Jun 29, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) celebrates a victory against the Los Angeles Angels with second baseman Cole Young (2, right) during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Good morning! The Mariners returned home with a 6-2 win last night over the Los Angeles Angels. Furious George pitched a full eight innings with seven strikeouts, one walk, and just two earned runs, while his run support came in the form of two towering home runs by Cole Young and one from Dominic Canzone.
Bryan Woo takes the mound tonight at 6:40 PM against Angels RHP José Soriano.
Jun 29, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics outfielder Colby Thomas (32) jogs toward home plate after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Morning all and welcome to Tuesday!
The club got their teeth knocked in last night in the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They lost 9-4 in what was probably the worst start to date from rookie Gage Jump. These things happen and Jump was always bound to have a bad start sooner or later. The important thing for him and the A’s is to not let him dwell on a tough outing. The Dodgers’ lineup is chock full of star hitters and worse pitchers have gotten hit harder than Jump last night. How will he respond next time out after experiencing some headwinds?
The series continues tonight and the A’s are desperate for a win. They’re riding a three-game losing streak and at 40-45 are now fourth in the AL West, three games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers, who are themselves hovering around .500 at 43-42. And with two other teams ahead of the A’s in the division the squad can’t afford to fall too far back in the race for the West. They’re still just 2 1/2 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot but again, with multiple teams ahead of them. It’s going to be a challenge to jump everyone if the A’s don’t start getting back to winning.
That’s easier said than done against the reigning World Series champions. The club will try to do just that tonight however. They’ll be hoping that veteran Jeffrey Springs can put together back-to-back quality starts and provide the A’s with a chance to get a victory. He’s had a rough June with an ERA nearing 10 but he’s coming off a solid outing last time out against the Angels. How he fares against the other Los Angeles’ team’s lineup will determine if the A’s can secure win #41 tonight.
The A’s bats will also need to show up more than they did last night. The club is missing four key pieces of the lineup in Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, and Zack Gelof. They’re going to be out for a bit longer so the A’s will need to get better performances from some of the young guys who have been waiting for just this opportunity. Perhaps no one has a better chance to carve out a role than Colby Thomas, who blasted a home run in last night’s loss. Or maybe Joshua Kuroda-Grauer can help stabilize the infield after his great 3-hit debut performance.
First pitch is at 6:40. Have a great day everyone.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer recorded his first MLB hit and was congratulated by Freddie Freeman, MLB's active hits leader, at first base! pic.twitter.com/Dh5r7uJio3
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 09: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards reacts on the sideline during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Capital One Arena on April 9, 2026 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. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s June 30. It’s my birthday (I’m getting old).
But I know when it’s my birthday, it’s time to chat about NBA FREE AGENCY! Teams can start negotiating today!
SACRAMENTO –– Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will be doing double duties at the All-Star Game this year, serving as the National League manager for the event thanks to the Dodgers’ pennant win last season.
But whether or not two-way star Shohei Ohtani does the same –– by both hitting and pitching in the Midsummer Classic –– remains to be decided, with All-Star festivities now two weeks away.
Ohtani is already confirmed as the NL’s starting designated hitter for the game, having earned his sixth All-Star selection as the NL’s top vote-getter in the first round of fan balloting this month. He is likely to be selected to the NL’s pitching staff, as well, thanks to his 8-2 record and career-best 1.58 ERA on the mound this season. Of pitchers with at least 70 innings this year, only Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski (1.45 ERA) has a better mark.
For Ohtani to pitch in the All-Star game a specific concession will likely have to be made. AP Photo/Matt KrohnDodgers manager Dave Roberts will be doing double duties at the All-Star Game this year, serving as the National League manager for the event thanks to the Dodgers’ pennant win last season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
For Ohtani to pitch in the game, though, a specific concession will likely have to be made.
Since he will be in the NL’s starting batting order, the only logical time for him to pitch would be at the beginning of the game as the NL starter.
Asked about that possibility on Monday, Roberts said he, Ohtani and the Dodgers had yet to come to a decision.
“He’ll obviously DH and then we’ll go from there,” Roberts said. “I don’t know where he is with the pitching thing. We’ll see.”
Ohtani has only pitched once in an All-Star Game before, serving as the American League’s starter during his first MVP season in 2021 with the Angels. In 2022, he only DH’d in the game because of a scheduled start he had for the Angels immediately following the All-Star break. In 2023, he didn’t pitch while nursing a blister. The last two years, he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
There will be more deserving, and fitting, options to start this year’s All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia. Misiorowski is the league’s leading Cy Young contender, thanks not only to his minuscule ERA but also a 9-3 record and MLB-most 146 strikeouts. Hometown Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez is also having a standout season, with a 9-3 record, 2.13 ERA and NL-leading 110 innings pitched.
However, if Roberts wants Ohtani to take the mound in the game –– which would line up with his current schedule of pitching every Wednesday, as it falls annually on a Tuesday –– it would likely have to be as the team’s starter.
