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LeBron James not committed to Lakers, weighing retirement and other teams

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows LeBron James is still weighing his options ahead of a massive NBA decision that could impact the Lakers and reshape free agency, Image 2 shows LeBron James in a yellow and purple Lakers uniform on the basketball court

LeBron James has not made a decision about his future, but the uncertainty surrounding the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is already becoming one of the league’s biggest offseason storylines.

With free agency set to begin on June 30, James appears to be keeping every option on the table, from returning to the Los Angeles Lakers to exploring other opportunities — or even retirement.

According to ESPN insider Ramona Shelburne, initial conversations between James’ camp and the Lakers have remained informal and exploratory.

LeBron James is still weighing his options ahead of a massive NBA decision that could reshape free agency. Getty Images

“LA is the first team he can talk to because they’re their own free agent,” Shelburne said on SportsCenter. “My understanding is they had initial conversations with LeBron James’ representative, but he has not even fully committed to returning next year in these conversations.”

LA Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has his work cut out for him during free agency. Getty Images

Shelburne described the discussions as little more than both sides “keeping in touch,” noting that no contract figures have been discussed and no commitment has been made.

“I think that’s been interpreted as something like, ‘LeBron is still assessing his options,’” Shelburne said. “Whether that is retirement or whether that is other teams.”

That uncertainty was echoed by James’ longtime agent Rich Paul, who recently dismissed widespread speculation surrounding the four-time NBA champion.

“There’s nobody that knows anything about anything that pertains to LeBron,” Paul said. “LeBron James is gonna take as much time as he needs and wants.”

James and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder look toward the heavens. Getty Images

Paul added that roughly 10 to 12 teams have already expressed interest in James should he decide to leave Los Angeles.

Despite turning 42 during the upcoming season, James remains one of the league’s most productive players. He averaged 21.3 points, 7.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds across 70 games during the 2025–26 campaign, proving he can still impact winning at a high level.

The financial component could complicate matters. James earned $52.6 million last season, while the Lakers may prefer greater salary flexibility as they continue building around Luka Dončić.

Luka Dončić listens to James during the Lakers’ third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Getty Images

According to Shelburne, James may be reluctant to take a substantial pay cut, particularly after feeling his sacrifices in recent years have gone underappreciated.

If James ultimately decides to continue playing elsewhere, Shelburne identified three realistic destinations: the Lakers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.

For now, however, no decision has been made.

The Lakers remain in contact. Rival teams continue to monitor the situation. And LeBron James, perhaps for the first time in years, appears to be carefully evaluating every possible path before making what could become one of the most consequential decisions of the NBA offseason.

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New number, new Booker? What could Olympic Booker bring to the Run-It-Back Suns?

Hang uno up in the rafters. Booker is in his #15 era.

New number, new Book. Scoring 70 points in a loss Book is out, and gold medal Book is in. The Olympic 3 and D Book. The “I’ll do it” Book. The being-anything-the-team-needs-him-to-be Book. 

What could the player that Steve Kerr named the “Unsung MVP” of the 2024 Olympic gold medal team bring to the run-it-back Suns? I say, he’ll bring what he’s always brought, exactly what his team needs to win.

Steve Kerr went on to say this about Devin Booker.

“He’s probably the guy who has been the most adaptable to go from a different role in the NBA to a new one here. He’s adapted to being an on-ball guy, ball mover. The offense clicks when he’s out there, the defense is really good.”

In my opinion, the Suns need Booker to fill a new role in the 2026-27 season. More CP3, less Kobe. More Gary Payton, less Allen Iverson. This Suns team doesn’t win a playoff series or nab a 4-5 seed because Booker takes more shots. Not if that means Jalen Green has to take fewer shots. Or Dillon Brooks gets trigger-shy. Or Collin Gillespie defers. This isn’t the 2017 Suns, or the CP3 Suns that needed Booker to flame on every night. Booker doesn’t have to provide the bulk of the shots on this Suns team. SG1 isn’t a winning strategy. Let Ant and Spida spin their tires in the conference finals, chasing that title. The answer isn’t always more gas.

You know what the run-it-back Suns need more than 25 shots a night from Booker? Some of that Paris Olympics defense.

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For being a team that wants to build off the defensive side of the ball, the Suns couldn’t keep anyone out of the lane, and by the time they got to the playoffs, the secret was out. Expect teams to attack the Suns with the drive until the tape gives them reason to pause. The Suns can’t be the type of swarming defense Jordan Ott envisions if they can’t stay in front of the ball. The coaching staff and front office are surely working to address that weakness, but could the Suns’ best player be a part of the solution?

Booker played good defense last season. Can he make that a more consistent part of his game? Can he step up and take on a difficult assignment in a playoff series? Could he hold up when he gets switched onto Ant, Luka, or Shai. What would that allow the rest of the team to do? If Booker is mixing it up on defense, game in and game out, what kind of effort are you going to get from Jalen Green? How does that intensity transfer to the young core? How aggressively do Collin, Oso, Fleming, and Dunn play? A great individual offensive performance can increase everyone’s confidence shooting the ball. Could great individual effort from Book on the defensive end have a similar effect? The rising tide raises all boats. The Suns need Devin Booker to be the rising tide, on the defensive end, and as a playmaker on offense.

Booker’s numbers weren’t as off from previous seasons as the fan reaction would have you think, but the efficiency numbers were down. Yet the biggest critique from Book’s post-season performance was that he wasn’t aggressively seeking his shot. Then people see Jalen Brunson in the finals relentlessly attacking, and everyone stands up and says, “See! That’s what Booker needs to do.” But when Booker was at his best, making finals runs, getting MVP votes, and making all NBA teams, he was efficient. His 45.6 FG% last season was the lowest it’s been since the 2017-18 season, and his 33.0 3PT% was the lowest it’s been since the 2018-19 season. How does forcing contested shots help that?

Booker is great when he’s pushing the 50/40/90 mark. If he has to shoot it 15-17 times a game instead of 20 to get there, so be it. Booker needs to leverage his basketball IQ and gravity to be a playmaker first, like you see from superstars like Jokic or Lebron. Not just to create open looks for his teammates but also to open up better looks for himself. Lebron and Jokic don’t attack the wall teams build to contain them. They work the ball around the wall until the defense has to come out to cover the corners of the court they thought they could sacrifice. That’s when Jokic or Lebron start scoring. That’s how they get the looks they want, not the looks the defense wants.

