It feels like we’ve seen this before, but the Montreal Canadiens could certainly use a right-shot defenseman this offseason, and preferably one that could play a top-four role and handle some serious minutes. Those are not easy to find, but the closer we get to July 1, the more likely it becomes that a defenseman who absolutely fits the bill will be available in free agency.
Back in the 2024-25 season, the New York Rangers traded their captain, Jacob Trouba, to the Anaheim Ducks. The blueliner was on a big contract with an $8 million cap hit, which the Ducks could absorb, and they did. Now, though, the contract is set to expire, and it appears that the negotiations between the two sides are not progressing particularly well.
It’s hard to know why, it could be that he wants too much money or that he wants too much term, or it could even be both. If he does become a free agent, though, that’s a call Kent Hughes has to make, at least to see if there would be any interest from the player to join what the Canadiens are building.
At 32 years old, Trouba has never won the Stanley Cup, and Hughes can at least point to the fact that his team reached the Eastern Conference Final. Of course, the veteran wouldn’t be a long-term hire; he could be the perfect temporary place-holder while David Reinbacher gets some experience to fill that top-four role eventually,
Trouba is not the biggest points producer; he got 35 points in 81 games, but he can hit. He’s got a big body at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, and he plays like it. This past season, he landed 125 bone-crushing hits, and that makes opponents think twice about approaching him. Furthermore, he’s a good shot blocker, blocking 143 hits this past season, and he’s playing a lot of minutes; he spent nearly 23 minutes on the ice for the Ducks. That’s the kind of veteran profile that Martin St-Louis would trust.
Would he entertain the thought of playing in Canada? He did it in Winnipeg for 6 years. There was noise about him not wanting to return to Canada in 2024 when the Rangers traded him, but only fools don’t change their minds, and a lot has changed for the Canadiens since then…
While the Philadelphia Flyers would like to upgrade their defense at some point this offseason, a reunion with an old friend could be out of the preferred price range.
Since leaving the Flyers in 2019, rugged defenseman and NHL public enemy Radko Gudas has enjoyed successful stints with the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, and Anaheim Ducks.
Gudas, 36, is now the captain of the Ducks, though he could leave in free agency with a reportedly robust market awaiting him.
According to former NHL goalie and NHL insider Kevin Weekes, Gudas is "gaining interest" and the former Flyers defenseman will have suitors, including the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs, if he hits the open market.
Gudas, alongside teammates Jacob Trouba and John Carlson and Vegas Golden Knights defender Rasmus Andersson, figures to be one of the top defensemen hitting the free agent market this year.
Aside from those, the Flyers don't have many attractive options to choose from, and especially in Carlson's cases if they want a power play quarterback.
As it most closely relates to the Flyers and their offseason plans, though, Gudas is the most suitable alternative to Rasmus Ristolainen for any contenders out there looking for physical defensemen.
The free agent class as a whole is uninspiring this summer, which will steer more teams, including the Flyers themselves, towards trades.
Conversely, the Ducks may very well be a team to keep an eye on for Ristolainen, given that Trouba, Carlson, and Gudas are all free agents, and Carlson has already decided to move on.
In any case, Gudas's situation is one worth keeping an eye on as we head into the draft and free agency, as the former Flyers tough guy will likely have a domino effect on the broader defenseman market this summer.
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 1: Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 1, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Oklahoma City is exactly where Dallas wants to be. The Thunder have a clear star, in reigning two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They have the perfect types of talent around him to accentuate his strengths and have created a juggernaut. But all that talent comes at a cost, and the Thunder will have to make some decisions by the draft. Should they consolidate picks and cut some of the talent further down their bench to help financially? One of the most popular scenarios, and one that makes a lot of sense, is trading with the Mavericks. The Thunder own the 12th and 17th picks in the 2026 draft. The Mavericks own the 9th and 30th. Is it time to make a deal with the devil?
How did the Thunder get here?