Otherwise, the four-time MVP would have to find time to warm up while also slotting into the NL’s batting order. An adjustment to the game’s roster rules might also be required, so as not to cost the NL its DH spot in the event Ohtani started the game as a hitter and then later entered as a pitcher in relief.
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When the New Jersey Devils were first awarded the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, some thought they might trade it for players who can help them right now. Instead, they used that pick and made seven total over the seven rounds.
With that pick, number 12, New Jersey selected Alexander Command. This is a player who has a strong emphasis on playing both sides of the puck well. He won’t cheat for offense at the expense of being sound defensively, but he also has the abilities needed to score.
Command has drawn comparisons to other two-way centers across the NHL, but his offensive ceiling may not be as high as some of the premier ones. Still, behind Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, he'd be perfect as the third-line center of the future.
In the second round, New Jersey made a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. They acquired pick 119 to move back from 35 to 37, which is great asset management. The player they liked was going to be there at 37, so they landed an extra lottery ticket to move back.
At 37, the Devils selected Matias Vanhanen. After a big run to the Memorial Cup Final with the Everett Silvertips, Vanhanen is ready to pursue a top-six role in the NHL. He has the offensive upside to have those kinds of expectations.
A few selections later, with pick 44, New Jersey took Nikita Shcherbakov. This young defenseman is big and fast, always looking to make a good defensive play. He has a low ceiling offensively, but he was drafted to be a solid defensive prospect.
The Devils didn't make a pick in the 3rd round, but they landed that fourth-round pick back in the aforementioned trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. There, they selected Lavr Gashilov.
Gashilov is scouted to be a top-level playmaker coming out of Russia. He is the first player in the history of the MHL to lead the league in assists during his draft year. If he can work through any issue in the rest of his game, that playmaking ability will come in handy once he goes pro.
In the latter three rounds of the draft, where everyone taken has a low probability of making it to the NHL, the Devils took some chances on players that fit their model of analytics.
They traded back with the Colorado Avalanche from 140 in the fifth round to 149, acquiring 222 in the process. With pick 149, they participated in the run of goalies, selecting Daniil Rusakovich.
It's never a bad idea to take one goalie that you like every year. This position is always unknown early and won't be known until years of development take place.
In the 6th round, 172nd overall, New Jersey took a chance on a bottom-six forward named Luke Wilfrey. He doesn't have high-end skills, but he has tools that may allow him to be a typical third or fourth-line player in the NHL.
Last but not least, the Devils selected Quinn McKenzie with one of the last picks in the entire draft. He has more offensive upside than Wilfrey, but there is a lot of room to grow in every aspect of his game.
Penn State will be McKenzie's development path next season, which will give him a chance to support some very good players as they pursue a National Championship.
Draft Grade: B-
The Devils get a B- for a few reasons. It is a good grade because they clearly stuck with Sunny Mehta's model, which has worked out well for teams he's worked for in the past.
There were also instances in which he took players with lower floors when the Devils were in a position to take some chances. That lowers the initial grade a bit.
This was also a weak draft, and they made seven picks. Part of that was asset management (trading back) in the later rounds, but this team would have benefited from adding more NHL talent during the draft rather than using the picks.
There is going to be extra emphasis on Alexander Command, too. He was the first round pick and has the highest probability of contributing to the NHL roster someday. His playstyle fits what the New Jersey Devils are trying to do in all three zones, and it was a solid selection for Mehta's first as the Devils' GM.
All in all, it was a good draft, but there were a few picks that left you wanting more out of the value. If the NHL roster stays healthy and performs to their potential in 2026-27, the grade for this draft can bump up because then it's about developing them properly instead of worrying about the present.
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The Knicks are kicking off their championship repeat campaign by re-signing guards Jose Alvarado and Landry Shametto team-friendly contracts. Alvarado declined his $4.5 million player option to ink a three-year, $14 million contract, while Shamet agreed on a four-year, $24 million contract.
Comparatively, these are excellent deals for New York.
Collin Gillespie is signing for $12 million a year and Marcus Smart is declining his $5.4 million option, while Alvarado was open to taking less than most exceptions offer. Shamet-esque shooters like Kevin Huerter and Julian Champagnie agreed to deals worth $9 million and $15 million a season this offseason, while he received a fraction of those amounts.
This was thanks to the goodwill the team earned on this magical championship run, the chemistry and loyalty that strengthened during it, and the endorsements and attraction New York offers like no other. This is no small feat for the Knicks, securing their backcourt depth as they grapple with staying below the second apron while trying to compete yet again.
And compete they do when these two are on the court. Both played major roles in the regular season and even bigger ones come playoff time.
Shamet returned on the veteran’s minimum after essentially spending a rehab year with the Knicks a season ago, nearly getting cut during training camp. But he was a feisty defender and knockdown shooter, close with Mikal Bridges, and wanted to prove he could earn a spot with a team for the long haul.
That he did, going off for 36 points in an NBA Cup game with Jalen Brunson on the mend, finishing the year with 9.3 points per game on 39.2 percent shooting from the field. He had another injury and was in and out of the rotation, even riding the pine as the postseason got into swing.