Booker would benefit from being a more opportunistic scorer this upcoming season. When he’s playing with the bench unit at the end of the first quarter. Go nuts. When the Suns brick consecutive shots, and the other team sparks a run. Get aggressive, get a bucket. When he catches Austin Reeves in rotation. Take him to the hoop. But you don’t need to kill yourself in the first half getting to your spot if Green or Brooks are getting good looks. Be smart about when you spend your energy. The Suns don’t need Booker to take over in the second quarter; they need him to get buckets in the 4th. That’s how, on any given night, Booker can take fewer shots than Jalen Green or Dillon Brooks and still be the franchise player the Suns pay him to be. CP3 had it down to a science.

Booker can’t stay 2023 forever. I’m sure he looks at guys like Lebron and CP3, who stretched their careers out long past their expected expiration date, and thinks how he could do the same for his career. Their games evolved with age, with the way defenses played them, with the teams they had around them. Booker’s game will evolve too.

From coming off the bench for Calipari at Kentucky to hitting corner threes for Steve Kerr in the Paris Olympics, Devin Booker has always been willing and able to assume whatever role he needs to play to win. For over a decade, he’s been the Sun’s offensive engine wearing the number 1. Maybe that’s not what the Suns need right now. Maybe the Suns need the Olympic Booker. Maybe it’s time for Suns fans to open their minds to what #15 has to offer.

Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the only thing that will change about Devin Booker is his number. Let me know in the comments what you expect from Book next season. Will we see a new Book? Or will SG1 strike back?

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Arizona Diamondbacks Series Preview : Diamondbacks @ Cardinals

Rookie JJ Wetherholt is an outstanding defender. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Series Timing.

The series timing is better than expected for the Diamondbacks.  Recently, the Cardinals had a 3-game losing streak (17-19 June).  Last season, they collapsed in July (8 wins, 16 losses), and this season they seem to be starting their collapse in late June. 

Let’s compare the teams.

Offense. This season through 19 June, the Cardinals averaged more runs scored per game (4.55 vs 4.28 runs per game).

Runners Left On Base. This season through 19 June, the Diamondbacks left fewer runners on base per game (6.60 vs 7.27).

Defense. This season through 19 June, the Diamondbacks had the better defense (19 vs 13 OAA, 35 vs 11 DRS)

Bullpens. This season through 19 June, the Cardinals had more shutdown performances by the bullpen (77 vs 71).

Starting Pitcher Matchups. This season through 20 June, the Diamondbacks had the most quality starts (30 vs 28). In this series, if the Diamondbacks starting pitching is good, the odds are good that the Diamondbacks win at least two games of the four game series.

Cardinals Player to Watch.

JJ Wetherholt is the Cardinals’ top prospect.  In his debut season, he is playing second base.  His defense is outstanding (13 OAA).  His batting is outstanding (118 OPS+ with 10 homers).  His baserunning is outstanding (2 runs created by his baserunnning, with above-average extra bases taken and above-average stolen bases). If the season ended today, he would likely win the NL rookie-of-the-year award. 

Diamondbacks Player to Watch.

Brandon Pfaadt will return to the rotation. In the Majors, he has not started a game since April. Nevertheless, I feel positive vibes that he will return from the minors at his best. It will be a confidence booster that recently the Diamondbacks offense is on a hot streak ( 8 or more runs on 17, 19, and 20 June) and that he will face a pitcher who, in June, had an ERA over ten.

Pitching Matchups.

Monday, 4:45 PM MST.  

Merrill Kelly vs Andre Pallente.   In June, Pallente had the better ERA (2.41 ERA vs 8.27 ERA), and Pallente had more quality starts (2 QS vs 1 QS).

This matchup is advantage Cardinals.

Tuesday, 4:45 PM MST.  

Eduardo Rodriguez vs Kyle Leahy. In June Rodriguez had the better ERA (2.86 ERA vs 6.00 ERA), and Rodriguez had more quality starts (2 QS vs 1 QS).

This matchup is advantage Diamondbacks.

Wednesday, 4:45 PM MST.  

(TBD, possibly Brandon Pfaadt) vs Matthew Liberatore.  In March/April, prior to pitching in relief, Pfaadt started 3 games. In his fourth start, he entered the game in the third inning and pitched 6.1 innings. In those four games, his ERA was 4.70. In those 4 games, he earned one quality start. If he had started the fourth game, it would have been a second quality start. On that bases, comparing Pfaadt and Liberatore, Pfaadt had the better ERA (4.70 ERA vs 10.45 ERA), and Soroka had more quality starts (2 QS vs zero QS).  Worth noting is that my expectation is that neither pitcher will be in the game at the start of the fifth inning. That is because Pfaadt is not stretched out, and 4.1 innings was the most innings that Liberatore pitched in June.

This matchup is advantage Diamondbacks.

Thursday, 4:45 PM MST.  

Zac Gallen vs Michael McGreevy.  In June McGreevy had the better ERA (4.30 ERA vs 8.85 ERA), and McGreevy had more quality starts (3 QS vs 1 QS). Worth noting is that Gallen allowed 9 earned runs in his latest start, which makes me think that the odds are favorable that Gallen will pitch better than indicated by his June ERA.

This matchup is advantage Cardinals.

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Dodgers have yet to lose with Eric Lauer on the mound

Jun 2, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Eric Lauer in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Four games and four wins. That’s the track record of today’s starter for the Dodgers, Eric Lauer, as he gets ready to face the Twins in a second straight appearance against an American League team. The Dodgers knew exactly what they were getting after acquiring Lauer a little more than a month ago, and they have produced enough offense to take advantage of his serviceable but far from spectacular performances, beating the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Pirates, and Rays—three teams with a record above .500.

One predictable aspect of Lauer’s game that has appeared in this short period as a Dodger is his propensity to give up long balls. The left-hander has allowed at least one home run in each of his four starts since joining the Dodgers, totaling five of them and only eight earned runs. While he’s been able to finesse his way into productive performances, if the homers keep coming, a blowup is on the horizon.

Projecting this matchup against this Twins offense, don’t be fooled by their record below .500 in an underwhelming AL Central—it is primarily a byproduct of their lousy pitching numbers. The Twins come into this matchup averaging 4.91 runs per game, the second-highest mark in the American League, trailing only the Yankees. Specifically on the subject of home runs, one name stands out: Byron Buxton. The Twins’ star center fielder has homered seven times in his last 14 games, totaling 24 on the season. Lauer and the Dodgers pitching staff as a whole have their work cut out for them, trying to contain Buxton.