The Thunder, as widely disliked as they are (at least around here), have built its team from the ground up through the draft. Gilgeous-Alexander came over in the Paul George trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. That trade included a slew of picks that are paying off for the Thunder, particularly the 2022 first-round pick that became Gilgeous-Alexander’s all-star running mate in Jalen Williams. Chet Holmgren was also selected in the 2022 draft, as he’s turned into an anchor defensively, being the runner-up for the 2025-2026 Defensive Player of the Year Award. But all that talent comes a heavy price. The Thunder are paying all three of their stars each over $40 million a year over the next five years. That’s about 75% of their cap space. Oklahoma City, if they keep this roster going into next season, would be $41 million over the first apron and $28 million over the second. They need to shed salary. And Dallas may be the perfect suiter.
What deal makes sense and how would it work?
The Mavericks are in dire need of guard help. This draft is loaded with star-quality talent, particularly towards the top. Dallas holds the 9th pick and will likely have options among guys like Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, Darius Acuff Jr. Mikel Brown Jr., and Labaron Philon Jr. If there’s one thing we know about Masai Ujiri, he’s had a keen eye for draft prospects. The former Toronto Raptors president selected names like Pascal Siakam (27th pick in 2016), O.G. Anunoby (23rd pick in 2017), and Scottie Barnes (4th pick in 2021). He’ll need to do his homework on who he wants this time around, because Dallas might want two bites at the apple in the top 20.
There are a couple different routes the Mavs could take with the 9th pick. Of course, they could keep it if they felt it were too risky to slip any further than 9th to make their selection. Names like Kingston Flemings, Darius Acuff Jr., and Mikel Brown Jr. probably won’t be available at 12, so if the Mavs are set on one of those guards, they should stay at nine. If Dallas wants to look at making a deal, here’s how the framework could look.
Scenario 1: Thunder consolidate and Mavs aggregate.
The simplest scenario is for the Thunder to send their 12th and 17th picks to the Mavs for the 9th pick. No frills and straightforward. Oklahoma City will still need to do some significant consolidation with their roster before the season starts, but one simple move is sending two picks for one. The Thunder get a top 10 talent, and the Mavs get two swings in the top 20. In this scenario, Dallas most likely wouldn’t have to include the 30th pick, meaning they would have three picks in the first round: 12, 17, and 30.
Scenario 2: Thunder help the Mavs with depth
If Dallas is enamored with someone who could fall to 12 (most likely Burries or Philon Jr.), they could package that 9th and 30th picks to the Thunder in exchange for the 12th and 17th picks, as well as another rotation guy to help Oklahoma City shed salary (like Isaiah Joe or Aaron Wiggins), who both largely fell out of the rotation for the Thunder in this year’s playoff run. The Thunder don’t necessarily have to include extra salary to make the deal work, but it would make sense for them and the Mavs could add more wing shooting and depth.
Another player worth watching is Cason Wallace, who the Mavericks drafted in 2023, and traded to the Thunder for Dereck Lively II. Wallace has developed a reputation as one of the best defenders in the NBA and he’s only 22. If the Mavericks part with the 9th pick, they could drive a hard bargain for Wallace. It would be much more difficult for them to pry away Wallace, but he would be an ideal fit in Dallas, and the Mavs could use his perimeter defense.
The 17th pick presents a whole new opportunity for the Mavs. Some options that could be available then could be names like Allen Graves (6’9 forward who can shoot the lights out), Karim Lopez (6’8 forward with a 7’ wingspan and two-way monster), and Dailyn Swain (6’8 athletic forward who can get downhill and great slasher). If the Mavericks traded that 9th pick, the 17th pick could be the big payoff, adding more athleticism and youth around Flagg.
There have been rumors centered around P.J. Washington in a Thunder deal, but Oklahoma City isn’t in a position to take on any more significant salary. For now, this type of deal would be centered around the Thunder optimizing talent, while the Mavs collect as much of it as they can.
Looking ahead
The draft is less than a week away and there will likely be a flurry of moves that happen both leading up to June 23/24 and on the draft nights themselves. What will dictate a deal is who the Mavs center their attention around at the guard position. Is it more worth it to optimize a singular pick in this draft or get multiple opportunities at top 20 talent in a loaded draft? We’ll find out in a few days.
Cedar Park, TX - MARCH 15: Austin Spurs forward Emanuel Miller (1) drives past Stockton Kings forward Patrick Baldwin (23) during game between the Stockton Kings and the Austin Spurs on March 15, 2026 at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Spurs forward Emanuel Miller turns 26 today.