But that changed in the second and third rounds. He was a big boost off the bench vs. Philadelphia, then hit three of the most pivotal threes of his career in Game 1 against Cleveland, when New York came back from 22 down in the fourth quarter to win.
Shamet carried that over into a couple of double-digit performances to start the Finals up 2-0. Now he’ll be a mainstay for years to come.
The Knicks, desperately needing additional ball handling, traded a couple second round picks and salary filler for Alvarado at the midseason deadline. The diminutive but big-hearted point guard was renowned for his competitive fire on a flailing Pelicans team, but the Knicks gave him a chance to compete for something real on his home turf.
That lit a fire under him, as he scored 12 points and came away with two steals in his debut win against Boston. Two games later he had a 26-point outburst on eight threes.
Alvarado’s playing time also fluctuated though, but in a testament to his professionalism never wavered. His number got called down 2-1 to the Hawks to help alleviate Brunson’s burden and provide some electricity off the bench, and that he did, scoring 12 in Game 5.
His contributions didn’t jump out on the box score as the Knicks ran roughshod over the East. But then came the NBA Finals, where Alvarado was consistently undeterred by perhaps the league’s best defense led by its best defensive player.
The highlight was playing a major role in the Knicks’ 29-point comeback in Game 4, including scoring all eight of his points in the fourth quarter. His spinning layup and gutsy three in the final minutes blew the ceiling off Madison Square Garden in arguably the team’s biggest moment in recent franchise history.
Now, Brunson and the Knicks have their complementary guard rotation locked for the foreseeable future, and they couldn’t be better positioned. These guys fit, ball out in the biggest moments, and love playing in New York.
The NBA's free agency period is nearly here. Beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 30, teams can officially begin negotiating and agree to terms with players from other teams that are free agents.
But that might not be where most of the excitement resides this offseason. It's the trade front that should be most active. Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant and Julius Randle are among the players that have already been dealt in the days leading into the NBA draft and free agency. Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, Milwaukee Bucks guard Tyler Herro and Sacramento Kings All-Star Domantas Sabonis are all on the trading block this week.
USA TODAY Sports is tracking all of the latest buzz and news as NBA free agency gets underway. Stay tuned here throughout Tuesday, June 30 for frequent updates on new transactions and everything else that's happening as the NBA offseason begins in full:
There's a new development on the LeBron James free agency front. James will continue his NBA career in 2026-27, but he has informed the Los Angeles Lakers they can move on without him because he plans to play elsewhere, according to ESPN.
James has been linked to the Golden State Warriors, particularly after Draymond Green opted out of his contract to give the team more flexibility in its pursuit of the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
Jaylen Brown has grown frustrated with how the situation is unfolding with the Celtics this offseason, according to a new report from The Boston Globe, but he still hasn't spoken directly about his feelings towards a potential trade away from Boston. Brown might have tipped his hand on Instagram in the past 24 hours, though.
Brown remains on the trading block, according to the most recent reports, with the Denver Nuggets mentioned as a prominent potential landing spot. The Boston Globe wrote that Brown could still return to the Celtics next season, though "some uncomfortable conversations would likely need to happen first."
Duren has been linked to meetings with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers when NBA free agency begins later today. But the Pistons can match any contract Duren is offered by another team and they're eligible to give him a supermax extension after the 6-foot-10 center earned all-NBA third team honors this past season.
That, though, is what's issues in coming to an agreement. Duren's poor postseason performance has complicated the evaluation of his long-term value and how much money can be committed to him under the league's current salary cap structure. Detroit nonetheless remains resolute about keeping Duren, despite recent signs of friction in the relationship.
The Golden State Warriors plan to aggressively pursue LeBron James today, according to multiplereports, with the intention of trying to convince the Lakers star to accept the $15 million midlevel exception to join Steph Curry and Draymond Green when NBA free agency begins.
A trade for Anthony Davis also remains an option after recent reports that Davis and James could go to Golden State this offseason. But the Warriors are not operating under the assumption that they have to land both in a package deal.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Tuesday morning that the Los Angeles Clippers could trade Kawhi Leonard as soon as today ahead of the start to NBA free agency. The Toronto Raptors have been rumored as the leading contender to land Leonard. The two sides have agreed on player compensation, according to Windhorst, and there's a contract extension on the table for Leonard to consider.
The Raptors would include Brandon Ingram in a potential trade with the Clippers for Leonard, but they're still "haggling" over first-round draft picks to include.
When does NBA free agency officially start?
Now that the 2026 NBA Draft is done, the league's attention turns to the start of free agency, with the official "tampering" period beginning on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
But teams and free agents can't sign their contracts until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET when the NBA's moratorium on signings ends.
Some big names also re-signed contracts with the current teams – taking some potential free agents off the board – including Kristaps Porzingis agreeing to a new deal with the Warriors, Jusuf Nurkic returning to the Jazz and the Spurs giving breakout player Julian Champagnie a new three-year contract.
