Now they may be learning that the feeling is not entirely mutual.
Shams Charania says Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia are the focus in LeBron James’ free agency, leaving Golden State on edge. Getty Images
ESPN insider Shams Charania reported that Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia have become the primary focus of James’ free-agency decision, noticeably excluding Golden State from the group receiving the most attention.
The Warriors have not been formally eliminated. Charania said the previously identified contenders remain involved, but his updated wording represents a potentially ominous shift only days after he listed Golden State among James’ leading suitors.
Shams Charania commentates during the 2026 NBA Draft NBAE via Getty Images
For a franchise waiting on the 41-year-old before completing its roster, the distinction matters.
Other reports suggested Green’s lobbying had caused James to give the Warriors stronger consideration. Charania’s latest update, however, indicates that Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia may have gained separation as the decision approaches.
Golden State cannot wait forever.
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors NBAE via Getty Images
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said during Tuesday’s Summer League game that the Warriors are “getting close to finalizing the roster” and are looking forward to reaching the finish line.
That comment can now be interpreted in two very different ways.
Perhaps Dunleavy knows James is nearing a decision and believes the Warriors remain positioned to land the biggest remaining prize. Or perhaps Golden State has seen enough to suspect James is heading elsewhere and is preparing to finish its offseason without him.
The Warriors have already retained several veterans and can offer James the $15 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception. Their pitch includes Curry, Green, Steve Kerr, championship experience, proximity to Los Angeles and enough prestigious golf courses to keep James occupied between games.
But their advantage was always access, not certainty.
Curry and Green have made their calls. The front office has delivered its plan. James has reportedly heard from the league’s owners, executives and players and now possesses the information needed to choose his next team.
The Warriors are still waiting.
They just may no longer be near the front of the line.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 13: Darius Brown II #45 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on July 13, 2026 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, how many does a bobblehead get?
Andy Pages and Kiké Hernández are getting their iconic World Series moment immortalized with their own Dodger Stadium giveaway on Sept. 6, the team announced on social media Wednesday.
The bobblehead commemorates "the catch" with a recreation of Pages reaching over Hernández, glove outstretched in air to pluck the ball as the two Los Angeles Dodgers outfielders collided.
With the bases loaded for the Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 7 of the World Series at Rogers Centre, Ernie Clement hit a curveball from Yoshinobu Yamamoto deep into the power alley between left and center field.
The bobblehead you’ve all been waiting for. Get “The Catch” bobblehead on 9/6!
Hernández gave chase to the ball as it sailed over his head near the warning track but before he could turn around to make a play, Pages -- who was right behind Hernández -- ran into him.
Despite the collision, Pages was somehow able to reach up, pluck the ball out of the air and hold onto it while he ran into the wall for the third out as Hernández crumpled to the ground and lay there for a few extra seconds.
Top Plays of 2025: No. 12
Andy Pages makes an UNBELIEVABLE catch in left-center field to send World Series Game 7 to extra innings! pic.twitter.com/jQDwBEHVFU
Hernández later admitted that he thought the play had been botched and that the Blue Jays had walked it off until Pages bent down to check on his teammate and let him know they were going to extra innings. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history.
Will Smith went on to hit the winning home run in the top of the 11th. Yamamoto closed out Toronto in the home half of the inning and the Dodgers became back-to-back World Series champions.
Because of the significance of the catch and the popularity of Hernández among Dodger fans, plan to get to Chavez Ravine early if you want a shot at this giveaway.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts makes a throw to first in a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium in June. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Winning six Gold Glove awards gives Mookie Betts more than enough credibility to design and market his own leather. And that’s exactly what he is doing with LGND, a line of baseball gloves that he says are “built around versatility, craftsmanship and player-first innovation.”
Betts, of course, is the Dodgers shortstop whose Gold Gloves all came playing right field. He is one of the few players in MLB history to be named an All-Star as an infielder and outfielder. He’s been part of four World Series championship teams and named to eight All-Star squads.
“Every detail matters when you’re on the field, and your glove is one of the most important tools you have,” Betts said in a statement. “I started this with the intention to build something that reflected the way I play the game, which is with passion, preparation and attention to detail.”
