NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Keon Ellis #14 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets first free agent signing of the 2026 off-season is Keon Ellis, a 26-year-old 6’4″ 3-and-D shooting guard. Ellis, who played last season for the Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers, will be paid $18 million over the next two seasons under the proposed deal.
Shams Charania was first with the news…
Free agent guard Keon Ellis has agreed to a two-year, $18 million guaranteed deal with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/YdLqrFZHhq
Shams also noted that the contract has an odd “mutual option” …
The deal, negotiated by Mark Bartelstein and Torrian Jones of @PrioritySports, contains a full mutual option that fully guarantees the $18M for Ellis while allowing both sides to have a conversation about a new deal next summer, but either party can opt-in (not opt-out). https://t.co/Nsn42dwy0v
Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic explained the option this way…
Keon Ellis has agreed to a 2-year, $18 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets, league sources confirmed to @FredKatz and me. The contract has a team AND player option for Year 2, so either side can choose to opt in. @ShamsCharania first on it.
Ellis, a product of Alabama, is going into his fifth season. After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Ellis signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings in July 2022 and established his reputation as tough defender and solid shooter. At the trade deadline, Ellis was traded to the Cavaliers where he finished out his three year, $5.1 million vets’ minimum deal.
For the season, in 72 games, 11 starts, Ellis averaged 6.7 points, 1.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.5 minutes, with 44/36/73 shooting splits. For his career, Ellis has shot 40.7% from deep. But his big attraction to the Nets is on the other side of the court, being a solid point-of-attack defender in Jordi Fernandez’s schemes. His numbers tell the story…
Indeed, Fernandez was the associate head coach of the Kings when Ellis played in Sacramento between 2022 and 2024.
There will presumably be a logjam at guard, with Terance Mann, second year players Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell and Ben Saraf as well as this year’s lottery pick, Mikel Brown Jr. Other than Mann and to a lesser degree Powell, however, none are known for the defense.
Yossi Gozlan quickly turned out one of his patented updates on how the signing will effect the Nets salary cap.
Brooklyn Nets salary cap situation with Keon Ellis.
Cap space is fluid in terms of how to procedurally sign him, Day'Ron Sharpe, and Josh Minott.
Ellis later reported that the 3-and-D guards’ value has been difficult to guage, noting that Ellis will make considerably more than Jordan Goodwin, 27, who is at $6.3 million, and Jose Alvarado, 28, with a brand new $4.9 million deal, but none of them is as good a 3-point shooter as Ellis.
Bottom line: Sean Marks & co. still have more than $30 million available.
Jun 30, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Mets 3 Blue Jays 0
Not only did we lose…..we were boring losing.
It is hard to stay interested in a game where we only six hits (five singles and a double), spread out across the nine innings. Nolan McLean was very good in the starting role for the Mets, but we should have been able to get something off
Luis Urías had two hits, and really seemed to be the one batter that was doing well. Varsho had our only extra base hit, a double (he also almost beat out an infield hit in the ninth). Springer, Kirk and Pinango had the other singles.
Beyond that…..Bo Bichette had an amazing day defensively at third base. We had him miscast as a shortstop (at least by his play today. He is a +2 OAA at third this year, and a -2 at short. I never thought he had the range for short, but he definitely had the arm for third. At least today. With the bat, he was 1 for 4.
Other than that, Kevin Gausman, after two poor starts, was excellent. 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. The run against was a Francisco Alvarez fifth inning home run.
The Mets got another home run off Mason Fluharty by Luis Torrens.
And one more in the ninth. Tommy Nance gave up a single to A.J. Ewing (JR and Bobby’s brother who didn’t make it into the show). An error by Sean Keys on a pick off, moved him to second. A ground out moved him to third. And a sac fly scored him.
Jay of the Day: Gausman (0.18 WPA, he really was terrific).
Other Awards: Lukes (-0.12, for an 0 for 4, k), Keys (-0.11, plus the error, 0 for 4, 2 k), Gimenez (-0.10, 0 for 3, k and a rather poor bunt single attempt) and Fluharty (-0.09).
Tomorrow we have a day game. 3:00 Eastern. It is bullpen day for the Jays, Braydon Fisher will be the opener. Freddy Peralta (5-6, 4.53) starts for the Mets.