Boston, MA - January 7 - Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) gets fouled by Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) as he tries to get by Derrick White (9) during the second half at the Garden. (Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images). | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
This offseason has been a pretty chaotic one so far. Between the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga to the now exhausting Jaylen Brown trade discourse, it feels like there isn’t room to talk about the rest of the team as a whole.
After watching the Celtics blow a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers and lose Game 7 at home in TD Garden, there was one glaring point on the roster that Boston needed to address: the center position. Once Joel Embiid came back in the series, it looked the Celtics had no answers to stop him. Between Neemias Queta constantly being in foul trouble, Nikola Vucevic going ice cold on offense and giving nothing on defense, and Luka Garza trying his best in limited minutes, Boston’s center position was getting torched all series long and looked like the biggest issue on the roster going into the offseason.
However, lost in the discourse of finding the next Celtics big man, a thought crossed my mind that feels like fans aren’t talking about enough: Boston really needs to address the guard rotation, too. The lack of big names at center and the fact that the Celtics are seemingly trying to trade Brown for a big man makes it easy to forget that Boston could also use an upgrade at point guard.
As a result of a possible Celtics-Nuggets trade reported by The Ringer’s Bill Simmons who said there was smoke around a possible deal that could send Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser to Denver in exchange for Jamal Murray and Cameron Johnson, here we are. However, Brian Robb of MassLive reported that “Boston isn’t expected to have interest in Jamal Murray due to his sizable contract.” Although a Murray trade doesn’t seem likely, in my mind if the Celtics were serious about trading Brown, it would be for an elite guard.
Bill Simmons' Nuggets-Celtics trade proposal 👀
Jamal Murray + Cam Johnson for Jaylen Brown + Sam Hauser
"There's a lot of smoke billowing around Denver in general. Some I believe some I don't believe." pic.twitter.com/5NgD2feAwR
Jamal Murray and Cameron Johnson would be a great options for the Celtics to acquire if this Denver trade is a legitimate idea. Murray is coming off of a rough postseason, but was a first time All-Star and finished All-NBA 3rd Team in 2026, averaging 25.4 points and 7.1 assists per game on 48.3% shooting from the field and 43.5% from three. Johnson also had a career year shooting the basketball, averaging 12.2 points on a career high 48% from the field and 43% from three. Both of these guys would also answer the needs that Brad Stevens has mentioned about the guard position.
Stevens Addresses Guard Needs
Although the online discourse around the Celtics need at the guard position hasn’t been talked about enough, Stevens has addressed the need for help on the perimeter. In his press conference after the first round of the NBA Draft, Stevens talked about what Boston was looking for going into the offseason, saying: “size and then I would like to add maybe one more person with some speed on the perimeter.”
Brad Stevens said the priorities this offseason are size and maybe adding one more person with some speed on the perimeter.
Before the second round of the draft, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that Boston was potentially interested in taking 6’4″ guard Ryan Conwell out of Louisville at 40th overall, but the Miami Heat would trade up to the 37th pick to pick him before the Celtics got a chance.
Celtics Recent Guard History
When the Celtics won the championship in 2024, what was one of the big roster moves they made in the offseason? It was essentially swapping out Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon at the guard position for Jrue Holiday. Holiday had an incredible 2024 season where he averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 48% from the field and a career high 42.9% from three point range. On top of his offensive contributions, Holiday was an elite defender that could guard all five positions, culminating in an All-Defensive 2nd Team nod and 6th in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He was also crucial in the NBA Finals, becoming the Celtics third highest scorer behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, averaging 14.4 points, and arguably winning Game 2 on his own with a 26-point performance on 11-14 shooting.
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 17: Jrue Holiday #4 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 17, 2024 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The 2025 season season was a step back for Holiday and it led to him being trading to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons ahead of the 2026 season. Although there wasn’t a lot of expectations for him, Simons performed really well with Boston as their 6th man behind Payton Pritchard and Derrick White. In 49 games with the Celtics he averaged 14.2 points on 44% shooting from the field and 39.5% shooting from three in only 24.5 minutes per game.
The inconsistency issues started to arise when the Celtics traded him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic at the 2026 trade deadline. The Vucevic trade in theory seemed to be a good one. Boston needed more big man depth and both him and Simons were on expiring contracts, so a flip was easy. However, Vucevic didn’t really work out well in Boston and it left the Celtics guard position a little bit in limbo.
Derrick White had an abysmal offensive season in 2026 where averaged 16.5 points on a career worst 39.4% from the field and a second career worst of 32.7% from three. Payton Pritchard, who was okay as a starter with the Celtics, transitioned back into the 6th man role after the trade deadline and played some of his best basketball of the season, finishing with averages of 17.0 points and 5.2 assists on 46.4% shooting from the field and 37.7%s from three.
Outside of those two, it felt like the Celtics had a hole in the starting lineup where a second guard should have been in the second half of the season. They tried to fill it with Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh but it never felt right. In the playoffs, Boston saw Pritchard and White struggle to shoot all series and their lack of production from the guard position led to the Celtics ultimately losing in Game 7.
