 16, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James has chosen the Philadelphia 76ers as the next team he will play for in his illustrious career. As James has been wont to do over the past two decades, he once again took his time in making a decision before joining up with the newly reloaded 76ers who benefited from the acquisition of Jaylen Brown earlier in the offseason.
It was widely believed that James all but halted the offseason for the entire league, as other transactions were put on hold pending the outcome of his latest decision. Some teams, including the Dallas Mavericks, operated around such roadblocks, but now that there are at least four more teams – more than 10% of the league – no longer in play for James’ services (the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves were all rumored as serious suitors), it’s widely expected further transactions will now take place.
As things took shape, the Mavericks were doing work. They quite literally scoured the earth for talent in an effort to get younger and more athletic around franchise cornerstone, Cooper Flagg. Much of those efforts took place in the margins, but with James’ stranglehold on the proceedings now released, Dallas may very well be poised to move some of their now-redundant pieces as they continue to rebuild. Following are arguably the three most likely candidates to find themselves in different uniforms by the start of next season.
Klay Thompson
Thompson may be the most obvious candidate to be moved off the Dallas roster. He came to Dallas as the missing piece in a championship team, only to watch those prospects dissolve mere months later at the hands of Nico Harrison. Since that time, Thompson’s presumably limited remaining playing career has been spent on an oft-injured 26-win team. He has remained a professional through it all, but one has to assume he’d like a chance to join a team on his own terms and pursue immediate playoff basketball.
Where Thompson would go is anyone’s guess, but a reunion with the Golden State Warriors (who are now free of James’ hold) would be charming, assuming Thompson reconciles his differences with them. The Miami Heat (also out of the James running) make a lot of sense, too. Both clubs offer Thompson a chance to win now, rather than spend the remaining years of his career in a rebuild. Whatever the case, it would be nice to see Thompson get a chance to play past April, and it would afford Dallas the chance to let their younger players get necessary reps. Moving Thompson is a win/win.
Daniel Gafford
I am a fan of Daniel Gafford and have long been an advocate for keeping him in Big D. While I remain a fan, one of the biggest reasons I wanted him to stick around was because the prospect of having zero capable centers on the roster was far from ideal. That scenario has now changed with the acquisition of Santi Aldama, the return of Moussa Cisse, the selection of Morez Johnson, Jr. in this summer’s NBA Draft and an overall influx of size. Not all of these players are centers in the truest sense, but the Mavericks have gotten taller and longer overall and should be more than capable of going big even in the absence of Gafford. If Derek Lively returns healthy, they will be better positioned still.
It feels as though the writing is on the wall for Gafford, as rumors have swirled around him since last season’s trade deadline. At this point, it is probably for the best for both sides to find a new destination where he fits the timeline better, and where the Mavs can restock some draft capital or obtain some guard depth. The latest rumors have him packaged with none other than…
P.J. Washington
Whether or not Washington is packaged with Gafford, it seems there is a real chance he could be shipped out. He (along with Gafford) is one of the higher paid players on the team but still has a tradable contract. Moving him, especially in light of the glut of forwards on the team, which has only increased in size this offseason, could potentially offer the Mavs financial flexibility or at least the opportunity to pick up some equally-paid talent or picks. It’s difficult to envision the Mavs stripping out all of their veteran leadership, but with Naji Marshall’s presence and his ability to ball-handle and create his own shot, there is a strong case to be made that he sticks around over Washington.
Rumors are now circulating that both Washington and Gafford could be moved in the same transaction, albeit to different locations. The rumored framework sends Washington to the Portland Trailblazers, Gafford to the Utah Jazz and Jrue Holiday to the Mavericks along with a lottery-protected first round pick and three second round picks. If such a transaction comes to fruition, it would be a solid move for Dallas. They would move out two slightly older players that don’t necessarily fit long term for an even older player, but one that fits a current need and comes along with much needed draft capital. Holiday could be a boon for the Mavericks, as they work Kyrie Irving back from injury. He would also replace the veteran leadership lost in Washington and Gafford, while serving as a mentor to young guards Sergio De Larrea and Marcus Sasser. He has two years remaining on his contract, which frankly, is massive ($35 million plus each year) and the primary drawback to such a deal.
For now, all we have are rumors and speculation, but with the brakes off for the remainder of the summer, it’s fair to expect one or more of Thompson, Gafford and Washington will be playing elsewhere come October. Stay tuned to Mavs Moneyball for all the latest transactions as and when they become reality.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 4: Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to the media during a press conference during 2026 NBA Finals Practice and Media Availability on June 4, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Julian Champagnie has been with the Spurs now for just over three seasons. This summer he signed a 3-year/$45M contract that should keep the 3-point assassin decked out in Silver & Black for the foreseeable future. Never one to shy away from the community aspect of the Spurs Organization, Champagnie made a surprise visit to USAA recently to spend some time with families who have lost a parent serving in the military.
Julian Champagne surprised military families at USAA, to bring hope and healing to children who have lost a parent serving in the military.
During his presser, he expressed his interest in playing with the Spurs for the rest of his career.