Miller signed a two-way contract with the Spurs on February 23rd. He took the revolving door third spot replacing Stanley Umude (who replaced Kyle Mangus in December, who had replaced Riley Minix just days before). Miller joined David Jones Garcia and Harrison Ingram on the two-way roster. Though he never received playing time in San Antonio, Miller was exposed to all the bells and whistles of the 2026 playoffs.
Born in Canada, Miller eventually found his way to Texas, playing college ball in both Texas A&M and TCU. In 2024, he went undrafted before signing with Dallas Mavericks for Summer League. He eventually played for their G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. Two months later, he signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls. He was with the Bulls organization until last February when he was part of a three-team trade that landed him in Cleveland. The Cavaliers waived him and he signed on with the Spurs.
No telling where Miller will land next season, whether he stays with the Spurs or heads toward greener pastures. But for today, in the strange window between the Finals and the NBA Draft, Miller is still considered a member of the Silver & Black, and as such, is entitled to best wishes.
Happy birthday!
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 02: Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils reacts during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on April 02, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 7-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
“We are two weeks from July 1, at which point players who have one year left on their current contracts can sign extensions. All signs seem to be pointing to that eventually being the case with New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier.” [The Athletic ($)]
Jeremy Colliton is out:
#NEWS: Assistant Coach Jeremy Colliton is leaving the organization to pursue other business opportunities. The search for a replacement will begin immediately.
Could Matthew Knies still be an option? “The Devils need a top-6 forward and have the pieces to meet the rumored ask of the Toronto Maple Leafs.” [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
It appears Mike Babcock is headed to the Oilers:
NHL investigation on Mike Babcock is wrapping up shortly.
Per ESPN sources, expectation is Babcock will be clear to coach, and the Oilers want to hire him.
Statement from the @NHLPA on Mike Babcock being cleared to return to the NHL by a league investigation into his departure from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023: pic.twitter.com/HbooZUFtN5
Jonathan Toews is hanging up his skates. The Winnipeg Jets have scheduled an 11am CT press conference for Friday (tomorrow), where Toews will announce his retirement.
3 Cups. 1,149 career games. 912 points. 2010 Conn Smythe winner. 2013 Selke winner. 2015 Messier Awards. Great…
The Bruins are retiring Patrice Bergeron’s No. 37:
To the rafters.
The #NHLBruins are proud to announce that during the upcoming 2026-27 season, the club will bestow its highest honor upon Patrice Bergeron by retiring his No. 37. pic.twitter.com/MxBQ0uylEA
“In today’s NHL, players aren’t just judged on their ability; they’re graded on value and efficiency — how large is their impact relative to their contract? Let’s look at players who didn’t live up to their contracts in 2025-26 and how much longer those deals will be on the books.” [The Athletic ($)]
If the Ducks move on from Mason McTavish, where might he be traded to? [Daily Faceoff]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
The Detroit Tigers began June en fuego, winning seven of their first nine games this month, including series wins over a pair of division-leading teams — a sweep of the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays and taking two of three from the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners. Since taking two of three from the Minnesota Twins at home, however, the team has reverted back to its losing ways.
After that hot start to the month, the Motor City Kitties have dropped four of five, with a de facto two-game sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians and dropping two of three to the Houston Astros. Next up are the Chicago White Sox, who have been rather surprising so far in 2026 and are in a battle with the Guardians for the top spot in the AL Central.
Opening things up at home for a three-game weekend series against their division rivals is ace left-hander Tarik Skubal, whose return from the injured list last time out against Cleveland was a bit underwhelming. The 29-year-old lasted just 4 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on five hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out four and hitting a batter in for his third loss in a 3-1 defeat.
For the ChiSox, right-hander Erick Fedde will take the mound on Friday night for just the second start in his last six appearances. The 33-year-old’s previous start came against the Twins on June 3, when he tossed five frames of scoreless ball on two hits and a walk while striking out a pair for his first and only win of the season.