Monday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Twins
  • Ballpark: Target Field, Minneapolis
  • Start time: 4:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Cubs vs Mets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets kick off a three-game set at Citi Field tonight, and I’ve got a pair of MLB picks for the action.

My top Cubs vs. Mets predictions call for the Chicago offense to continue putting crooked numbers on the scoreboard tonight against New York. 

Who will win Cubs vs Mets today: Cubs moneyline (-121)

The Chicago Cubs are heating up at the dish with a fifth-ranked wOBA, ISO, and xwOBA over the past two weeks while averaging 5.7 runs per game. 

Chicago lefty Shota Imanaga has also flipped the script with just a single run allowed and opposing hitters limited to a miniscule 19.3% squared-up contact rate and 3.5% blast contact rate across 10 2/3 innings over his past two starts.

The Cubbies are set for success against struggling New York Mets righty Kodai Senga, too. His 5.12 xERA ranks in the 17th percentile, and he has negative pitch values on three of his most frequent four offerings.

I’m confident backing the Cubs moneyline to -135.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Shota Imanaga has the seventh-highest whiff percentage among qualified pitchers, and the Mets have the fourth-highest strikeout percentage in June, so I don’t expect New York to keep pace with Chicago in the series opener.

Cubs vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)

I’m anticipating the Chicago lineup to do damage against Senga to pave the way to this Over. In addition to the highlighted offensive surge from the Cubbies, they’ve also gone Over their team total in 21 of their last 35away games (+6.10 units / 15% ROI).

The Mets are also ripe to cash in on statistical correction. New York ranks 23rd in BABIP with their .311 wOBA below their 12th-ranked .321 xwOBA to go along with a sixth-ranked hard-hit rate across the past 30 days.

This Over is the play to -120.

Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 28-14, +15.77 units
  • Over/Under bets: 14-13, -0.03 units

Cubs vs Mets weather

The forecast is clear with 73°F conditions, no chance of rain, and a steady 10-mph wind blowing in from left-center field.

Cubs vs Mets odds

  • Moneyline: Cubs -117 | Mets +113
  • Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+138) | Mets +1.5 (-144)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-113) | Under 8.5 (+108)

Cubs vs Mets trend

The Cubs have covered the first five innings (F5) run line in eight of their last 10 games for +5.80 units and a 48% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Mets.

How to watch Cubs vs Mets and game info

LocationCiti Field, Queens, NY
DateMonday, June 22, 2026
First pitch7:10 p.m. ET
TVMARQ, SNY
Cubs starting pitcherEdward Cabrera
(4-4, 5.21 ERA)
Mets starting pitcherKodai Senga
(0-5, 9.00 ERA)

Cubs vs Mets latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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The Week Ahead for Atlanta: California, here comes the Braves

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at Petco Park on June 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s kind of hard to believe that the final West Coast swing of the season has finally arrived and the season hasn’t even hit the All-Star break yet. Whether you consider that to be a blessing (that this won’t come in August or September) or a curse (that it’s usually rough going out there no matter what time of year it is), there’s no denying that it’s coming at a bit of a weird moment for the Braves.

It sure looked like things were hitting a bit of a nadir for the Braves after they dropped consecutive series to the White Sox (understandable), the Mets (annoying) and the Giants (concerning) with the Brewers looming in the near horizon. As it turned out, the Braves proved that they’re a resilient bunch and ended up taking a dramatic series win in order to salvage the homestand and also stop the bleeding in what had been a rough stretch of games.

Now, we’re going to see that resilience get put to the test. Will the Braves keep the good times rolling out West? Or will the state of California trip up the Braves yet again? It’s time to look at what lies ahead this week for the Braves.

June 22-24: San Diego Padres

Current Record: 39-37Projected Record (via FanGraphs): 80-82

I mean, it goes without saying that obviously we’d all like to see the Braves have the lead in the ninth inning for all three games this series. If they don’t or the game goes into extras, they’re more-than-likely going to see Mason Miller and opposing hitters have not enjoyed seeing Mason Miller so far this season. He’s currently sitting on an ERA of 0.87 (22 ERA-) and a FIP of 0.33 (8 FIP-. Yes, EIGHT. League average is 100, by the way) where he’s given up 13 hits and 12 walks opposed to 61 strikeouts across 31 innings of work. That is absolutely horrifying to deal with.

However, the Padres are in the unenviable position of a relief pitcher being their best player. Heading into Sunday’s action, Mason Miller (who is not an every day player) had produced 2.0 fWAR on the season in 30 games. Fernando Tatis Jr. (who is an everyday player) has produced 1.7 fWAR. That discrepancy basically sums up how things have gone for the Padres. They’ve got some solid pitching — Adrian Morejon is also incredibly tough coming out of the bullpen, Walker Buehler has been trying to get things back on track with the Padres and Michael King has a track record of success against the Braves. Combine that with the pitcher-friendly park factor at Petco Park and we could be in for some low-scoring games during this series.

That’s also assuming that the Padres continue to scuffle at the plate, themselves. It is a little concerning that this crew has started to heat up a bit — they’ve scored at least five runs in six of their last 10 games and they’ll be facing a Braves pitching staff that (while they did stabilize a bit in the series win against the Brewers) hasn’t exactly been in shutdown mode in recent times.

Of course, it’d be lovely if Atlanta’s pitching staff did round back into form but it’s still hard to dismiss a lineup that’ll include Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Gavin Sheets and Ty France in it. Samad Taylor has provided some exciting moments as well and then you have the ever-looming threat of Manny Machado as well. Machado has been mostly scuffling so far this season but he’s got 13 homers so he could very well just pop one over the fence at any given moment. Grant Holmes, JR Ritchie and Martín Pérez will have to be on top of things in their starts this week.

Monday, June 22 at 10:10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Tuesday, June 23 at 9:40 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV)
Wednesday, June 23 at 8:40 p.m ET (BravesVision)

June 25-27: San Francisco Giants

Current Record: 31-46 Projected Record: 74-88

The last time the Braves saw the Giants, they were busy hitting balls all around Truist Park and over the fences as well — which was surprising considering how difficult it had been for this team to hit for power on a regular basis. Whatever magic they had in Atlanta was completely lost by the time they made it to Miami to complete their East Coast swing, as the Marlins ended up sweeping them.