Sure, every player is semi-required to say that where they are is where they always want to be, but considering the mutual respect between Champagnie and the Spurs, this makes sense. He was pulled off waivers two days after being released by the Philadelphia 76ers while they cleared a roster spot for Mac McClung. The Sixers got a Dunk Contest winner and the Spurs added a key piece to their team. Champagnie has not only been one of the best shooters in for the franchise, his rebounding has become an essential element of the Spurs defense.
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 1-8 vs. Syracuse Mets
SS George Lombard Jr. 1-3, 1 BB, 1 K — no fretting about him not starting this time C J.C. Escarra 1-4, 3 K, catchers’ interference CF Spencer Jones 0-4, 2 K DH Marco Luciano 0-3, 1 BB, 3 K RF Yanquiel Fernández 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB 2B Oswaldo Cabrera 2-4 3B Tyler Hardman 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 1-4, 2 K LF Kenedy Corona 0-4, 3 K
Adam Kloffenstein 4 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR (loss) Chris Kean 1 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB Carson Coleman 0.2 IP, 3 R, 4 H Danny Watson 1.1 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K Yerry De Los Santos 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K
Double-A Somerset Patriots:W, 5-4 at New Hampshire Fisher Cats
2B Connor McGinnis 2-4, 1 BB, 1 K DH Jace Avina 2-5, 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 K 3B Coby Morales 3-5, 1 R, 1 SB CF DJ Gladney 3-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 K, 1 SB — go-ahead RBI single in the ninth LF Jackson Castillo 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 SB RF Cole Gabrielson 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB 1B Josh Moylan 1-4, 1 RBI C Manuel Palencia 1-4, 1 K, throwing error SS Owen Cobb 0-4, 1 K, throwing error
Jack Cebert 5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K — 1.74 ERA in July after being north of five in May and June Geoffrey Gilbert 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR Kevin Stevens 1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 K Michael Arias 0.2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 K (win) Tony Rossi 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K (save)
Jack Cebert (@Yankees No. 15 Prospect) posted his second straight scoreless outing! 👀
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:L, 1-9 at Wilmington Blue Rocks
3B Roderick Arias 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, missed catch SS Core Jackson 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K C Eric Genther 0-4 1B Kyle West 0-4, 3 K RF Enmanuel Tejeda 0-4 DH Robbie Burnett 0-3, 2 K CF Camden Troyer 1-2, 1 BB — broke up the no-hit bid in the eighth with his single LF Luis Durango 0-3, 1 R 2B Santiago Gomez 0-3, 1 K
Bryce Cunningham 3.2 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 3 BB, 2 K (loss) Bryce Warrecker 0.1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 HR Wilmy Sanchez 1 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K Sean Paul Liñan 3 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K
The Detroit Tigers took the second of the four-game home series against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night with a narrow 2-1 victory. Tarik Skubal was his dominant self over 7 1/3 innings of work and the offense managed to muster up just enough for the win for the second night in a row.
With a series win in the crosshairs, right-hander Casey Mize will take the mound on Saturday afternoon for the Ole English D. The 29-year-old has had mixed results this month, which has averaged out to a solid 3.45 ERA and a 3.11 FIP stretching across 15 2/3 innings, allowing 17 hits (one home run) and five walks while striking out 14 over that span.
On the other side of the equation is fellow righty Michael Wacha, who has been solid so far in his 14th season of big league ball. The 35-year-old has had a rough month of July, however, posting a 5.91 ERA and 5.36 FIP over his last three starts stretching across 10 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits (two home runs) and five walks while striking out 10, plus a hit-by-pitch.
Wacha faced the Tigers earlier this year, tossing seven frames of scoreless ball on a pair of hits and walks while striking out six, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch en route to a 5-1 victory at Comerica Park.
Here is a look at how the two match up on Saturday afternoon in the D.
Detroit Tigers (50-54) vs. Kansas City Royals (43-62)
Time (ET): 1:10 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 105: RHP Casey Mize (4-6, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (5-7, 3.66 ERA)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 6: Ronny Mauricio #0 of the New York Mets bats during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jonah Tong struck out nine, that’s nice. He also walked four and only made it through 4.2 innings. Really just a lost season for the right hander as he continues to search for a new pitch mix. Anyway, Ronny Mauricio had 4 RBI in a comfortable win.
Game 1 went to the Cyclones after they scored three in the eighth inning on singles from Yonatan Henriquez and Mitch Voit as well as a bases loaded walk to Daiverson Gutierrez. Voit had three this on the day, but also made an error and was caught stealing.
Ugly pitching performance in the middle innings from Tyler McLoughlin and Ernesto Mercedes. The offense wasn’t great either, and Antonio Jimenez seems to be struggling again.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 24: John Kruk takes the field to throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 7 of the NLCS between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LeBron James is a Sixer, which is cool.
But don’t let that distract you from what’s going on with the Phillies, which is, uh, something.
On to the links.
Phillies news:
The team signed their first round pick yesterday for over slot money.