The game before that, Fedde faced the Tigers in relief, throwing four frames of two-run ball, allowing four hits (one home run) and three walks while striking out three in a game Chicago went on to win in extras, 4-3.
Here is how the two match up in the series opener on Friday.
Detroit Tigers (30-44) vs. Chicago White Sox (38-34)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 75: LHP Tarik Skubal (3-3, 2.81 ERA) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (2-5, 4.50 ERA)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 15: Gabriel Rincones Jr. #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits his first career home run in the bottom of the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 15, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to an odd, baseball-less Friday. The Phillies played the Mets yesterday, and they’ll play them tomorrow, and they’ll play them the day after that, but they’re not playing them today.
Jun 16, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler (4) attempts to catch a home run during the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Happy Friday everybody,
Today is Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. This holiday was not recognized until 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
The A’s are celebrating by making tonight’s first of four home games against the Los Angeles Angels African-American Heritage Night.
While outfielder Lawrence Butler is the only African American on the current A’s roster, the franchise has employed some of the greatest Black players in MLB history, from Rickey Henderson (the Man of Steel) to Reggie Jackson (Mr. October), Frank Thomas (The Big Hurt) and Coco Crisp (Mr. Bernie Lean).
Down on the farm, two of the A’s top 10 minor-league prospects, outfielder Devin Taylor and infielder Kuroda-Grauer, hope to add more of an African-American presence to the A’s roster in the coming years.
Overall, MLB still struggles with roster diversity as squads primarily consist of White and Latino athletes. According to MLB.com, Black players make up 6.8% of active and inactive Opening Day rosters in 2026, marking two consecutive years of growth. This is the highest percentage in nearly a decade, yet more work remains.
The Athletics were deeply ingrained in and involved with the diverse Oakland community during their 57 years spent playing at the Oakland Coliseum. They continue to remain active in the communities of their temporary home of Sacramento and future home of Las Vegas. However, both cities have fewer African American residents than the East Bay, making any community impact there likely less impactful.
Meanwhile, struggling veteran left-hander Jeffrey Springs gets the start tonight, looking to reverse his recent slump and get back in the win column After falling short on Pride night earlier this week, it would behoove the Athletics to secure the win on this special day.
A’s top prospect Leo De Vries continues to hold his own in Double-A. He remains on track to reach Triple-A Las Vegas sooner than later, which would be the last stop on his supersonic ascent through the minor leagues.
The first pitch Leo De Vries saw Wednesday night? Gone.
The A’s pitching staff continues to give up runs at an alarming rate. It is a testament to the team’s offense that they are entering the weekend with a nearly .500 record, which outperforms their expected record of 32-42 based on runs scored and allowed.
Zack Gelof’s re-emergence as an everyday starter and major contributor has arguably been the Athletics’ biggest bright spot so far this season.
If someone told you last season that Zack Gelof would have a 21-game hitting streak this season, you would have looked at them like they had three heads…
What do you think of this draft proposal as well as the corresponding one for international players?
MLB today proposed an overhauled domestic amateur-entry system that removes high school players from the draft, makes college players eligible after sophomore year, shortens the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, and cuts bonus pool from current $358.7M to $200M, sources tell ESPN.
NEWS: MLB has proposed an international draft, just like it did during the last round of talks. This one is for roughly the same money but significantly fewer slots.
Sep 6, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; The Baltimore Orioles honor Cal Ripken Jr.'s 30th anniversary of record 2,131 consecutive games before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Another series, another series loss. The O’s dropped the opening leg of their three-city road trip with a 2-0 shutout loss to the Mariners yesterday, which you can read about in my game recap if you’re so inclined. If you missed the game, don’t worry; so did the Orioles’ offense. The Birds’ bats have been M.I.A. in two of the first three games of their West Coast tour, and things are only going to get tougher, with a three-game series against Shohei Ohtani and the 48-27 Dodgers up next. Good luck.
The Orioles continue to be stuck in quicksand, gradually sinking deeper into the muck without making any real progress toward freeing themselves. They’re back to six games under .500 with 76 games in the books. That’s barely improved from where they were after 50 games, at a season-worst eight games under .500 on May 20. Improving by just two games over nearly a month’s worth of action is probably not the best way to vault the Orioles into contender status…although, with the current sorry state of the American League, who knows?