San Francisco hit two homers (Rafael Devers in the opener and Casey Schmitt in the middle game) over the course of those three losses — now mind you, they hit back-to-back dingers against the Braves twice across two games in one day, so you tell me what’s happening there (other than baseball being a weird sport). It’s not like the Marlins were rolling, themselves, since they had just got done dropping a series against the Phillies. I guess that’s why you play the game on the field and not on a spreadsheet!

In Cobb County, the Giants got contributions from their usual suspects like Luis Arraez, Casey Schmitt, Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman but Rafael Devers also did a lot of damage as well. Obviously, keeping those guys quiet instead of letting each and every one of them run rampant at the plate will be key to Atlanta’s chances of getting some revenge in San Francisco. Bryce Eldridge might just be difficult to keep quiet at the plate no matter what, so there’s that. Either way, it’s already evident that when these guys get rolling, they can be dangerous.

The good news as far as pitching matchups go is that the Braves are going to avoid Landen Roupp and apparently everybody in Atlanta’s clubhouse should be thrilled about (probably) not seeing Robbie Ray again. The bad news is that the Braves will likely have to face Logan Webb, who has given the Braves serious trouble nearly every time he’s faced Atlanta. The lone two exceptions happened in 2023 but that was the season where the Braves were taking nearly everybody out back behind the woodshed so that appears to clearly be an exceptional case for the Braves. The rest of San Francisco’s pitching staff is vulnerable so assuming the Giants haven’t just completely figured out the Braves, Atlanta could do some damage in this series. We’ll see what happens!

Friday, June 26 at 10:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
Saturday, June 27 at 9:05 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
Sunday, June 28 at 4:05 p.m. ET (BravesVision)

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John Fanta's 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting all 30 first-round picks

Just one sleep remains before the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft in Brooklyn. The 2026 class is been considered one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory, headlined by a quartet of generational one-and-dones as well as explosive guards, and elite veteran forwards. With the draft almost here, here are John Fanta's picks for all 30 first-round selections.

1. Wizards - AJ Dybantsa, BYU

2. Jazz - Darryn Peterson, Kansas

3. Grizzlies - Cameron Boozer, Duke

4. Bulls - Caleb Wilson, North Carolina

5. Clippers - Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

6. Nets - Nate Ament, Tennessee

7. Kings - Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

8. Hawks - Keaton Wagler, Illinois

9. Mavericks - Brayden Burries, Arizona

10. Bucks - Kingston Flemings, Houston

11. Warriors - Aday Mara, Michigan

12. Thunder - Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

13. Heat - Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers

14. Hornets - Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan

15. Bulls - Hannes Steinbach, Washington

16. Grizzlies - Christian Anderson, Texas Tech

17. Thunder - Allen Graves, Santa Clara

18. Hornets - Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

19. Raptors - Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama

20. Spurs - Chris Cenac Jr., Houston

21. Pistons - Dailyn Swain, Texas

22. Sixers - Cameron Carr, Baylor

23. Hawks - Koa Peat, Arizona

24. Knicks - Henri Veesar, North Carolina

25. Lakers - Meleek Thomas, Arkansas

26. Nuggets - Isaiah Evans, Duke

27. Celtics - Tarris Reed Jr., UConn

28. Timberwolves - Ebuka Okorie, Stanford

29. Cavs - Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky

30. Mavericks - Jack Kayil, Alba Berlin

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Come see C.J. Abrams (while you can): Phillies vs. Nationals series preview

Jun 14, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) fields a ground ball against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

The Phillies’ previous opponent was expected to be a contender but is mired in last place. Now, they’ll head south to take on a Nationals team that many expected to finish in last place but instead finds itself in the mix for a playoff spot.

It seems unlikely that the Nationals will remain in that mix as the pitching staff is a weakness and their league-leading offense is being fueled by some players with a history of falling off in the second half of the season. But for now, this four-game series is shaping up to be much tougher than most would have expected when the season began.

Opposition research: C.J. Abrams

There’s a strong argument that C.J. Abrams has been the best shortstop in the National League this season. Yet if you believe the scuttlebutt around baseball, it seems like there’s still a non-zero chance that he gets traded within the next year.

Abrams, pitcher MacKenzie Gore and outfielder James Wood were the centerpieces of the Juan Soto trade a few years ago. But this past offseason brought in a regime change in Washington, and the new president of baseball operations was not as invested in those players as his predecessor. Gore was traded, and there were plenty of rumors that the other two could be moved for the right price as well.

Abrams has had his moments in the big leagues, but there have also been maturity concerns, as well as questions if his defense will eventually force him to a different position. He has also performed dramatically worse in the second halves of the season. His career second half OPS is .150 points lower than in the first half, and the split was even more pronounced in 2025 (.836 vs. .633).

With Abrams likely headed to the All-Star Game, and the Nats currently sitting above .500, it seems unlikely that Abrams will be traded this season. But if the Nats’ weak pitching catches up with them, and Abrams has another poor second half, it’s quite possible that Abrams’ name will once again be a hot one in trade rumors come October.

Either way, Abrams comes into this series hot, having hit a home run in each of his last three games.

Remembering a guy who played for both teams

For some reason, I was very high on outfielder Roger Bernadina during his brief tenure with the Phillies. The speedy outfielder spent his first five and a half years with the Nationals, never establishing himself as much more than a passable backup. In August of 2013, the Nats released him, and the Phillies gave him a look.

In hindsight, I’m not sure what enamored me of Bernadina. He batted .187 with two home runs and played solid, if unspectacular defense in centerfield. He was a free agent at season’s end, and the Phillies didn’t make much of an effort to retain him. He caught on with the Reds the following season but did little to justify my belief that the Phillies should have kept him.

Hating on the Nationals

There’s another reason that Abrams is still being mentioned in trade rumors: People don’t think the Nationals will pay him enough to stick around once he reaches free agency.

After the Nationals fluked their way to a World Series win, they decided that their success was fueled by the head of their starting rotation: Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin. Strasburg had an opt-out in his deal which he exercised, and the Nats responded by giving him a seven-year extension.

Strasburg was considered a long-term injury risk, and sure enough, he got injured almost as soon as the ink had dried on that new deal. He made just eight more appearances for the team, and combined with Corbin turning into a pumpkin, the Nats were paying an extraordinary amount of money for two guys who provided a combined negative value.