Given their sudden offensive ineptitude and that Tarik Skubal was the opposing starter, the Yankees defense and pitching needed to flirt with perfection to give them a chance. The flirtation was over within minutes.
A rough first inning put the Yankees in a four-run hole, which felt more like a four-run canyon, in what would become a 9-3 smacking by the Tigers in front of 37,211 frustrated, booing fans in The Bronx on Tuesday.
“We’re not scoring. That’s the name of the game,” said manager Aaron Boone, whose Yankees (48-37) have dropped a season-high six straight games, are doing nothing right, hitting particularly wrong and hearing from the crowd after each mistake.
Aaron Boone takes Cam Schlittler out of the game during the fifth inning of the Yankees’ 9-3 loss to the Tigers on June 30, 2026 at the Stadium. Robert Sabo for New York Post
Never in the Yankees’ century-plus of baseball had they been held to three or fewer hits in four straight games before their four games from Friday through Monday.
They managed to snap that streak Tuesday — only because of a couple of garbage-time knocks in the ninth doubled their output to four hits.
They finished with one hit in six innings against Skubal, who upstaged Schlittler (four innings, six runs on four homers) in a matchup that was far more appealing on paper than on the field.
Amed Rosario (left) and Ben Rice (right) look on with a dejected Yankees teammate during their ugly loss to the Tigers. Bill Kostroun / New York Post
“It’s difficult, but all we can do is show up tomorrow and get to work,” said Anthony Volpe, 2-for-21 (.095) in his past seven games. “Everyone’s pissed.”
Ben Rice cranked a home run in the bottom of the first, but the next 13 Yankees were retired by Skubal, who sure looked like the prize of the trade deadline.
But then again, Detroit’s Casey Mize (seven scoreless, one-hit innings) looked like a Cy Young candidate Monday. Just like Boston’s Sonny Gray (7 ¹/₃ scoreless, one-hit innings) looked like a superstar Sunday. Just like Boston’s Jake Bennett (6 ¹/₃ one-run, three-hit innings) looked like a revelation Saturday. Just like Boston’s Payton Tolle (seven scoreless, one-hit innings) looked like the AL Rookie of the Year on Friday.
Cam Schlittler looks on after hitting the deck on Colt Keith’s line drive single to center field during the first inning. Bill Kostroun / New York Post
A team that does not have Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon has fallen into a funk whose depth, at least when measured in hits, had never been seen before in franchise history.
“Right now it’s kind of like the whole team is kind of going through something all at once,” said Rice, whose homer halted a five-game hitless skid.
Paul Goldschmidt is 0-for-16 in his past five games. Cody Bellinger took a seat against Skubal amid a 2-for-27 (.074) stretch. José Caballero, who also botched a potential double-play ball that immediately preceded a three-run homer in the sixth, is 1-for-17 (.059) in his past five games.
A dejected Aaron Judge looks on during the Yankees’ loss to the Tigers. Robert Sabo for New York Post
No one has stepped up at any part of the lineup for a team that has scored just 15 runs in six games and has not scored more than four in a contest since June 19.
“We got some guys missing that are key, but the people we got are very capable,” said Boone, whose Yankees are ending June swooning. “And we need to start getting some of our offensive mojo back.”
The final 8 ½ innings felt inconsequential after the top of the first, this version of the Yankees seemingly incapable of mounting threats.
The third batter of the game, Kerry Carpenter, launched a two-out drive to deep center. Jones had a bead on it, reached the wall, jumped and used his 6-foot-7 stature to bring his glove high above the wall’s height.
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The ball landed in the glove, and Yankee Stadium cheered — before realizing that as Jones hit the wall, the ball had bounced out of his glove and into the home bullpen for a home run. Jones appeared in disbelief that he did not make the catch.
What happened next was probably more unbelievable: 27 additional pitches from Schlittler in the frame, including homers to Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson.
“[We are] just not playing good ball right now,” said Schlittler, whose ERA rose from 1.62 to 2.08. “It’s my job to come in here and try to stop that bleeding, and I couldn’t get that done.”
The Nets and free agent guard Keon Ellis have agreed to a two-year, $18 million guaranteed deal, reports ESPN's Shams Charania.
The signing came shortly after the NBA free agency negotiating window opened and gives Brooklyn some depth at the guard position.