Who should the Celtics target?
There is a lot of guard depth on the roster already but out of those guys it doesn’t feel like there is that level of player the Celtics need. In my mind it feels like they need a player who can be consistent second/third scoring option at times and a ball handler to initiate the offense if needed at the guard position. However, If I was to play Brad Stevens going into the offseason, who are the options out there that can really solve the problem?
Murray like stated previously would be an interesting idea that would not be beloved if he was traded for Brown, but it would fill the role stated previously. On the free agency market right now there aren’t a ton of great options. Could a reunion with Marcus Smart or Anfernee Simons be in the cards? Not necessarily the elite guard I had in mind. Is there a chance De’Aaron Fox coming off maybe the worst NBA Finals performance ever for the San Antonio Spurs is a bounce back option? Maybe we try to bring the gang back together again and trade for Jrue Holiday back from the Portland Trail Blazers again?
The other option outside of making a move is hoping that Derrick White’s shooting from last season was just a fluke and he can be that third option offensive hub for the Celtics again, Payton Pritchard takes another leap and becomes an All-Star level player, and maybe a guy like Baylor Scheierman will get a bigger role and become a consistent offensive threat off the bench. According to HoopHype’s Mike Scotto, Boston has interest in the Mavericks’ jitterbug PG, Brandon Williams.
It feels like with the limited options available the Celtics will bank on an in house solution, but with Stevens making it known he’s looking, it wouldn’t surprise me if he added another guy on a shorter contract in free agency. Although the center position is still the biggest need that on Boston’s roster that takes up most of the spotlight, I just hope the guard position doesn’t get neglected this offseason as well.
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 21: Taylor Makar #16 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Anaheim Ducks at Ball Arena on January 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
On the day qualifying offers were due for Restricted Free Agents, the Colorado Avalanche bypassed the process by inking Taylor Makar to a two-year contract extension beginning the 2026-27 season with an $875k cap hit at the NHL level.
The #GoAvsGo signed 25 y/o F Taylor Makar to a 2 year $875K cap hit contact
Yr 1: $850K NHL, $225K Minors, $300K Guaranteed Yr 2: $900K 1-way
This is a nice deal for the younger Makar after only one year of pro hockey under his belt, with 24 points in 52 games and 12 NHL call-up games. No doubt holding arbitration rights gave the left wing some important leverage. The $300k guaranteed in year one of the deal is a significant raise on the $80k paid in the minors on his Entry Level Contract. The most significant portion of the extension is the bump up to $900k on a one-way deal for the 2027-28 season, a sizable investment by the Avalanche. Once this deal expires, Makar will be 27 years old and an Unrestricted Free Agent.
In other Restricted Free Agent news, reports are that forward Daniil Gushchin did not receive a qualifying offer after his one-year stint with the organization. It’s safe to assume that after the Avalanche traded for another winger in Fabian Lysell, he was extended a qualifying offer. With no arbitration rights afforded to Lysell, there isn’t a firm deadline to get him under contract, but it likely won’t be a difficult negotiation.
We've got the full list of players now 2026 UFAs after not receiving qualifying offers by today's 5 p.m. ET deadline.
INGLEWOOD, CA - May 1: Ben Simmons #25 of the LA Clippers stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Denver Nuggets during Round One Game Six of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 1, 2025 at Intuit Dome 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA offseason doesn’t officially arrive until Ben Simmons posts a shirtless workout video on Instagram. If Monday is any indication, we might be moving closer to the start of the official start of the offseason.
In an interview with Clay Skipper of Men’s Health, Simmons spoke about the back injury that caused his NBA career to go off the rails and his desire to rejoin the league, perhaps as early as this coming season.
“I plan on getting as strong as I can physically, getting my ass on the court, and then the team realizing that my abilities will be needed,” Simmons told Skipper. “I don’t have a plan on where.”
Simmons added: “Maybe I’ll go back to Philly. Miami would be nice. And not because it’s Miami—I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organization, I like the culture.”
The thought of Simmons returning to the Sixers a few years after he forced his way off the team in one of the nastiest player-team splits in recent memory almost borders on parody. But if his back is finally healthy and he’s willing to settle for a veteran-minimum contract, there would be some logic to it from the Sixers’ perspective.
Why a Simmons reunion could work
If Simmons does return to the NBA—whether it’s on the Sixers or another team—no one should be expecting him to regain his pre-injury form.
Prior to his initial back injury in 2020, Simmons won Rookie of the Year in 2017-18 and made the All-Star team in each of the next three seasons. He also earned a spot on the All-NBA third team in 2019-20, had back-to-back spots on the All-Defense first team and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2019-20 and second the following season.
Simmons missed the entire 2021-22 campaign amidst his holdout from the Sixers and a back injury that flared up upon his arrival on the Brooklyn Nets. Over the ensuing three seasons, Simmons averaged only 5.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. That was a far cry from the 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists that he averaged in 33.9 minutes per game across his first four active seasons.