It’s strange that they chose to pay Corbin and Strasburg, while deciding that offensive stars like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon (to be fair, they dodged a bullet on this one), and Juan Soto were not worth paying market value for. Sure, in many of those cases, they offered contract extension, but the offers almost always included a large amount of deferred money.

Deferred money can be used as a weapon for some teams (The Dodgers in particular), but for the Nationals, it just seems like a way to save some money.

Also, the Nationals’ stadium is boring, their announcers are lame, they’ve never been able to figure out a good uniform combination, and the fans still boo Bryce Harper. Get over it, guys.

With the series during the week and the Nationals doing better than expected, we probably won’t get a full Phillies takeover this time around. But with nice weather expected (aside from possible Monday rain) and schools out of session, I imagine there will still be a decent representation by Phillies fans over the next few days.

Additional thought about the season

With Andrew Painter demoted, the Phillies have yet to announce a starter for Monday’s game. It seems likely that Alan Rangel will be called up to work multiple innings, if not given the start. It would be nice if the Phillies had a promising prospect or two waiting in AAA for this situation, but unfortunately, a 28-year-old minor league journeyman is probably their best option at this point.

Rangel has made six major league appearances over the past two seasons and has a 2.57 ERA despite allowing 19 baserunners in 14 innings. Maybe he’s just got a knack for stranding runners? (We can hope, right?)

It seems like the Phillies’ offense will need to continue to hit like they have over the past two games. On Monday, they’ll face lefthander Foster Griffin who is having a successful season after spending three years in Japan. The Phillies actually hit well against a lefty start on Sunday night. Do we dare dream that they can do it two nights in a row?

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White Sox vs. Guardians prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 22

The AL Central race takes center stage tonight as the first-place Guardians (41-37) are in Chicago to take on the surprising White Sox (39-37). Cleveland leads the Sox by one game. The White Sox have been dominant at home compiling a record of 24–12 this season while the Guardians are a respectable 22-20 on the road.

Cleveland takes the field following yesterday’s 2–1 loss to the Astros. Houston took two of three in the series as it was feast or famine for the Guardians’ offense. Cleveland scored eight runs in their win Saturday but just four in their two losses combined in Space City. Getting runners across home plate has been a consistent issue all season. Cleveland ranks third from the bottom of the American League with just 310 runs scored this season. It is difficult envisioning them as a threat come playoff time if they do not start hitting in the clutch. Chicago, meanwhile, comes in on a three-game skid and losers of five of their last six following a 5–4 extra-inning loss in Detroit on Sunday. The offense of the Sox have gone quiet over this stretch scoring more than four runs just twice in those six games.

 

Tonight’s pitching matchup features a clear edge for Cleveland, as right-hander Gavin Williams (9–4, 3.83 ERA) gets the ball for the Guardians. Williams has anchored a Guardians’ staff that ranks among the better units in the league (3.79 ERA) and brings swing-and-miss ability with 103 strikeouts in 91.2 innings. Opposing him is left-hander Anthony Kay (6–2, 4.61 ERA), who has been effective in the win column but less dominant in preventing baserunners as indicated by his 1.44 WHIP.

 

When it comes to the bats, both teams have been able to count on just a handful of hitters of late. For Cleveland, rookie Travis Bazzana has been one of the few steady bats, going 11-for-35 (.314) with two doubles and three homers over his last 10 games. Brayan Rocchio continues to provide stability at the top of the lineup with a .268 average for the season. Chicago’s recent production has been driven by Colson Montgomery, who has gone just 7-for-34 over his last 10 games but has made his hits count with four home runs among those seven hits. Chase Meidroth remains a consistent presence in the four-spot leading the team with a .271 average.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

 

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

 

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

 

Game Details and How to Watch: Guardians vs. White Sox

 

  • Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, CLEGuardians.TV, CSN

 

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

 

The Latest Odds: Guardians vs. White Sox

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Cleveland Guardians (-112), Chicago White Sox (-108)
  • Spread: Guardians -1.5 (+148), White Sox +1.5 (-180)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Guardians vs. White Sox for June 22

  • Guardians: Gavin Williams
    Season Totals: 91.2 IP, 9-4, 3.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 103K, 30 BB
  • White Sox: Anthony Kay
    Season Totals: 70.1 IP, 6-2, 4.61 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 55K, 28 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Guardians vs. White Sox

  • Tristan Peters – 3-16 over his last 7 games
  • Colson Montgomery was 0-11 in the weekend series against Detroit
  • Andrew Benintendi – 0-7 in the weekend series against Detroit
  • Kyle Manzardo was 3-12 over the weekend against Houston
  • Brayan Rocchio is 5-16 over his last 4 games
  • Travis Bazzana has hit safely in 5 straight games (9-18)

 

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

 

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Guardians vs. White Sox

  • The Guardians are 43-35 on the Run Line this season
  • The White Sox are 43-33 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 44 times in Chicago’s 76 games this season (44-30-2)
  • The OVER has cashed 38 times in the Guardians’ 78 games this season (38-40)

Expert picks & predictions: Guardians vs. White Sox

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

 

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Guardians and the White Sox:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the White Sox on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Sox on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5

 

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Where is Buster Posey?

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 11: President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants watches practice during Spring Training at Scottsdale Stadium on February 11, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s been a bit since Buster Posey last made public comments. He was practically front and center during the last road trip when he traveled with the team, but since then, the team has gotten worse, some unpleasantness has taken place, and whatever’s going on in the clubhouseseems to have bubbled over into the field of play. So, last week’s SB Nation Reacts survey was well timed.

Poll respondents were asked, “How has Buster Posey done as President of Baseball Operations?”

This seems like a pretty straightforward question designed to solicit a straightforward response. For whatever we think about Buster Posey the Hall of Fame bound catcher, none of that could possibly apply to his cannonball into the deep end of the executive suite.

While I’m of the belief that the captain of a ship is responsible for the behavior of his crew, I understand why fans would want to saddle the poor play and the worse behavior onto the players themselves. We would have to ignore that Buster Posey put together the clubhouse that’s populated with these weirdos, bozos, and abject losers, but being a fan means that ignoring aspects of a team is one of our superpowers. So, let’s look beyond all that, even.