In the meantime, there’s some changes going on behind the scenes, where Orioles legend and part owner Cal Ripken Jr. is set to take on a larger role in player development, as reported by both The Athletic and The Baltimore Banner. The idea is for Cal, who grew up under “The Oriole Way” during his Hall of Fame playing career, to help emphasize fundamentals throughout the organization. The O’s, as you might have noticed, aren’t a particularly good defensive team, and they’ve been sloppy at some aspects of baseball that don’t necessarily show up in the box score — failing to turn double plays, missing cutoff men, etc.
At first glance, the idea of a team owner becoming heavily involved in on-field operations could spark unsettling flashbacks to the late-90s era of the Orioles. But then again, this is Cal Ripken, not Peter Angelos. If there’s anyone who knows the finer points of baseball and is qualified to dispense such wisdom, it’s the Iron Man. And as the Banner article notes, Ripken will be just one part of a larger group of coaches and personnel who are tasked with establishing best practices in the minor leagues regarding defense and fundamentals. He’ll have his say, but he’s not taking over the whole operation himself.
There’s a sizable contingent of O’s fans who have been clamoring for years for Ripken to take on an on-field role, with some even suggesting the Orioles should hire him as their manager or general manager. I’ve never quite understood that sentiment, and I say that as someone who considers Cal my all-time favorite player. It’s been 25 years since he retired and he’s never held so much as a coaching role since then, so I don’t see any reason to believe he’d be capable of taking on such a prominent position as skipper or GM.
But this? Working behind the scenes, offering tips to young players on how to prepare, how to position themselves, how to focus on the minute details of playing defense? That’s up his alley. Whatever work that Ripken and the development team do might be too late to save this Orioles season — akin to closing the barn doors after the horses have gotten out, and all that — but if there’s a chance that it can have a positive impact on the future of the ballclub, them I’m all for it.
The hard-throwing lefty’s rocky 2026 season has dropped him off some prospect lists, but the Orioles insist his struggles will only make him stronger in the long term. Uh, sure. Let’s go with that.
Adding injury to insult yesterday, Adley Rutschman might be hurt after taking an errant throw off his head. If this team didn’t have bad luck, they wouldn’t have any luck at all.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! A whopping seven former Orioles were born on June 19. They include right-handers Cody Sedlock (31), Logan Verrett (36), and Willis Roberts (51); outfielders Val Majewski (45) and Butch Davis (68); and lefties Bruce Chen (49) and the late Don Ferrarese (b. 1929, d. 2024).
On this date in 1962, the Orioles signed 18-year-old shortstop Mark Belanger as an amateur free agent out of Pittsfield HS in Massachusetts. It was a good decision. Belanger debuted in the majors three years later and developed into an all-time elite defender at shortstop, manning the position for 17 years with the Orioles and winning eight Gold Gloves.
Random Orioles game of the day
On June 19, 1969, the Orioles blanked the Washington Senators, 2-0, to notch their seventh straight win. Dave McNally improved to an incredible 10-0 on the season by throwing his second consecutive shutout and fourth of the season, holding the Senators to a meager two hits, both singles. McNally would finish the season with 20 wins and 11 complete games. Washington righty Jim Hannan countered with seven shutout innings of his own before the O’s broke a scoreless tie with two runs against reliever Dennis Higgins. The aforementioned Mark Belanger reached base three times on two hits and a walk.
Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The Brewers bounced back this week with a strong homestand that featured a pair of series wins over the Phillies and Guardians, keeping a hold atop the NL Central. The Brewers are now in Atlanta as they’ll face off with another one of the best teams in baseball thus far in the Braves. They’ll then face a stretch of NL Central opponents in the Reds, Cubs, and Reds (again).
Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.
Happy birthday to Blake Parker, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1846 – First officially recognized baseball game (played by Cartwright Rules) – NY Nine defeats the NY Knickerbockers 23-1 in Hoboken, New Jersey, and other stories as well.
2019 – One day after fouling a bunted ball in his face during batting practice and breaking his nose, Max Scherzer takes the mound for the Nationals against the Phillies sporting a prominent black eye. He still stymies the opposition with seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 win. “Trust me, this thing looks a lot worse than it actually feels,” he explains to journalists.