Granted, the Sixers wouldn’t need or expect Simmons to put up his pre-injury numbers. Between Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Paul George and Joel Embiid, they have plenty of high-volume scorers. They just need to find gap-fillers now.
If healthy, Simmons has that type of potential for them. He could help run the offense, especially in transition, and defend multiple positions.
At this point, Simmons is never likely to develop a reliable jump shot. But during an appearance on the Maxey on the Mic podcast in 2023, Embiid told Maxey that he didn’t believe Simmons needed a jumper because “he was so good, he’s just a monster physically.”
“Like, someone is fricking 6’11”, just running up and down the floor faster than whatever,” Embiid added. “… I never believed that he actually needed a jumper. I just believed that if he could find a way to get his free throws to 75-80%, that would have changed everything. Because if you think about it, if he believed that he could make shots, what would he do? He would keep attacking, attacking, attacking, and never stopping. And then what would the defense have to do? He was already such a great playmaker.”
Maxey has made major strides as a floor general over the past few seasons, and Edgecombe showed promising flashes in that regard as a rookie as well. However, neither of them is a natural, “pure” point guard like Chris Paul. The Sixers could use additional ball-handling and playmaking, even after the addition of Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22 in this year’s draft.
Simmo the Savage could help in that regard. However, there’s reason to be dubious of a reunion as well.
Why a Simmons reunion isn’t likely
Simmons told Skipper that ever since he suffered a pinched nerve in 2020, he’s been dealing with “debilitating flare-ups in his lower back and legs.”
“Simmons compares his injury to charging your phone with a finicky cord—any sudden movement or change to the angle and you’ve lost the juice,” Skipper added. “To further complicate matters, the pain and discomfort can linger long after the tissue has been repaired. Healing requires an entire nervous system reset.”
It seems as though he’s in a better place physically, but who’s to say that’ll hold up over the grind of an 82-game regular season, even in a reduced role? After all, it’s not like he was playing starters’ minutes with the Brooklyn Nets or Los Angeles Clippers before he took this past season off.
Given Embiid and George’s lengthy injury histories, the Sixers can’t afford to burn many more roster spots on oft-injured players. If Embiid, George and Simmons were all sidelined simultaneously, that’s a recipe for Maxey and Edgecombe to play an unsustainable minutes load for another season.
Simmons doesn’t seem to have a ton of mental baggage about his time in Philly—in fact, he joked with Skipper about his infamous passed-up shot in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals—but that’s only one part of the equation in whether to re-sign him. His health is a far bigger variable.
“Because Simmons’ injury involved nerves, he often had shooting pain in his glute and down his leg,” Skipper wrote. “He says he felt so fragile that oftentimes he had to change how he breathed. I ask if he can give me an example of something he could do easily before the injury that became difficult after it. He laughs at the absurdity of it. ‘Go and get a rebound. Dunk the ball. Guard. Play defense. Be physical. Everything you need to be a basketball player. It felt like I was just kinda out there as a body.'”
It’s great to hear that Simmons is feeling closer to his former self these days. No matter how frustrating his trade request and ensuing holdout was, no one should root for a player to develop a life-altering injury. Even if Simmons’ NBA return doesn’t materialize and he has to stick to sportfishing, at least he’s healthy enough to no longer be in chronic pain.
If Simmons is healthy enough to resume his NBA career, he’d be the type of low-risk, high-reward swing that teams in the Sixers’ position need to take… provided that he’s willing to sign a veteran-minimum contract, that is. The Sixers should not consider giving him the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (or even the taxpayer MLE) or the bi-annual exception. But this past season, the Sixers spent roster spots on Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon, who combined to play 192 minutes for them. That’s a low bar for even Simmons to clear.
A red panda is seen climbing a tree at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, in China's southwestern Sichuan province on June 28, 2026. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
I always start these columns thinking there would barely be a couple of links to interesting stuff included in the bullet points, and I always end up with a massive list of stories and notes. Can’t help myself.
Mandatory Knicks’ cap update, courtesy of ESPN’s Bobby Marks. New York now has six players under contract (Jose Alvarado, Landry Shamet, Mo Diawara, Deuce McBride and Tyler Kolek form the bench with an average height of 6-4 and one above 6-5), is letting Ariel Hukporti (7-0) go to market, and will have to explore re-signing RFA/UFAs Mitchell Robinson (not happening), Jordan Clarkson (likely), Kevin McCullar (probable), Dillon Jones and Trey Jemison (never ever). All in all, the Knicks have $9 million to fill three roster spots, of which one/two could go to their 2026 rookies on super-min deals worth just $1.3 million (if I’m correct).
The second-apron saga isn’t going away any time soon, or at least not until the Knicks have a proper backup center in their roster—of whom, as of now, they have exactly zero. The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy added more wood to the James Dolan fire on Monday. A tease (emphasis mine):
“People around the league believe going into the second apron is worthwhile for a legit championship contender. But the Knicks have operated as if they’re avoiding it, and sources said Dolan communicated his directive to the front office. Kevin Looney is pictured during the Pelicans’ March 29 game. Getty Images According to The Athletic, Dolan’s reluctance is mostly about spending more money. Could the owner change his mind in the 11th hour? Yes, theoretically. But there’s been no indication Dolan will.”