  • There’s no pitching. Not really. They’re lucky to have the previous front office’s development success in Logan Webb, but after that, it’s Backend Starter Theater.
  • The Rafael Devers deal, which already wasn’t going to work out for the team in the long-run looks like a dead weight in the short-run, too.
  • Willy Adames is probably on a 30-homer pace again and plausibly a season similar to last season (108 wRC+), but he’s hardly the captain he seemed like he was going to be when the year started and it seems pretty clear, too, that his best days are behind even him already.

With those two big deals on the books, the Giants had to go out and solicit more investment in the offseason just to boost their Baseball Operations budget enough to support this year’s team. Were the fringe additions of Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser sensible dollars? Or the pennies thrown at the bullpen? Most fans would say no. And I don’t think it’s reasonable to hold subpar players to a higher standard. It’s not as though their track records were unknown to us during the offseason.

And it’s not just the Devers and Adames deals (on top of the previous front office’s commitments to Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Robbie Ray, and Logan Webb), it’s the way Posey has spent at the manager’s position. Thanks to picking up Bob Melvin’s option only to fire him — Posey’s decision! Not the behavior of the players — the Giants are spending $10.5 million on the manager’s position in 2026. An outrageous sum of money indicative of someone in charge who doesn’t have a handle on their responsibilities.

Now, it was only a month ago that I joked about how Buster Posey needs to sign himself to a 2-year extension so that he’s forced to stick with the Giants for 5 seasons and really make a go of this whole President of Baseball Operations thing, but the hiring of Tony Vitello has been such an error in judgment and his silence about the ongoing anti-Pride Night protest very surprising to see, that there’s no real value in him continuing on past 2027 — if there’s even a 2027 season.

Yes, his “legacy” as an executive might be a bit more positive in the long run should the team’s player development system become a real strength of the organization, but we’ve said that about the last couple of executives running the show. By the way, on that note, Buster’s off to the second worst start of the Giants’ top baseball executive in franchise history (or, at least, since Baseball Reference started keeping tabs on who a team’s chief baseball executive was). Here’s how he stacks up through his first 239 regular season games:

  1. Bob Quinn, 1993 & 1994: 136-103 (.569)
  2. Brian Sabean, 1997 & 1998: 135-104 (.565)
  3. Horace Stoneham, 1970 & 1971: 135-104 (.565)
  4. Bobby Evans, 2015 & 2016: 133-106 (.556)
  5. Chub Feeney, 1950 & 1951: 128-103 (.554)
  6. Tom Haller, 1981 & 1982 & 1983 (25 games) : 126-113 (.527)
  7. Al Rosen, 1986 & 1987: 121-118 (.506)
  8. Farhan Zaidi, 2019 & 2020 & 2021 (17 games): (.490)
  9. Buster Posey, 2025 & 2026: 112-127 (.469)
  10. H.B. Richardson, 1976 & 1977: 109-130 (.456)

Now, this used to be a somewhat anonymous position, but that’s no longer the case. With the hijacking of the sport by the Moneyball crowd, the GM/POBO has become one of the most famous figures on any team. That Buster Posey finds himself down near the bottom of performance in the franchise’s history — trailing one of the most divisive figures in team history but also one of his current advisors whose poor stewardship left the player development so barren that we’re still feelings its ramifications — should be enough for a lot of fans to grade his time in the position rather harshly. The Giants are also on a 65-win pace. That can’t all be on the manager and players.

But, he’s Buster Posey, and it’s going to take fans a long time to accept that he’s doing a bad job or that he did a bad job last season, too, as this season didn’t come out of nowhere. Maybe I’m misremembering, but his last public comments might’ve been around the time of his pouty KNBR interview with Brian Murphy (no relation and that’s not me on the radio!). It wasn’t quite the equivalent of the time that Farhan Zaidi ragequit a live interview while he and Jon Miller watched the Giants mess up on defense several times in a row, but it was demonstrative enough as to be suggestive about his leadership style and how he handles pressure in a role where he can’t hit or field his way out of the situation. This is where his strategy to disappear when the going gets tough might actually pay off. He’s added no new data to the collective memory. He extends fans’ magical thinking just a little longer — “Just wait until Buster cleans house!” —

Anyway, here’s the response to that survey:

Just 20% are firmly behind Buster Posey’s cosplay of a baseball exec. More than half are hedging or giving him the grace they’d hope to be afforded if they woke up one morning in charge of a baseball team.

And that’s another part of this worth considering. Most fans know they could never have been or will never been a professional athlete, but the vast majority think they could be an exec or a scout or an agent or an owner. It’s what’s driving the online thirst for a lockout and salary cap for these latest Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. I wonder how much of this result has anything to do with what’s happening on the field. Do respondents think there’s still a chance the team turns around its fortunes in 2026? Are they just waiting for the draft and trade deadline? The time element is probably the answer, but I find that to be the least compelling reason to hold out on rendering a judgment.

Buster has rolled up his sleeves and come down from the pedestal of being a Hall of Fame bound baseball player and that alone has earned him a lot of credit. How much, though?

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Could Avalanche Nemesis Mason Marchment Be The Missing Piece In Colorado?

A blockbuster like the Brady Tkachuk deal doesn’t just change rosters—it changes what the rest of the league thinks is possible.

For the Colorado Avalanche, the ripple effects of Tkachuk’s move to the Florida Panthers on Sunday are impossible to ignore. Ottawa landed a haul headlined by the No. 9 and No. 25 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, along with a conditional first-round selection in 2029 and a second-round pick in 2027. The No. 25 pick, notably, was flipped earlier in the day by Florida in a separate move involving Seattle and forward Mackie Samoskevich.

And when a package like that moves for a player of Tkachuk’s caliber, it naturally resets the conversation around what elite, high-impact forwards are worth across the league.

For the Avalanche, that inevitably circles back to Valeri Nichushkin.

Avalanche star Valeri Nichushkin could very well be traded this offseason. Credit: Ron Chenoy - Imagn Images
Avalanche star Valeri Nichushkin could very well be traded this offseason. Credit: Ron Chenoy - Imagn Images

In recent days, The Hockey News has explored the idea of whether Colorado should even consider moving him—ultimately leaning toward the idea that the organization would be better served evaluating him for at least another half-season before making any long-term decision. But trades like this reopen the door to more aggressive thinking.