1865 – Union General Gordon Granger declares slaves free in Texas, now the date the end of slavery is celebrated across the US as Juneteenth.
1917 – The British Royal Family, which has had strong German ties since George I, renounces its German names and titles and adopts the name of Windsor.
1936 – German boxer Max Schmeling KOs up-and-coming American heavyweight Joe Louis in 12 rounds at Yankee Stadium, New York.
1937 – Second of two legendary recording sessions by Delta Blues musician Robert Johnson with producer Don Law at the Vitagraph Studios, Dallas, Texas.
1946 – First TV sports and boxing spectacular, Joe Louis KOs Billy Conn in a match broadcast across New York.
1960 – Loretta Lynn records “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl”.
1964 – Ameican folk singer Bob Dylan completes his first UK tour.
1970 – Jim Bouton’s controversial baseball diary “Ball Four” is published.
1971 – Carole King starts a five-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with the double A-sided single “It’s Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move.”
1973 – “The Rocky Horror Show” stage production first opens in London written by Richard O’Brian and directed by Jim Sharman and starring Tim Curry.
1978 – Garfield, created by Jim Davis, first appears as a comic strip.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 5-7 at Columbus Clippers — also note that George Lombard Jr. went on the seven-day IL yesterday due to his sprained fingers
C Austin Wells 2-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI — homered twice (first went 376 feet; the second went 392) and caught the full game, so great rehab appearance 2B Marco Luciano 1-3, BB SS Oswaldo Cabrera 2-4, 2B, SB — swiped home on double steal with Ornelas in the eighth RF Yanquiel Fernández 1-3, BB, RBI, 2 K 1B Tyler Hardman 0-3, BB, fielding error 3B Jonathan Ornelas 1-4, SB DH Payton Henry 0-3, BB CF Duke Ellis 2-4, 2 K, SB, CS LF Kenedy Corona 0-2, BB PH Ernesto Martinez Jr. 0-1
Alexander Cornielle 4 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, 2 HR, pickoff (loss) Zach Messinger 1 IP , 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K Carlos Lagrange 1.2 IP 2 H, 4 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, HR — the runs might have been unearned, but the homer was tattooed; just a reminder to be patient with his bullpen conversion Yerry De los Santos 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Double-A Somerset Patriots:L, 6-7 at Portland Sea Dogs
CF Jace Avina 2-3 BB, K PH-3B Kevin Verde 0-1 RF-CF Garrett Martin 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI, K, SF DH DJ Gladney 0-4, RBI, 2 K, SF LF Jackson Castillo 2-5, RBI, K, outfield assist 1B-RF Nicholas Torres 1-5, 2 K 3B-1B Coby Morales 1-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, 2 K — 12th homer in 62 games C Manuel Palencia 1-4, 2 throwing errors PH Miguel Palma 0-1, K 2B Connor McGinnis 0-3, K SS Owen Cobb 1-3, 2B, BB
Jack Cebert 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 4 K, HR, HBP (loss) Kelly Austin 2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, WP Tony Rossi 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, HBP, WP Harrison Cohen 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Coby Morales BLASTS his 12th HR of the season to get Somerset within one with two outs in the ninth! pic.twitter.com/ohvpBwPOXy
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:Rained out at Rome Emperors (will not be made up)
Low-A Tampa Tarpons:L, 5-16 vs. Fort Myers Mighty Mussels — Tarpons allowed nine combined in the seventh and eighth as Mussels took control
DH Jackson Lovich 1-4, 2B, BB, 2 K, CS CF Brando Mayea 0-1, BB — first game off the IL CF Willy Montero 1-2, 2B SS Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K — dingered in garbage time 3B Hans Montero 0-4, 2 K RF JoJo Jackson 2-4, CS LF Logan Maxwell 0-2, 2 BB, K, SB C David McCann 1-4, K, throwing error — Fort Myers went 7-for-8 on steals, including home on a double steal 1B Austin Green 0-4, RBI, 2 K 2B Luis Escudero 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI
Wyatt Parliament 4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, throwing error (loss) — oh no J.T. Etheridge 2.1 IP, 8 H, 8 R (8 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, HR, 2 HBP, pickoff — OH NO Jordarlin Mendoza 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, HR — threw the game’s 19 fastest pitches, topping out at 99.1 mph and averaging 98 with the fastball and sinker Parker Seay 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K — fine aside from allowing Fort Myers’ 20th hit on the day