Ellis, 26, has played four seasons in the league and was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Cleveland Cavaliers during last season's trade deadline. With the Cavs, Ellis averaged 8.3 points in 29 games.
For his career, the University of Alabama product who went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft has averaged 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game while playing in 225 games (60 starts).
Jun 30, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Nathan Church (27) celebrates after a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Matthew Liberatore teetered on the edge a few times, but at the end of the day gave the St. Louis Cardinals the outing they and he needed. The Cardinals offense finally came uncorked in the 4th inning to provide the runs to give St. Louis a win in Atlanta Wednesday night, but the late innings had a bit of drama.
Matthew Liberatore started the game with a solid 1st inning, but there were moments after that when he looked like he might have a repeat of recent struggles. Liberatore walked the first two batters in the bottom of the 2nd inning, but then struck out the next 3. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, he gave up a leadoff single to Jorge Mateo who stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. But, instead of the wheels coming off, he struck out the dangerous Drake Baldwin. Yes, Ozzie Albies managed a sacrifice fly to Nootbaar in left to give the Braves a 1-0 lead, but Matthew struck out Matt Olson to end the Atlanta 3rd inning and minimize the damage. He would not allow any more Atlanta Braves runners in scoring position his remaining time in the game which lasted into the start of the bottom of the 6th inning. Liberatore’s stat line for the night ended up being a very impressive 5 innings only allowing 1 hit and 1 earned run while striking out 9 while walking 4.
It was the top of the 4th inning when the St. Louis Cardinals offense would come alive. It began with Nelson Velázquez who absolutely launched an 85 mph Martin Perez mistake 444 feet into the void over the center field wall tying the game at 1-1. Make sure your sound is turned up and you’ll hear the ball sound like it was shot from a cannon. BOOM!
The Cardinals were just getting started in their half of the 4th inning. Two batters later, Masyn Winn and Lars Nootbaar would single. After Blaze Jordan softly lined out to short, Nathan Church didn’t miss an 81 mph changeup and ripped it over the right field wall giving the Cardinals a 4-1 lead.
George Soriano came into the game to replace Matthew Liberatore after manager Oli Marmol took major issues with a missed check swing call from the 3rd base umpire. Soriano would pitch around the leadoff walk by Liberatore to keep the Braves off the board.
St. Louis would get a badly-needed insurance run in the top of the 6th inning when Masyn Winn walked and then stole second. He advanced to third on a wild pitch by Braves reliever James Karinchak. Blaze Jordan would then come through with a one-out sacrifice fly upping the Cardinals lead to 5-1.
George Soriano would remain in the game two outs into the bottom of the 7th inning when he gave up a walk to Mateo. JoJo Romero was brought in to finish the inning, but he allowed a single to Baldwin and then Ozzie Albies which would score Mateo reducing the Cardinals lead to 5-2.
The Cardinals would miss a chance to get that run back in the top of the 8th inning when Jose Fermin drew a one-out walk. After Masyn Winn lined out to right, Lars Nootbaar went with a pitch and hit a sharp single to left field giving St. Louis a first and third opportunity, but Blaze Jordan flew out to deep center to end the Cardinals 8th.
JoJo Romero would also be the Cardinals answer to start the bottom of the 8th inning, but he wouldn’t finish it after giving up two singles to the Braves before being taken out of the game as Austin Riley came up to the plate as the potential tying run. Ryan Fernandez, who was just activated from the IL as Ryne Stanek was placed on the paternity list, came in to face the slumping, but dangerous Riley. He would be charged with a wild pitch on his second pitch advancing both runners into scoring position at second and third. He would fortunately sneak a 95 mph four-seam fastball past Austin for the second out of the inning. The Braves then sent up pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez to try and swing for the fences and tie the game. That didn’t happen, but Fernandez did throw another wild pitch giving the Braves a run and cutting the Cardinals lead to 5-3. Tellez would eventually walk bringing up the potential go-ahead run. Atlanta sent another pinch-hitter up in the form of Dominic Smith. Fernandez walked him, too, loading the bases. Drake Baldwin had the chance to do big damage with Fernandez being wilder than a March hare. The Cardinals fan base held its collective breath when the count reached 3-2, but after fouling off what would have been ball four, Baldwin grounded weakly out to JJ Wetherholt to end the inning. Whew.