The Sabres were dealt bad news earlier this week, as Patrick Kane signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. It was no secret that the Sabres were in on Kane, and it made sense when noting that they need a replacement for Alex Tuch in their top six.
Yet, after missing out on Kane, the Sabres will now need to consider their options elsewhere. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust stands out as an interesting potential option for the Sabres to consider.
Rust's name has entered the rumor mill this off-season as the Penguins continue their retool. When noting that he is an impactful top-six winger who produces strong offense and plays solid defensively, he would be a big pickup for the Sabres if acquired.
If the Sabres acquired Rust, he could slot perfectly on their second line. He would also give them another clear option for their power play and penalty kill if brought in.
In 72 games last season with the Penguins, Rust posted 29 goals, 36 assists, and 65 points. With numbers like these, the 34-year-old winger certainly would have the potential to make up for the offense lost with Tuch's departure if brought in.
Let's see if the Sabres end up making a push for Rust from here.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 07: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers hugs Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers after a game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 07, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Los Angeles Lakers won 112-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, BBN!
It finally happened: LeBron James has decided where he wants to play next, and he’s pairing up with former Wildcats Tyrese Maxey and Justin Edwards with the Philadelphia 76ers.
If you’re a LeBron fan, like me, you have to be on cloud 9.
If you’re not, but you’re a Kentucky fan, you should still be very excited. The last time LeBron teamed up with a former Cat, it resulted in a championship. LeBron and AD were unstoppable when they first teamed up with the Los Angeles Lakers; I wish we could’ve seen them healthier together.
Nonetheless, it looks like this will be LeBron’s last stop before retirement, and what better way to finish it than with Maxey, Edwards, V.J. Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid.
If this doesn’t make them the favorite in the East past the defending champion Knicks, it certainly makes them 2nd.
It should be an absolutely wild 2026-27 NBA season, and I, for one, can’t wait. Bring all the madness, and please, everyone, stay healthy!
Are you excited about LeBron heading to Philly?
Tweet of the Day
Wonderful day and wedding for the big guy! Congratulations to Aaliyah and @Oscartshiebwe34 , what a fantastic journey…just getting started!!! pic.twitter.com/gR8P81nbuO
Earlier this week, former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrew Agozzino announced his retirement from professional. Now, just a few days later, he has already landed his first job since hanging up the skates.
The Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL have announced that they have hired Agozzino as a new assistant coach.
Seeing Agozzino become an assistant coach for the Roadrunners is a cool story, as he played each of the last two seasons with the AHL club. Clearly, they appreciated what the former Penguins forward did for them as a player, and he will now be one of their coaches because of it.
Agozzino will now give the Roadrunners a new coach who had a long career in the AHL. In 847 career AHL games over 15 seasons, the former Penguins forward posted 284 goals, 378 assists, and 662 points. This included him posting 14 goals and 33 points in 37 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2019-20.
Agozzino also played in 53 career games at the NHL level over eight seasons, posting three goals, 12 points, and a plus-4 rating. In 17 games with Pittsburgh, he recorded two assists.
SACRAMENTO, CA - FEBRUARY 4: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #3 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 4, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It hasn’t even been a day since LeBron James has reportedly signed with the Sixers and yet the front office remains active. Chris Haynes of NBATV and Amazon Prime has reported that the Sixers will reportedly be signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope pending a buyout of his contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Memphis Grizzlies are negotiating a buyout and the veteran 3-&-D specialist intends to team back up with LeBron James and sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell me. pic.twitter.com/938uLLvV2g
Caldwell-Pope, also a Klutch client, was teammates with LeBron in Los Angeles from 2018 through 2021. As a 3-and-D wing, not only did he win a championship with the Lakers, he also played a key role in the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 championship run.
His career post-Denver hasn’t exactly gone as envisioned. In the 2024 offseason, Caldwell-Pope signed a three-year, $66 million deal with the Orlando Magic. He struggled his lone season there, shooting 34 percent from three before being used as salary filler to acquire Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Caldwell-Pope played 51 games for a tanking Grizzlies team, averaging 8.4 points per game, shooting 41 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range. After putting up numbers below his career average for two straight seasons, it would appear he will be bought out from that contract, allowing the Sixers to buy low on a battle-tested veteran.
It makes sense for the Sixers to bolster their backup wings, the rest of their depth chart contains Dean Wade, Justin Edwards, and Dominick Barlow. The maneuvering the Sixers do to open up a spot to sign Caldwell-Pope will be interesting.
After the signing of James, the Sixers already have to waive one of Jabari Walker or Dalen Terry’s non-guaranteed contracts to stay below the first apron. Adding Caldwell-Pope would mean the Sixers would have to get rid of both of those salaries. If they are somehow able to shed the salary of Johni Broome, they could keep one of Walker or Terry, but neither of their contracts being guaranteed yet makes them easy to put on the chopping block.
It’s worth bickering over how the Sixers use their final roster spots, but regardless, veterans wanting to come to this team on the minimum is a good thing, and hopefully Caldwell-Pope is only the first to do so.