Two glove collections named MOOK and MVRK designed for players at every stage of development are available at LGNDsports.com. They are not inexpensive, selling for $250 to $330.
The MOOK Series gloves are inspired by Betts’ experience playing infield and outfield, featuring his personal game-worn colorways, his signature stamp in the palm and a “50 Tri-Star” logo embroidered on the thumb.
The MVRK Series gloves feature a versatile design and distinct styling for those who play multiple positions.
Both models are constructed with premium Japanese kip leather and engineered to offer a lighter feel and fast break-in period. The LGND website features an interactive platform that allows players to design a glove that reflects their individual preferences.
“LGND is about giving young players a glove they can trust from the first time they put it on,” Betts said. “Whether you’re chasing a championship, working toward a college scholarship or just falling in love with baseball, I want these gloves to help young players perform at their best.”
Betts, 33, founded the company alongside lifelong friends Cameron Lewis, Brandon McPhail and Andrew Montgomery. The quartet competed together in high school in the Nashville area.
The Dodgers acquired Betts in a trade ahead of the 2020 season and have won three World Series title with him in the lineup, including the last two years. He spent the first six years of his career with the Boston Red Sox, winning the American League Most Valuable Player award after leading Boston to a World Series title in 2018.
After playing outfield almost exclusively for the first nine years of his career, Betts saw substantial time in the infield in 2023 and 2024 before becoming the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop last season. He led NL shortstops in total fielding runs above average in 2025 while making only seven errors in 148 games. This season he has made only three errors.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings shoots a free throw during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Stephen Greathouse/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (2-1) at Sacramento Kings (1-2) Wednesday, July 15, 2026 8:00 PM ET Summer League Game #4 TV: NBCSB, ESPN 2 Thomas and Mack Center
The Kings have played 3 games together in the California Summer League where they went 3-0, beating Brooklyn 79-76, Golden State 91-85 and Milwaukee 95-89. They have also played 3 games in the Las Vegas Summer League, going 1-2, beating the Clippers 91-85 and losing to Washington 104-85 and to Brooklyn 115-83. They are playing in the 2nd of back to back games while the Celtics had Tuesday off. The Celtics have played just 3 games together.
The Celtics are coached by Amile Jefferson. Jefferson was named Director of Player Development for the Duke Blue Devils in 2021. He was promoted to assistant coach at Duke for the 2022-23 season. In 2023, Jefferson became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics under head coach Joe Mazzulla. Jefferson played with Jayson Tatum at Duke and he played for the Celtics on an Exhibit 10 contract before being hired as an assistant coach.
The Kings are coached by Chris Darnell. He began his coaching career as a Video Coordinator for the Cavaliers from 2019-2021. From 2021-24, he was the associate head coach for the Cleveland Charge of the G-League. He served as the head coach for the Charge in the 2024-25 season. He has been an assistant coach for the Kings since 2025.
The Celtics are averaging 41.0 rebounds per game while the Kings are averaging 34.7 rebounds per game. The Celtics need to continue to crash the boards and beat the Kings to rebounds. The Celtics are turning the ball over 18 times per game while the Kings are averaging 19.7 turnovers per game. It’s not unusual for Summer League teams to turn the ball over a lot because of limited playing time together and surprising that the Kings are turning it over more with 3 extra games under their belts.
Neither team is shooting the ball very well, but the Celtics were able to play enough defense to get wins in 2 games. The Celtics are shooting 37.2% from the field and 32.4% from beyond the arc. The Kings are shooting 40.8% from the field and 28.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to continue to play good defense while working on improving their shooting.
Dillon Mitchell will reportedly sit out this game for rest. Tucker DeVries and Milos Uzan have both been signed to Exhibit 10 contracts that will give them the opportunity to play in training camp with the Celtics. DeVries started Monday’s game and is averaging 11 points, 1 rebound and 1.5 assists while shooting 41.8% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc. Uzan is averaging 8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting 32% from the field and 30.8% beyond the arc.