The Cardinals could do nothing against Braves reliever Raisel Inglesias in the top of the 9th inning which meant Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien would handle the bottom of the 9th inning with a 2-run lead. He was able to get Ozzie Albies out on a groundout to JJ Wetherholt, but Matt Olson crushed a sinker up in the zone to the center field wall for a double. That brought up Michael Harris II up to the plate as the potential tying run. He fortunately grounded out harmlessly to Masyn Winn at short as Olson advanced to third base. Mauricio Dubon was the Braves final hope, but he grounded out to short also to end the game.
The St. Louis Cardinals will take another swing at the Atlanta Braves Wednesday night as Michael McGreevy will get the start for the good guys. The Braves will send Reynaldo López to the mound for a 6:15pm central time start at Truist Park. TV broadcast available through Cardinals.tv.
Jun 30, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Mets are now 2-3 in the Andy Green era, after taking the second game of their three-game series with the Blue Jays, 3-0.
Both teams had their shots early in this game, but neither team could capitalize. Over his first four innings, Nolan McLean allowed four hits and a walk, but all of those happened with two outs, and none came around to score, or even make it to third base.
On the Mets’ side, their best opportunity against Kevin Gausman early came in the fourth when Juan Soto walked, Bo Bichette singled the other way, Francisco Lindor moved them along with a ground ball to the left side, putting two on with one out. But they couldn’t capitalize, and so the game remained scoreless going into the fifth.
The Mets finally broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth when Francisco Alvarez hit a towering shot to deep center field to put the Mets up 1-0. The Mets would put two more on base, but a Bichette fly ball ended the threat with just the one run scoring.
McLean, rocking just a mustache after trimming the beard off of his Van Dyke, had his best start of the season thus far. He tossed six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out seven. After a rough ending to is last start, this was a great bounce back performance for the Mets’ ace in waiting.
Luis Torrens lined an outside pitch to the opposite field, landing just over the right field wall to put the Mets up 2-0. From that point, the bullpen cruised, with Brooks Raley and Luke Weaver each throwing scoreless innings. For Weaver, it was his 24th consecutive scoreless inning; he has now not allowed a run to score in two months.
The Mets added a run in the top of the ninth when A.J. Ewing singled, advanced to second on a bad pick-off attempt, a runner-advancing ground out, and a sacrifice fly.
Devin Williams came in for the ninth and, after winning a challenge on a close play at first base, closed the game out while allowing one baserunner.
It was overall a crisp game for the Mets, which saw good at-bats from Brett Baty, some solid defensive play from Bichette at third, and good pitching across the entire game.
The rubber game of the series is tomorrow at Rogers Centre, with Freddy Peralta going for the Mets and the ol’ workhorse “TBD” starting for the Jays.
Big Mets winner: Nolan McLean, +37.0% WPA Big Mets loser: Jared Young and A.J. Ewing, -9.0% WPA Mets pitchers: +58.0% WPA Mets hitters: – 8.0% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Francisco Alvarez’s home run, +14.2% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Ernie Clament’s sixth inning walk, -4.4% WPA
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) works to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) defends in the first half of Game 2 in a second-round...
Luke Kennard won’t return to the Lakers for the 2026-27 season.
The free agent guard is leaving the Lakers for the Suns in free agency after just half a season with the Lakers.
Kennard, who was an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal that was first reported by ESPN.
One of the league’s best shooters since entering the league out of Duke in 2017, Kennard led the league in 3-point shooting percentage (47.8%) for the third time in his career.
Luke Kennard won’t return to the Lakers for the 2026-27 season. APLuke Kennard reacts to a foul call. Getty Images
Kennard averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3 assists in six-game opening round series victory over the Rockets, and 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the Lakers’ playoff run that ended with a second-round sweep to the Thunder.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Anthony Davis and Melody Ehsani attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena on March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are NOT interested in trading center Anthony Davis, according Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports.
The Washington Wizards are not interested in trading 10-time NBA All-Star forward Anthony Davis and are not listening to trade offers for him, a source told @espn@andscape. Another NBA team exec says Wizards GM Will Dawkins is a huge fan of AD.