Florida Complex League Yankees:L, 4-7 and W, 10-4 (7) vs. FCL Phillies
Game 1 — completion of June 16th game that was suspended in the top of the third
3B Richard Matic 1-4, HR, RBI, 2 K, throwing error — led off June 16th with a bomb DH Queni Pineda 0-4, 3 K 2B Leni Done 0-3, BB, K, 2 SB CF Jose Castro 2-4, HR, RBI, K — had a solo shot of his own the other day, his fifth in 17 games RF Francisco Vilorio 1-4, 2 K SS Dexters Peralta 2-4, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 K — saved his extra-base hits for yesterday as FCL Yanks built 4-0 lead through six, which didn’t hold LF Estivenzon Montero 0-1, K (June 16th) LF Wilberson De Pena 0-3, SB C Justin Capellan 0-3, 2 K, passed ball 1B Christofer Reyes 0-3, K
Brian Hendry 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K (June 16th) Stanly Alcantara 3.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, HR, HBP Anthony Mena 1.2 IP 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K (loss) — he and Alcantara fell apart in a six-run seventh that zoomed the Phils from a four-run deficit to a two-run lead Marco Manzano 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Game 2
3B Richard Matic 2-4, 2 2B, BB, K, throwing error C Queni Pineda 1-3, 2B, BB, RBI, 2 K C Diego Flores 0-0 2B Leni Done 3-3, HR, 2 RBI, HBP, 2 CS — perfect “nightcap” at the plate, beginning with a two-run dinger in the first; his knock in the third then gave Yanks a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish DH Jose Castro 0-3, 2 K, HBP CF Francisco Vilorio 2-4, 2B, K SS Dexters Peralta 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, K — also went deep LF Robbie Burnett 0-2, BB, 2 K, HBP RF Estivenzon Montero 1-4, 2B, 2 K 1B Christofer Reyes 1-4, RBI
Jerson Alejandro 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, WP — bumpy stateside debut, but bullpen picked him up Manuel Cruz 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 4 BB, 5 K, 2 WP, pickoff error (win) — steadied the ship, even with some walks Sunayro Martina 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, WP
Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 14-7 (7) at DSL Miami — this was actually a 6-3 deficit going into the final frame … before the DSL Yanks scored 11; what a league!
CF Isaias Castillo 0-4, BB, RBI, K — bases-loaded walk put DSL Yanks ahead late SS Stiven Marinez 1-3, 2 BB, RBI, K, 3 SB RF Yostin Pena 3-5, HR, 4 RBI, K, 2 SB — solo shot in the first and late had RBI in separate at-bats in the seventh DH Juan Torres 1-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 2 K LF Manuel Aguilar 2-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, 2 K — his first career pro homer plated two and made it an 11-run frame in the seventh 1B Juan Martinez 1-3, 2B, BB, RBI PR Kendry Diaz 1-1 — scored tying run in the seventh after consecutive wild pitches from Junior Pina 1B Edgar Jimenez 0-0 C Cesar Lopez 3-4, 2B, HBP 3B Abrahan Pichardo 0-1, 4 BB, fielding error 2B Alfred Ciriaco 0-3, 2 BB
Dominican Summer League Bombers:W, 14-2 vs. DSL Rangers Blue — had 14 runs of their own to match their other DSL team, albeit in a regulation game; 10 were scored in the last two innings to take a 4-1 ballgame to the final score
DH Daniel Santana 1-4, BB, K, 2 SB SS Mani Cedeno 0-4, BB, 3 K, fielding error 2B Carlos Bello 0-4, BB, 2 K RF David Carrera 1-3, HR, BB, 3 RBI, outfield assist — first pro homer made it a 3-1 ballgame in the fourth C Alessandro Rodriguez 2-4, RBI, K, SF — all three runners scored on his eighth-inning sac fly with the bases loaded because the Rangers made multiple errors, hell yeah 1B Poly Ojeda 2-5, RBI — the 4-6 hitters all have an OPS that starts with nine 3B Germayhoni Beltre 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB LF Richard Meran 2-5, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 K — RBI triple started the six-run party in the eighth LF Eddison Charles 0-0 CF Alfiery Matos 0-1, BB, 4 SB, 2 HBP — go go, go Alfiery go, go; Alfiery B. Goode
Cesar Acosta 9 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 11 K, 2 WP, pickoff (win) — damn, I don’t know when I last saw a minor-league, nine-inning complete game at this level but his pitch count must have been great (the 11 punchies sure were)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks look on during the game on December 6, 2024 at 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors are swirling and there are people talking about how the Celtics could make a deal without including Jaylen Brown.