Celtics Summer League Roster Mohammad Amini #54 R Chris Cenac, Jr #12 R Tucker DeVries #41 R Hugo Gonzalez #28 1 Caleb Grill #37 R Curtis Jones #26 R Kyle Mangas #43 R Dillon Mitchell #20 R Hank Morgan #51 R Nick Pringle #40 R Day Day Thomas #38 R John Tonje #8 R Milos Uzan #29 R Chauncey Wiggins #50 R Alondes Williams #46 3 Amari Williams #77 1
Head Coach Amile Jefferson
Starters in 1st 2 games Curtis Jones, John Tonje, Hugo Gonzalez, Dillon Mitchell, and Amari Williams Starters in 3rd game Curtis Jones, John Tonje, Tucker DeVries, Dillon Mitchell, and Chris Cenac, Jr
Celtics Players to Watch
Hugo Gonzalez | Getty Images
Hugo Gonzalez – Hugo was the 28th pick in last year’s draft. In last year’s Summer League, he averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 14 minutes per game last season. His +11.9 rating was the highest for any rookie that played at least 100 minutes. So far in Summer League he is averaging 15.5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game while shooting 23.1% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc. He shot better in Game 2 than Game 1 but still needs some improvement in that area. He sat out the Celtics 3rd game but I’m expecting him to play in this one.
Chris Cenac, Jr – Cenac was the 27th pick in this year’s draft. He is 19 years old and was a highly recruited center going into his one season at Houston. He averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds in college, while shooting 48% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc and 62% from the line. He has a combination of size and athleticism that makes him a very intriguing player. He is averaging 10.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks while shooting 36.4% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc.
John Tonje – Tonje came to the Celtics as a 2-way player from Utah in the Chris Boucher trade at last year’s deadline. At the end of last season, his contract was converted to a standard contract. His option wasn’t picked up this season but the way he has played in Summer League, he is earning at least a 2 way contract again. He has started all 3 games so far and is averaging 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1.7 steals while shooting 43.8% from the field and 47.4% from beyond the arc. Amari Williams – Amari was the 46th pick in last year’s draft. He spent most of last season on a 2-way deal but was converted to a standard contract at the end of last season. He averaged 1.4 points, and 1.8 rebounds in 6.6 minutes with Boston last year. He averaged 15.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.8 blocks with Maine last season. He has already been signed to a 2-way contract for this season. He is averaging 14.5 points, 9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3 blocks while shooting 64.3% from the field with no 3’s. Sacramento Kings Roster Nique Clifford #0 1 year Darius Acuff, Jr #5 R Adam Flagler #20 2 years Jonathan Mogbo #22 2 years Isaiah Stevens #24 2 years Mitch Mascari #25 R Elias Ralph #26 R Viktor Lakhin #30 R Dylan Cardwell #32 1 year Alex Karaban #33 R Emanuel Sharp #34 R Anthony Dell’Orso #37 R Maxime Raynaud #42 1 year Marquel Sutton #49 R BJ Edwards #50 R
Kings Starters Game 1 Darius Acuff, Jr, Nique Clifford, Jonathan Mogbo, Dylan Cardwell, and Alex Karaban
Kings Starters Game 2 Darius Acuff, Jr, Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban, Dylan Cardwell, and Maxime Raynaud
Kings Starters Game 3 Darius Acuff, Jr, Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban, Maxime Raynaud, and Dylan Cardwell Kings Players to Watch
Maxime Raynaud | Getty Images
Maxime Raynaud – Raynaud was the 42nd pick in the 2025 draft. He played 4 years at Stanford and averaged 20.1 points and 10.9 rebounds in his senior year. He was named to the 1st team all ACC and became 1 of only 3 players to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 50 3-pointers in a season. The other 2 were Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. Last season he averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 57.1% from the field and 32.4% from beyond the arc. In Summer League he is averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block while shooting 46.7% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
Darius Acuff, Jr – Acuff was the 7th pick in this year’s draft. He won the Bob Cousy award for point guards, and was the SEC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. He averaged 23 points and 6.6 assists in his senior year. He has been compared by some to Allen Iverson. In Summer League he is averaging 15.5 points, 2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block while shooting 29.4% from the field and 23.1% from beyond the arc. Nique Clifford – Clifford was the 24th pick in the 2025 draft by the Thunder and was traded to the Kings on Draft night. He was a 4 year college player and averaged 12.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3 assists in his senior year. This is his 2nd Summer League. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a rookie. In Summer League, he is averaging 15 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 42.9% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Emanuel Sharp – Sharp is an Israel-American player. He was the 45th pick in the 2026 draft. He was a 4 year college player at Houston. In his senior year, he averaged 15.5 points, 3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals. He made Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All Defense team. In Summer League, he is averaging 14 points, 2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 33.3% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc.