Keep in mind that things can change real quick during this time of the year in the NBA. But if some of the top NBA insiders say that the Wizards aren’t trading a top star, it’s more likely that that is the case.
Keon Ellis of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket as Mouhamed Gueye of the Atlanta Hawks defends during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
With green guards and precious little defense, the Nets needed to add a veteran in the backcourt and pressure at the point of attack.
They’re hoping Keon Ellis can bring both — and on a team-friendly deal.
The Nets and Ellis agreed to a two-year, $18 million contract Tuesday on the first night of free agency. It was first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.
The deal includes a full mutual option. It fully guarantees Ellis his $18 million, while still letting both sides negotiate a new deal next summer. Either can opt in.
The Nets would still have nearly $35 million in salary cap space left, per Third Apron cap guru Yossi Gozlan, if they take Ellis and Josh Minott into cap space and Day’Ron Sharpe into the room mid-level exception.
Keon Ellis of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket as Mouhamed Gueye of the Atlanta Hawks defends during the third quarter at State Farm Arena on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
The Nets spent first-round picks on guards Egor Demin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf last season, and Mikel Brown Jr. last week. None are expected to be defensive stalwarts, while wing Drake Powell has yet to grow into that role.
Point-of-attack defenders who can actually shoot — prototypical 3-and-D types — are pricey in the NBA, but Ellis may provide some of that archetype.
The 26-year-old Ellis played for Cleveland after being traded midseason from Sacramento. Nets head coach Jordi Fernández was a Kings assistant for two years while Ellis was there, and now they’ll have a reunion in Brooklyn.
Ellis went undrafted and has never earned more than the veteran’s minimum. But he’s a career 40.7 percent shooter from 3-point range and hit 35.5 percent last season for the Cavaliers en route to averaging 8.3 points.
But after averaging 24 minutes in the regular season and notching a plus-4.5 net rating, he struggled in the postseason. He averaged just seven minutes and recorded a minus-15.9 Net Rating in 12 appearances.
Still, playoff struggles are a luxury for the rebuilding Nets, a long way from those sorts of worries. Considering how defensively challenged they are — and how young their backcourt is — it’s easy to see Ellis earning a significant rotation role.
Ellis was fifth in the NBA in steals per 100 possessions in 2024-25 and 15th this past season, when he ranked in the 93rd percentile in steals.
Keon Ellis of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks during the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on March 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
The Nets still have plenty of cap space and even more needs.
They’re unlikely to trade for Boston’s Jaylen Brown, league sources said.
Despite the Nets being linked with the Celtics All-Star, The Post reported Monday that they weren’t likely to deal for him, a league source saying, “I wouldn’t put much stock in it.” The Stein Line confirmed the same Tuesday. But trading away Nic Claxton has left a hole at center and made Day’Ron Sharpe the nominal starter.
Although the Nets have been linked with Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler, both are restricted free agents and seem rich for the Nets’ blood.
So where could Brooklyn look? Across the East River, with The Post reporting the Knicks are unlikely to keep Mitchell Robinson and the Nets have interest.
Robinson leads the NBA in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes and per 100 possessions; Sharpe is fifth in both. The Nets re-signed Sharpe to a two-year, $20 million deal, a team-friendly contract that looks even cheaper weighed against Jock Landale’s one-year, $14 million pact. But prying Robinson away from the Knicks would give the Nets the best rebounding 1-2 punch they’ve ever had.
Robinson is widely expected to command an annual salary starting at $15 million and possibly as high as $20 million.
Two other options are more offensively oriented, in Orlando’s Moritz Wagner and Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili. But the Lakers are not only meeting with Duren but reportedly comfortable offering Mamukelashvili $10 million annually, per SNY. The latter won’t protect the rim, but he’ll pass the ball and space the floor, shooting 38.9 percent from deep this past season.
Another target is Wagner, 29, who would stretch the floor and bring toughness. He averaged just 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.9 minutes last season, seeing his playing time slashed in Orlando. He could see it rise in Brooklyn.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 03: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 03, 2026 in New York City. The Philadelphia 76ers won 130-119. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While there has been little movement across the entirety of free agency on Tuesday, let alone the Lakers, it looks like the team has been moving in the background.