That is not something that the Boston Celtics should be doing.
Yes, a Big 3 of Antetokounmpo, Brown and Jayson Tatum would be awesome but in this 2nd apron era, it would be too difficult to build a true contender around those three players for a lot of reasons.
Let’s start with what Boston would need to give up. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser would all need to go out in the deal to make it legal and even still, the Celtics would be taking in more money than they’d be sending out. That means Boston would be hard-capped at the first apron of $209 million.
It would also send out all of their remaining future draft capital and probably one or two of their young wings of Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh or Baylor Scheierman, which limits all flexibility they have to get better around those three players.
It would really limit their ability to get better around the three stars. Having three guys making $174 million with a $209 million hard cap would put them at a disadvantage that would be close to insurmountable. This isn’t football where they can push money into future years. Boston would be trapped with those three players at those salaries.
Sending out three of your most important role players without the ability to replace them is not a business that the Celtics should be getting into.
We have seen a team try and build around three players making 35% of the cap in the apron era, the 2023-24 and 2024-25 Phoenix Suns. It was an epic failure, the Suns didn’t win a single playoff game over those two years and missed the Play-In Tourmanent in 2025 before breaking up the team last summer.
Now, Antetokounmpo, Tatum and Brown is a better trio than Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but unlike Boston would be able to, the Suns spent into the 2nd apron to try and build around those three players. Boston, meanwhile, would only be allowed to spend $35 million to fill out the last 12 players on the team.
If you look at the past two NBA champions, the Knicks and Thunder, those two teams were built around their stars and a bunch of high level players around them. Even the 2024 Celtics had Tatum and Brown making 35% maxes but Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis were all great support players. Swapping Brown for Antetokounmpo allows for Boston to continue building that way; trading three of their top 6 players does not.
In conclusion, if you are hoping that the Celtics could trade for Giannis while keeping Jaylen Brown, don’t hold your breath. It is complicated to pull off and it would limit the Celtics team-building so extremely that it could close any championship window they would be hoping to have.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Darryn Peterson participates during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 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 Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are less than a week away from the NBA Draft. Hell, it’s next Tuesday, June 23! And the Wizards are rattling sabers behind closed doors. NBA Insider Marc Stein reported on his newsletter last night that they are taking a closer look at Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.
With only a few days to go before Tuesday night’s first round of the NBA Draft, multiple draft experts have passed along that they legitimately believe Washington could select Kansas’ Darryn Peterson over BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.
“Increased consideration” is the way one well-placed insider put it.
Just so everyone is aware, if we haven’t said it a million times already, consideration doesn’t mean that the Wizards WILL do something. But it is food for thought.
Meanwhile, the NBA world still seems to be focused more on the New York Knicks winning the 2026 NBA Finals. Good for them. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are the early favorites to win the 2027 Finals per FanDuel. In our national SB Nation Reacts survey, fans are more keen on the Thunder.
SB Nation reacts' national results are focused on the Knicks NBA championship. We're still more focused on the draft. Still, here are the national survey results. pic.twitter.com/Mmj8nfkbpC
So if you ask me right now if I think Dybantsa is going to the Wizards? My answer is yes. And yeah, I’m happy that the Knicks won an NBA title once in my lifetime. I’ll be even happier to see the Wizards win a title in my lifetime.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Cooper Flagg (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted first overall by the Dallas Mavericks during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