What would it look like if Colorado explored a package built around Nichushkin—and potentially cash considerations—for the No. 9 overall pick? Even if that’s ambitious, a pivot toward something closer to No. 25 might be more realistic depending on how the market evolves. Either way, the Avalanche are in a position where adding draft capital has value after years of dealing picks away in win-now moves.

Ottawa’s return underscores that point: the No. 9 pick, the No. 25 pick, a conditional first-round selection in the 2029 NHL Draft, and a second-round pick in 2027.

And that’s before factoring in how quickly a market like this can get crowded. There are 30 other front offices looking at the same framework, and inevitably, someone will try to replicate it with their own roster calculus.

From Colorado’s perspective, the upside isn’t just the pick—it’s flexibility. Moving Nichushkin would also mean shedding his contract structure, which is notably front-loaded. While his $6.125 million cap hit remains the same, the Avalanche would be responsible for just under $5 million in actual salary this season. That kind of financial space can be just as valuable as the draft assets themselves if it opens the door to another impact player.

And that’s where another name enters the conversation.

Per NHL insider David Pagnotta, Mason Marchment is expected to test the free agent market. That alone is going to draw mixed reactions from Avalanche fans—some will see the fit immediately, others probably won’t be thrilled with the idea given how he’s played against Colorado in the past.

But stylistically, he’s exactly the type of player this roster has lacked at times: big, physical, heavy on the puck, and capable of scoring goals while changing the tone of a playoff series. The Avalanche found out first-hand against Vegas what happens when a series turns into a war of attrition rather than skill. Marchment fits firmly on the “make it miserable to play against” spectrum, and those are the kinds of players contenders tend to circle back to.

Marchment’s last contract was a four-year, $18 million deal ($4.5 million AAV). If the Avalanche move Nichushkin or find another way to offload salary, they would be positioned to comfortably afford him. And with the salary cap continuing to rise, Marchment’s next deal would likely come in higher than his previous contract, reflecting both market growth and his role as a physical, middle-six impact forward.

This is where another layer of context matters. Marchment’s name already carries a reputation in Colorado circles for being a thorn in their side, and he’s the kind of player teams don’t forget easily once the stakes rise.

Edmonton fans won't forgive Mason Marchment any time soon. Credit: Perry Nelson - Imagn Images
Edmonton fans won't forgive Mason Marchment any time soon. Credit: Perry Nelson - Imagn Images

Marchment arguably changed the tone of the 2024 postseason when a heavy hit on Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman knocked him out of the playoffs, before Edmonton eventually fell to the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

This is where the broader roster idea starts to take shape. If Colorado does move Nichushkin, even partially to recoup draft capital, it opens a dual path: replenishing the prospect pool while also giving the front office flexibility to chase a different type of impact forward in free agency or trade.

Instead of your highest pick coming in the third round, maybe there’s a chance to step into the first two rounds again—targeting players like Alberts Šmits, the No. 2-ranked international skater by NHL Central Scouting, or potentially, if Colorado lands a pick in the mid-first range, someone like Ilya Morozov.

It becomes a balance of present and future. Not one or the other.

Yes, completely aware that Mason Marchment has been an absolute pain in Colorado’s side in past matchups, and Josh Manson has had his grievances with him over the years. The first day of practice might feel a bit like a therapy session with Draymond Green in the room, but the underlying question is whether Colorado is ready to keep getting outmuscled by teams built for playoff trench warfare.

The Avalanche have tried to win with skill and structure. The question now is whether the next step requires a little more edge.

And whether that edge comes through a trade, free agency, or both, it’s exactly the type of decision Joe Sakic and the front office are going to have to weigh this offseason.

Image
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MLB Expert Picks & Baseball Predictions June 22

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We've got a 13-game slate for MLB action tonight, and our MLB experts are focusing on star power.

Find out what MLB picks you need to add to your card for Monday, June 22.

MLB expert picks for today

PickOdds
Neil Parker Neil Parker: Yankees moneyline-116
Joe Osborne Joe Osborne: Dodgers vs. Twins - Over 9.5-104

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

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Neil Parker's expert pick: Yankees moneyline

Price: 54¢ (-116) at Polymarket

The New York Yankees have found a groove without star Aaron Judge (ribs) and won nine of their past 13 while averaging 5.5 runs per game and ranking ninth in wOBA and sixth in xwOBA.

They’re also second in wOBA for the season against lefties, and Detroit Tigers southpaw Framber Valdez’s 4.47 xERA ranks in the 35th percentile.

Additionally, New York righty Gerrit Cole has allowed two runs or fewer in four of five starts while holding opposing hitters to a pedestrian 30.7% squared-up contact rate and 10.2% blast contact rate.

So, with the Tigers ranking 22nd in xwOBA with the 10th-highest strikeout rate across the past 30 days, I’m confident Cole can hold the Detroit lineup in check enough for a road win at Comerica tonight.

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: YES, Detroit SportsNet

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Dodgers vs. Twins Over 9.5

Price: 51¢ (-104) at Polymarket

The Over has been cashing at a high clip for both of these squads lately. The Minnesota Twins surprisingly lead MLB in OPS over the last two weeks, resulting in 10 of their last 13 games clearing the total. The Los Angeles Dodgers aren't far behind, going Over in 10 of their last 14.

Minnesota hitters have also enjoyed plenty of success against Dodgers starter Eric Lauer, combining for a 1.094 OPS in 62 at-bats, while Zebby Matthews is prone to getting lit up — having allowed seven earned runs twice in his last four starts. 

Add in Los Angeles leading MLB in runs per game on the road and a Twins bullpen carrying a 7.36 ERA over the past two weeks, and this one has all the makings of a slugfest.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: TBS

More MLB best bets for today

PickOdds
Guardians moneyline-116
Read analysis in our Guardians vs. White Sox predictions
Dodgers moneyline-138
Read analysis in our Dodgers vs. Twins predictions
Yankees vs. Tigers Under 8.5-107
Read analysis in our Yankees vs. Tigers predictions

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Jamie George captains England again as Borthwick plays it safe for brutal summer tour

  • Caluori, Fisilau, Janse van Rensburg, Sela, Kloska selected

  • Fin Smith says he had to ‘fake’ confidence after Lions tour

At some stage there will be better times ahead for English rugby. They have an encouraging amount of young talent, a decent age profile and another 15 months to develop prior to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Get it right – and they have a more than promising draw – and the sunlit uplands could yet be glimpsed in Australia next year.