When you think of Guidey’s from the bayous outside of New Orleans, the mind automatically shifts to Louisiana Lightning, but there is no blood relation between the two. Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Gavin Guidry attended Alfred M. Barbe High School. If that sounds familiar, it should- another Mets-related Gavin was also born in Lake Charles, attended Barbe High School, and was drafted by the Mets not too long ago.
A three-year letterwinner who lost the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Barbe baseball team won consecutive district championships in 2019, 2021 and 2022, and the state and national championship in 2021, and Guidry was a major reason why. Coach Cecchini let his star player pitch and hit, and his efforts culminated in winning the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year (Louisiana) in his senior year. At the plate, he hit .422 with 5 home runs and on the mound, he posted a 0.16 ERA in 45.0 innings with 83 strikeouts.
Guidry generated a ton of scouting buzz and by the time the 2022 MLB Draft rolled around, he was in high demand. Considered the best high school player in the state and one of the top prep players in the 2022 draft class, he was forced to choose between accepting one of the many offers made to him by professional teams or honoring his commitment to Louisiana State University. The two-way high school star elected to attend college, with the ability to be drafted as a sophomore thanks to his age.
In 2023, head coach Josh Jordan used Guidry as a two-way player, having him pitch out of the bullpen in 23 games and trying him out at second base and shortstop in an additional 12. The freshman quickly emerged as a weapon out of the bullpen, posting a 3.77 ERA in 28.2 innings, allowing 23 hits, walking 12, and striking out 42 while notching 3 saves; at the plate, he hit a much less impressive .143/.333/.143, going 1-7 and drawing a walk.
The right-hander did not experience a sophomore slump in 2024, posting similar numbers to his strong freshman season. Appearing in 22 games, Guidry posted a 2.59 ERA in 24.1 innings, allowing 14 hits, walking 18, and striking out 36 while locking down 3 saves. Unlike the 2023 season, coach Jordan did not give the right-hander much time at the plate, utilizing him as a hitter in just a single game. Guidry made it count, though: in his two at-bats on the year, he smacked a double. Draft eligible, the right-hander did not have his name called in the 2024 MLB Draft.
At some point after he threw his final pitch of the 2024 season and 2025, Guidry’s back began hurting him. There was no one specific event where he hurt it, but the pain became so intense that basic functions like laying down to go to sleep left him in excruciating pain. The 2025 season began without Guidry, and every time he started feeling better and began working out to get himself in baseball shape, he would later find himself in even more pain than before. Eventually, he was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his L4-L5 lumbar spine and underwent surgery, formally ending his season. Adding insult to injury, LSU won their second NCAA national championship in three years with the right-hander having to sit on the sidelines. Eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft, the right-hander once again went undrafted.
Guidry returned from his surgery in 2026, his redshirt junior season, fully recovered. The 22-year-old appeared in 20 games and posted a 6.39 ERA in 43.2 innings, allowing 38 hits, walking 20, and striking out 59, saving 1 game for the Tigers. Following the conclusion of the season, he left LSU for the cape, playing for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League to attempt to further round into form. Retaining his draft eligibility, Guidry has expressed interest in returning to the Tigers to attempt to win another championship.
The 6’2”, 185-pound right-hander throws from a high-three-quarter arm slot with a medium arm action through the back. He drops and drives off the mound with good extension and has clean, simple, deliberate mechanics. Though a reliever, the right-hander has a large pitching repertoire, utilizing a four-seam fastball, cutter, slider, and curveball.
Guidry’s fastball was noticeably not where it was before his back surgery, sitting in the low-90s rather than in the low-to-mid-90s. While the velocity was on the lower side of the spectrum for a right-handed pitcher, he made up for it by getting well above-average induced vertical break on the pitch, up to 20 inches, thanks to its spin and his high release point.