Further down the piece, Bondy laid out one realistic path under the cap: bringing back Clarkson and Hukporti on minimum deals ($2.45 million each) while signing veteran center Kevon Looney (mutal interest reported) for roughly the same price.
The New York Daily News echoed the same we’ve been reading and writing about regarding Mitch: even if the Knicks sacrifice other free agents (which they already are doing—even if not for much savings—in finishing Hukamania), there still will not be enough room to give Robinson the meaningful raise he’ll surely command elsewhere without breaking Dolan’s mandate.
Little brother Brooklyn, meanwhile, seems ready to weaponize its cap space as the current NBA economy demands. According to The New York Post’s Brian Lewis, the Nets are expected to prioritize absorbing contracts and landing talent via trade rather than chasing big-name free agents. Among those mentioned as possible targets are the Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III, the Thunder’s Cason Wallace, and the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown—although reports point to a Nets interest in signing Knicks backup center Robinson once FA opens on Tuesday.
One of free agency’s spiciest storylines involves Pistons center Jalen Duren, who is tired of Detroit’s low-ball offers and seems locked into bolting out of Motown in a sign-and-trade deal that ends up filling his pockets to the max. The Kings and the Lakers are both set to met Duren starting at 6 p.m. today, and Sacramento appears the most aggressive and best-positioned franchise to land him, according to The Athletic. Here’s the gist (SAC would flip Domantas Sabonis for Duren) and a sample:
“The Kings plan to pitch the Pistons on a sign-and-trade offer that would send Sabonis to Detroit and could give the Pistons a worthy replacement for Duren. Duren very much wants to play in Sacramento, while Sabonis is likewise interested in landing with the Pistons.
“As for the Lakers, (their) best offerings might be draft capital rather than quality players, as Detroit could trade Duren into the Lakers’ salary-cap space.”
You might think Jaylen Brown was tripping with his very public and never-ending streams and comments reacting to everything that hits the interwebs. Well, it turns out the Celtics are the ones showing some serious signs of lunacy. ESPN’s Shams Charania says the Celtics have asked multiple teams for “at least four first-round picks” in exchange for ostracized Jaylen. You know the league’s reaction to that? One anonymous general manager is predicting Boston to settle for “40 cents on the dollar.” What’s that? A first and a second? Can’t wait!
The Heat could do nothing to prevent Andrew Wiggins from cashing in, as he should, with the Mixtape King opting into his player option and then signing a $64 million contract on top of that. That’s important because, believe it or not, Miami is (h/t Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald) in an even worse cap situation than the Knicks, having just $19 million to fill four roster spots, and that means they won’t be able to re-sign their best RFA in Norman Powell.
Once-renowned Bradley Beal could be the biggest Miami Heat signing this free agency after he declined his player option following a six-game campaign. See what I was saying? The Heat might sign-and-trade Powell to get something in return.
Portland, meanwhile, completed the latest NBA blockbuster and, in a nod to the good old times, decided to bring back the Jail Blazers (watch the Netflix doc if uninitiated) vibes by landing Ja Morant. Incredibly, the Grizzlies did worse.
Speaking of nostalgia, the Bucks are bringing former point guard and shorts extraordinaire T.J. Ford back to Milwaukee as part of their coaching staff.
Tingus Pingus Kristaps Porzingis signed a two-year deal with the Warriors and pretty much put an end to the Steph-AD-LeBron Hurt 3 Dream before it got off the ground.
New York City is keeping the championship celebration alive for another month. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that every member of the Knicks will receive a temporary blue-and-orange street sign in Manhattan, with each sign placed on the street matching that player’s jersey number whenever possible (looking at you, Agent 00).
The New York Post already found plenty of fans convinced they’ll become collector’s items long before then. Some of them openly said they’d gladly be the ones to steal them. Never change, New York.
Not only does Ben Simmons claim he’s ready for an NBA comeback, but he’s already naming places. “Miami I walys would be nice,” he said, and “maybe I’ll go back to Philly.” Just like that, as if he had switched on God mode in NBA 2K. Sometimes you just have to laugh.
And if what you want is to laugh, then don’t let this ESPN segment skip your viewing schedule today. What about the years-on-end same-old-Knicks narrative? Where’s that now? Ah, how things have changed…
the Kings??? lmaoo that boy had a taste of playoff basketball and said yeah i’m not built for it https://t.co/SCsWTsnW5n
Ben Stokes: 57 runs at 14.3; seven wickets at 21.9 He retired when he was England’s best bowler, best captain and a century away from being worth his place as a batter alone. But, as he acknowledged himself, when the air goes out of the balloon it deflates very quickly – as anyone who has ever retired from any job will tell you.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 11: NBA draft prospect, Trey Kaufman-Renn poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 11, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Purdue fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The NBA Draft has now come and gone with two Purdue players having their names called and two others singing with summer league opportunities after. That puts four new Purdue players with NBA opportunities. You’d always rather be drafted than signing as an undrafted free agent, so it makes sense that both Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn would seem to be the obvious choices here, but maybe you disagree with me. This week, with the holiday coming up it’s a short week and that means just the one question. So this week, take the time to answer who you think will have the best NBA career before loading up on hot dogs, hamburgers, and finding your seat for the fireworks. Results will be posted at the end of the week.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 28: Malik Beasley #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 28, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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
Per ESPN’s Shams Charania and The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov, former Buck Malik Beasley has been indicted on gambling charges related to a sports betting scheme—such as point shaving and prop bets—that occurred during the 2023-24 season… when he was on the Bucks!