Two players who have been linked to the Lakers, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes, look likely to have deals with LA, according to multiple reports. Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein posted on Twitter that the belief around the league is that the pair will agree to contracts with the Lakers.
The growing anticipation leaguewide is that the Lakers ultimately secure commitments on new contracts from Toronto free agent Sandro Mamukelashvili and Philadelphia free agent Quentin Grimes while still pursuing their top summer target: Utah restricted free agent Walker Kessler. https://t.co/pYMRcSyvrn
Just before that, his co-worker, Jake Fischer, reported that the league is under the impression that both deals are done and the pair will become Lakers.
The likeliest route for them to secure the deals is that one of them is signed with the Room Exception at roughly $9 million this season and the other is signed with cap space at around $10 million. That would leave the team with enough cap space to go after Walker Kessler as well.
With Luka Kennard departing to the Suns, the Lakers need a guard off the bench and Grimes fills that need. As for Mamu, it’s unclear if he’d be a replacement for Rui Hachimura or simply another piece on the roster. If it’s the latter, it’s a good signing. If it’s the former, then it’s a tougher sell.
For now, it’s not the time to jump to conclusions until all the work is done. In a vacuum, both deals are fair value. But seeing them in the greater context of the offseason will be key.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 25: Alexandre Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks during a 2025-26 Emirates NBA Cup game on November 25, 2025 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are in East Group C for next season’s NBA Cup, the NBA announced Tuesday.
The groups are set for the Emirates NBA Cup 2026!
All 30 NBA teams were randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2025-26 regular season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 30: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees reacts after surrendering a first inning base hit against Colt Keith #33 of the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on June 30, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees lost their sixth straight, 9-3 to the Tigers. I have to get that in the first graf (writer-speak for “paragraph”) or my ‘tors (blogtalk for “editors”) get grumpy with me. With that out of the way, let’s travel to the land of metaphor!
Do you all know what the Franklin Expedition was? In the mid-19th century, England was obsessed with finding the Northwest Passage, a sailing route through treacherous ice fields in the Arctic Ocean. Such a pathway would significantly reduce the time it took to ship goods from colonial outposts in India and China, and provide the Royal Navy with a major force multiplier as the Empire enforced its rule, in the face of Russian and German opposition.
The two most technologically advanced ships that the world’s great superpower could build, the Terror and the Erebus, were designed specifically to make their way through the globe’s most dangerous waters. They were captained by the seniormost officers in the fleet and crewed by some of the best engineers, navigators, and scientists who could be found in the Empire upon which the sun didn’t set.
It was a bold display of human advancement, the Apollo program of the era. The ships got trapped in the ice for a full year and everyone involved in the Expedition, some 129 men, died. Many turned to cannibalism as they entered their final, fevered days. Man proposed, and God disposed.
Cam Schlittler is a miracle of technology. He was drafted in the seventh round and was barely touching 90 in Double-A two years ago. He pretty routinely gets up to 100 mph, throws three fastballs with command over all of them. If the voting were held today, he would in all likelihood win the AL Cy Young. He’s not the Apollo program or the first real mapping of a mostly-uninhabitable zone that preceded the colonization of a nation, but he is perhaps the ur-example in the American League of what can happen in the pitching labs and bullpens and tablets of MLB facilities. Young, controllable aces are the opium and spice of the current baseball world, and the Yankees seem to have one.
(Cash)man proposed, (baseball) God disposed.
Cam didn’t get frozen in the ice, rather, he got nuked:
Four home runs, three within four batters in the first inning. An ERA a half-run higher than it was at the start of the game, and now sits above 2.00 on the year. Cam didn’t lose the Cy Young today–we have half a season yet to go–but the worst outing of his young career came on a beautiful Tuesday night in the Bronx.
There’s not a lot else to say about this one. There were no late-inning heroics like Sunday night against Boston. Ben Rice did end an 0-for-18 skid with his first home run in nine days:
Outside of that, it was what you would probably expect from Tarik Skubal pitching against what is at best the Yankee C lineup. That was the only hit the two-time Cy Young winner would allow, striking out nine in six-plus innings of work. The other Yankees runs came on a double play, and a bloop to right field from Jasson Domínguez, which suits a team that has hit 0.093 over the last five games. At least it was a fun bloop:
I hope Cam doesn’t feel too badly, because Ryan Yarbrough somehow gave up a three-run shot in the sixth that really put the game out of reach and the ball left James Outman’s bat at just 92.1 mph. THAT should make you mad.