That, at least, is the cosy scenario. First, though, there is the equivalent of a precarious-looking rope bridge to be crossed by those named in Steve Borthwick’s squad for this summer’s inaugural leg of the new Nations Championship. Three Tests in three different continents in successive weeks with a squad lacking its regular captain and on a four-match losing streak is not the idyllic travel brochure it might have been.

Continue reading...
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Dusty May hiring reactions

Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May celebrates the team’s NCAA men's basketball tournament national championship victory Monday, April 6, 2026, after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks hired Dusty May! It’s a busy week around these parts but I asked the staff to react!

Matt: Yes. The move feels ahead of the curve, not painfully behind it. It will be great to have an X’s and O’s man on the Mavericks’ sideline. May is certainly not “watching, just like you guys.” He develops young talent, and the Mavs are likely to get younger in the immediate future. I’m all the way in and stand ready to be laughed out of the room if it goes wrong.

Bryan: If Dusty could handle Yaxel’s annoying ass and still make a team of transfers look like one of the best title teams in the last decade, I’ll gladly take him here. Spreadsheets Fan Club won the war, and the Dallas Mavericks should reap the benefits with May at the helm for Cooper’s early career.

Michael: I love this. It had become apparent we were targeting an NBA assistant or the top two college coaches. The latter (Jon Scheyer and Dusty May) were ironically, the “bigger” names of the bunch despite not being in the NBA. May demonstrated a keen ability to pull a team together to win a National Championship, and while time will tell how successful he will be at the NBA level, there are positive signs he’s going to be just fine. Worst case, we should have every confidence he can capably manage young guys, which the Mavs will hopefully be overflowing with before long. Even if he only sticks around a few years for something of a rebuild, there could still be huge benefits. Simply put, there isn’t much I’m questioning or doubting. This feels like a great hire for what we need, with the potential for big upside and a real chance May could be at the helm for years to come.

Chris: I’m normally a little skeptical about college to NBA hires, but I love this for the Mavs. May is fresh off a National Championship with Michigan so he’s proven he can win and do it a lot. He completely turned around the FAU program and then delivered Michigan its second championship. He’s a genius basketball mind with a knack for X’s and O’s. He’ll be great for helping recognize young talent, developing talent, and (hopefully) leading the Mavs back to eventual contention.

Jeremy: The Mavs needed to hit a home run with this hire, so why not go out and get one of the brightest minds in the sport? May’s evolution from Florida Atlantic to winning the National Championship at Michigan proves that his system travels and he knows how to win in multiple places. Granted, the NBA is a completely different animal, but the Mavs are going younger, so adding a college coach to grow alongside them isn’t a bad decision. If they select any of his players in the draft (Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson), I’ll like this hire for the Mavs even more.

Gracie: I couldn’t be more thrilled. I’m even happier that the search is over heading into the draft and free agency. Hearing his name in the mix, I was skeptical on hiring a college guy, but his record speaks for itself. The fact that he has three of his guys in the mix for the draft combined with their championship run shows that he can coach and get his guys to where they need to be. I am excited to see what he can do with Flagg and whoever they draft on Tuesday.

Ben: I’m more skeptical than most about hiring a coach with no experience in the NBA. May might be worth the risk considering his résumé, but the college and NBA basketball ecosystems are just so different.

That being said, the college basketball world is changing, and maybe the two experiences overlap more than they have in the past. If the Mavs front office is thinking this, May is a great choice to take a chance on.

Kirk: Since I had essentially ruled this hire out due to various reports around the hiring process, I am thrilled that they were wrong. I don’t know enough about May. Michigan fans are upset, so that must mean something. Here’s hoping he’s awesome.

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Pistons risk losing their heart and soul in rumored Tyler Herro-Giannis trade

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 1: Ronald Holland II #5 and Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on December 1, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The most important player on the Detroit Pistons is undeniably Cade Cunningham. He is now a multitime All-Star, All-NBA player, and a true superstar. It is also clear that Trajan Langdon considers the core players alongside Cade to be Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. Ausar for his all-world defense and Duren for his rim pressure, inside-scoring, and growing offensive repertoire.

But if you asked me which two players most defined the Detroit Pistons these last two seasons, I’m not sure I’d say any of the above. When I think about how this team went from the league’s cellar to a 6o-win team, I think about the energy, passion, grit, and voracious defense it took to get there. That is what the Detroit Pistons are to me.

And that is most exemplified by two bench players — Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland. Those are also two players almost certainly being sent out in a deal for Tyler Herro, based on people I have spoken with within league circles and close to the franchise.

It’s clear to Trajan Langdon and everyone else what this team was missing in the playoffs — secondary playmaking, ball handling, and shot making. Those are not things you will find on the resume of either Stewart or Holland. You’d also find that in abundance with Herro, who has his flaws but is undeniably an extremely dangerous scorer at multiple levels and in multiple ways.

The Pistons, however, risk losing the very identity that got them to this point. Holland hasn’t broken out, and he still has a long way to go as a reliable offensive threat, especially from the perimeter. But he’s also the player I most associate with Making Things Happen™ when the Pistons needed a spark.

I wish Stewart would bomb away more from deep, but he’s one of the most impactful interior defenders in the NBA. He was one of only three players who held opponents to sub-50% shooting within 3 feet of the rim on three or more attempts per game.

It might seem like you’re sacrificing your fifth- and ninth-leading scorers to obtain a true No. 2 option on team desperate for it. Swapping out 18 points and low-usage minutes for a 20-25 point-per-game scorer. That’s all true. But you’re losing so much more than that.

You’re losing the heart and soul of the Pistons, and other players will need to step up to provide that juice, or the Pistons could find themselves stumbling backward instead of hurtling forward toward title contention.

Jalen Duren will need to learn how to not just defend the paint but also make people a little scared of bringing the ball inside. Ausar Thompson will need to be at least as willing a shooter as Holland was, while also taking every opportunity to dive on the ball, create chaos, and score in transition.

It’s unclear whether this deal is even possible if the Pistons send out the No. 21 pick instead of Holland. It depends on what Miami and/or Milwaukee values. But trend lines are pointing to Detroit keeping the pick and losing Holland.

For Trajan Langdon to send out the first draft pick he ever made for this franchise is significant. He needs to ensure that the player they select at No. 21 hits.

This is one of the few all-in adjacent moves Detroit is going to be able to make with this core. He can’t afford to make mistakes.