Federal prosecutors allege that Beasley had accrued millions in gambling debt and was loaned money by Ed Davis—who also played in the league for over a decade, including with Beasley during the 2020-21 season, when the two became friends—to pay it off. It is alleged that Beasley worked off that debt as part of a betting scheme with Davis and at least four other men, who collaborated to manipulate his performance in four games during the 2023-24 season. The games he is accused of manipulating his performance in are as follows:
January 26, 2024: Bucks vs. Cavaliers
February 27, 2024: Bucks vs. Hornets
March 10, 2024: Bucks vs. Clippers
March 21, 2024: Bucks vs. Nets
Put simply, Beasley was instructed to achieve (or not achieve) certain statistical goals within these games, with the group he was working with betting, in some cases, “tens of thousands of dollars” on him following through.
“The bettors wagered on Beasley to hit the ‘over’ prop bet on his rebounds against the Clippers, then celebrated when he collected his fourth rebound in the game’s final seconds, according to the indictment. The scheme went awry, according to prosecutors, after Beasley could not hit the ‘under’ on his rebounds against the Nets.”
If all of this sounds familiar, it’s because Beasley has been under investigation for over a year. If you’re interested in learning more, our Jackson Gross covered the news at the time the investigation was announced. After spending the 2023-24 season with the Bucks, Beasley signed a modest one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, which he thoroughly outplayed. This led to him being offered a lucrative three-year deal with the Pistons, but the offer was rescinded after Detroit was notified of the investigation.
“This is simply an investigation,” Beasley’s attorney Steve Haney said at the time. “At this point, Malik has not been charged with any crime and there has been no formal accusation of wrongdoing. Hopefully, everyone will afford him that same presumption of innocence that everyone else deserves.”
Well, now Beasley has been charged with a crime.
“We’ll review the indictment and vigorously defend the charges and maintain Malik’s innocence,” Haney recently told The Athletic.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass gave the following staement:
“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictment unsealed today involving Malik Beasley and Ed Davis. Beasley last played during the 2024-25 season and Davis last played in the league during the 2021-22 season. We will continue to investigate this matter and cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”
The nine-year NBA veteran is expected to voluntarily surrender to authorities this week.
I, for one, am pretty shocked by this news (even though we had some inclination of what might go down a year ago). My overall takeaway is that there was an unacceptable amount of chaos within the org after Bud was fired, Jrue was traded, and so on. I mean, hiring a poor coach in Adrian Griffin, replacing him with someone nearly just as bad… and then this was going on in the background? At some point, you just have to laugh at it all. Do others feel similar?
NBA Free Agency began at 6 PM ET last night, but we were already starting to hear news beforehand. For some players, they could technically make tentative deals with teams before the official window opened, and Coby White was one of the guys that took advantage. It was announced that White plans to a sign a three-year, $74 million dollar deal with the Charlotte Hornets. The announcement took a lot of the drama out of where White could land after entering unrestricted free agency following the 2025-26 season.
White was traded to the Hornets after spending the beginning of his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. The trade drew a lot of criticism in Chicago because it was “too late” to get what they should’ve gotten out of the trade, so the Bulls had to settle for some second-round picks. Perhaps more interesting than the drama in Chicago is the fact that the Hornets just traded star point guard LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, meaning that White will likely slide into a starting role for the 2026-27 season. What kind of starting role? That part is unclear, but what is clear is that the Hornets prioritized him in whatever their future plans look like.
White finished his brief 2025-26 stint with the Hornets averaging 15.6 points and three assists per game. He shot an impressive 39.1% from three, which was a decent jump from his 34% clip that he was shooting at in Chicago before being traded.
To further speculate on what the Hornets’ plans are, it’s worth noting that they received former Duke player Grayson Allen in the LaMelo Ball trade, and they also have former Florida Gator Tre Mann. Should things stay the way that they are, it’s hard not to see White becoming the starting point guard, which was a role he was thrown into at times in Chicago. It’s pretty jarring going from a stellar facilitator like Ball to more of a scoring guard like White, but the Goldsboro native has grown into a capable floor general when he needs to be. The Hornets have to be thrilled to bring White back into the fold, and we’ll have to see how the rest of the roster takes shape over the next few weeks.
What do you think of White resigning with the Charlotte Hornets? Let us know in the comments below.