I’m probably just grumpy because of the game and the fact I haven’t eaten yet but I hate that Dillon Dingler’s chest protector says “DING”. Same caveat but I think my increasing dislike of Spencer Jones is a little more valid, at least he only struck out twice tonight.
I’m not one for yelling at players or turning garbage cans over when things are like this. The Yankees are playing terrible baseball and they know they are. Cam Schlittler didn’t intend to give up four home runs to a fourth-place team tonight. If there’s one saving grace to all this, it’s that the stakes of a baseball season are much lower than that of an attempt to cross the Northwest Passage in a bomb vessel. To be perhaps even more optimistic, the Yankees aren’t stuck in ice; instead, they seem far more adrift, and that feels more fixable to me. After all, they got four hits today the for first time in 1,937 games, so I think they’re figuring this out.
They get a chance to salvage something out of this crappy series tomorrow and perhaps avoid a seventh consecutive loss with Will Warren going in the finale against Troy Melton. 1:35pm Eastern is your start time; wish me a Happy Canada Day because I am also tasked with writing that one up.
Knoxville Smokies’ Andy Garriola (22) makes a catch in the outfield for an out against the Chattanooga Lookouts in a Minor League Baseball game on June 17, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Right-hander Liam Hendriks joins the Triple-A Iowa Cubs from Mesa.
Left-hander Aaron Bummer also joins Triple-A Iowa from Mesa.
Third baseman Drew Bowser goes from High-A South Bend to Double-A Knoxville. In case you’ve forgotten, Bowser was a high school teammate of Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Catcher Logan Poteet was promoted to South Bend from Low-A Myrtle Beach.
Catcher/first baseman Michael Carico also joins South Bend from Myrtle Beach.
Shortstop Jose Silva goes from the ACL Cubs to Low-A Myrtle Beach.
Shortstop Ezequiel Pena goes from Myrtle Beach to the ACL Cubs.
Catcher Ivan Cespedes goes from the ACL Cubs to Myrtle Beach.
Catcher Henniel Alcala goes from Myrtle Beach to the ACL Cubs.
Right-hander Aiden Moffat goes from Myrtle Beach to the ACL Cubs.
Right-hander Vince Velazquez has elected free agency. He did that earlier this season and ended up re-signing with the Cubs. We’ll see what happens this time.
There’s a nice surprise in the ACL Cubs box score.
A quality start for Will Sanders, who got the win after allowing just one run on two hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked no one.
Jayden Murray pitched the seventh and eighth inning and retired all six hitters. He struck out one of them.
Luis Peralta came on in the ninth for the save and made it scary by giving up singles to two of the first three batters. But with two on and one out, he retired the next to batters to end the game and claim the save. Peralta struck out two.
Catcher Moisés Ballesteros tied the game 1-1 in the third inning with an RBI single. Ballesteros went 1 for 2 with two walks.
Third baseman Owen Miller got a “Little League” home run as he rounded the bases with a triple and an error in the fourth inning. Miller was 1 for 4.
Second baseman James Triantos doubled twice in a 2 for 4 game.
Connor Schultz gave up two runs in the first inning, which included a solo home run. After that, the Clingstones got pretty much nothing. retiring the last 13 batters he faced. Schultz’s final line was two runs on two hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out two as he got his first win of the season.
Right fielder Alex Ramírez tied the game up 2-2 in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run, his ninth blase of the year. Ramírez also made it 4-2 with a two-run single in the third, giving him four RBI on the night. Ramírez was 2 for 5.
In the fourth inning, second baseman Hayden Cantrelle connected with the bases empty for his first home run of 2026. Cantrelle went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Center fielder Andy Garriola chipped in a solo home run in the seventh inning. It was Garriola’s 16th home run this season. He was 2 for 4.
Shortstop Jefferson Rojas went 3 for 5 with two steals. Rojas scored three runs and drove in one.
Catcher Owen Ayers was 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored one run and had one RBI.
Jostin Florentino started and took the loss after surrendering three runs on two hits over five innings. All three runs came on a home run in the third inning. Florentino struck out six and walked two.
South Bend managed just five hits. Center fielder Kane Kepley was 2 for 4 with two doubles.
Starter Emilio Ramos only allowed one hit. Unfortunately, that that one hit was a three-run home run in the top of the first inning. The final line on Ramos was three runs on one hit and four walks over three innings. He struck out three.
Jhon Rosario pitched the final three innings and did not allow a run. He gave up just one hit and he walked one while striking out one.
The Pelicans managed just two hits. Second baseman Alexis Hernandez went 1 for 4 with an RBI single in the eighth inning.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Keon Ellis #14 of the Clevland Cavaliers looks on in the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on April 02, 2026 in San Francisco, 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis, who they acquired this past season, has reportedly signed with the Brooklyn Nets on a guaranteed two-year, $18 million deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Free agent guard Keon Ellis has agreed to a two-year, $18 million guaranteed deal with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/YdLqrFZHhq
The Cavs traded for Ellis and point guard Dennis Schroder from the Sacramento Kings for De’Andre Hunter, a move that was widely seen as a win for Cleveland. The 26-year-old Ellis brought a level of defensive intensity and energy that was severely lacking on the Cavs at the time, but he fell out of the rotation in the playoffs.
In 29 games with the Cavs, Ellis averaged 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 49.1% shooting from the floor. That shooting percentage is the best of Ellis’ career, though his 35.5% three-point shooting figure was the lowest of any other season.
While this move may look puzzling, the Cavs have a number of free agency fires burning that they are working to figure out. The pending departure of Dean Wade was likely higher on the to-do list than re-signing Ellis, which allowed the former University of Alabama guard to seek out a fresh opportunity.
The rebuilding Nets can offer much more playing time, and the reported contract Ellis signed reflects that. The second year has a mutual option, while maintaining the $18 million guarantee. It is unconventional, but it allows the Nets to re-sign Ellis or move on and open a roster spot. The Cavs are in championship-or-bust mode, and it may not have been as likely that Ellis would see such consistent playing time as he would see on a rebuilding squad.
Monday, June 29 at 2 PM PST, qualifying offers for pending NHL RFAs were due for clubs to retain the rights to their RFAs. If pending RFAs were not tendered qualifying offers by the aforementioned deadline, they are scheduled to become UFAs on July 1 at 9 AM PST if they are unsigned before then.
The Anaheim Ducks had 11 pending RFAs due QOs, but only tendered seven of them.
Among the players who were qualified were goaltender Vyacheslav Buteyets, center Leo Carlsson, goaltender Calle Clang, left winger Cutter Gauthier, defenseman Tyson Hinds, defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, and left winger Sasha Pastujov.
The NHL roster players (Carlsson, Gauthier, Mintyukov, Hinds) were no-brainers to receive QOs, as were the two AHL roster players (Buteyets, Pastujov). Clang (24) was a bit of a surprise to receive a QO, as he recently signed a two-year contract with Rogle BK in the SHL, the club he played for before making the jump to North America to play for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL.
It appears the Ducks’ logic behind Clang’s QO is to retain his rights should he benefit from a reset in his home nation of Sweden and, in the future, express interest in returning to North America.
The four players who did not receive QOs are defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka, defenseman Kyle Masters, center Jan Mysak, and right winger Jaxsen Wiebe.
Biakabutuka (24) was a piece sent Anaheim’s way from the St. Louis Blues along with a 2027 second-round pick in exchange for long-time Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler and a 2027 fourth-round pick. During his time in the Ducks organization, Biakabutuka played just 11 games in the AHL with the Gulls and 75 games in the ECHL with the Tulsa Oilers.
Masters (23) was acquired just two days before he wasn’t tendered a QO, on the second day of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, along with a sixth-round pick (Noah Kosick) from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the signing rights to defenseman John Carlson. His signing rights have since been traded back to the Canes in exchange for the signing rights to AHL center Noah Philp (27).
Mysak (24) was acquired by Anaheim two years ago from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jacob Perreault. Like Clang, Mysak signed a two-year contract to play in the SHL for HV71. Over two and a half years with the Ducks organization, he played 138 games with the Gulls.
Jaxsen Wiebe (24) signed an entry-level contract as an undrafted free agent in March 2023. He yo-yoed between the AHL and ECHL during his time in the Ducks organization.