His slider is his go-to strikeout pitch, a mid-80s offering with above-average spin rates, giving it tight, gyroscopic break. It tunnels well out of his hand with his fastball thanks to his high release point and its sudden downward bite has consistently flummoxed hitters, though he hung plenty of the course of 2026 that batters had no issues with. Because of the success of the pitch, for good and for bad, Guidry can sometimes get slider-heavy and throw the pitch just as much, if not more, than his fastball.
Both his cutter and curveball are more change-of-pace offerings than much else. His slider sits in the high-80s and has a bit of horizontal hop, but is primarily used as a transition pitch between his fastball and slider, to set up the latter. His curveball is used similarly, with the mid-to-high-70s pitch mainly used as a sequence-buster to set up his next pitch.
The right-hander was still shaking the rust off in 2026 and nowhere was that more apparent than with his home run problems. After having allowed 6 homers in 53 innings in 2023 and 2024, Guidry allowed 10 in 43.2 innings this past spring. He is not allowing more fly balls as compared to prior seasons- he actually had a 44.5% flyball rate this spring as compared to a cumulative 49.4% in his freshman and sophomore seasons- but he was giving up home runs left and right, his HR/FB% almost doubling from 10.5% in 2023 and 2024 to 20.4% this past season. Hitters did not otherwise hit him particularly better- opposing batters hit .229/.318/.434 against him with a .280 BABIP as compared to .209/.298/.355 with a .297 BABIP in his freshman season and .165/.317/.247 with a .255 BABIP in his sophomore season, making the home run spike an outlier that will likely end with the expected and then return of his prior fastball velocity.
Edmonton's odds moved from +1200 to +900 in two weeks, and only one other team in the league climbed that far.
It is important, however, to note that Florida, Colorado, and Carolina are still ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, and nothing that's happened this summer changes that. That said, the betting market shows a positive opinion of what Edmonton did, the same way it liked what Washington did when the Capitals went from +1800 to +1200 after Ovechkin decided to come back and the team added Tuch, Kyrou, and Jenner around him. That one's easy to explain. Edmonton's not so much.
The Oilers didn't sign anybody that particularly amazing. They hired Mike Babcock, regardless of the controversies surrounding his name, because they believed he was the guy to hold everyone accountable. McDavid reportedly wanted him anyway. Two Cup Final losses and a first-round exit will do that to a captain. Darnell Nurse went to San Jose. Shakir Mukhamadullin and Ryan Shea came the other way. Fredrik Andersen showed up in net, straight off a Stanley Cup win in Carolina.
While this is all great, none of it seems like a splash on its own. Together, it moved the Oilers down by 300 points, tying Washington for the biggest swing on the board.
Colorado barely had to lift a finger to go from +750 to +700, and the Avalanche were already close to the top of the board before the offseason started. That's a team the market trusts on reputation and roster continuity alone, not on anything it did this July.
Vegas is the one that doesn't fit a simple explanation. The Golden Knights lost their leading goal scorer this summer. Pavel Dorofeyev signed in New York for $11 million a year, and Vegas is short a real weapon in its top six and on the power play because of it. Their odds still improved, from +1200 to +1000. This is probably because of everything else still on the roster: Eichel, Marner, Stone, Hertl, a defence that mostly stayed together, and a coaching change under Ryan Craig that hasn't really been tested yet. Losing Dorofeyev hurt, but clearly not enough.
The rest of the Pacific is still as messy as it was last season. Anaheim didn't move, stuck at +2500. San Jose went from +4000 to +3500. Los Angeles actually got worse from +2500 to +3000. Maybe that's the Ducks and Sharks separating from the Kings or the Kings sliding on their own. There's no real way for the betting market to distinguish between the two, and neither should anyone try to read too much into a few weeks of trades and signings.
Outside the West, Ottawa went from +2500 to +3500 after trading captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida and bringing back William Eklund from San Jose to fill the void, using Florida's 9th-overall pick. Trading your captain, especially a Tkachuk brother, gets read as a step back regardless of what comes the other way. Eklund's talented. He's not Tkachuk.
The Montreal Canadiens went from +1800 to +2500, not because of anything they did wrong, but because of what they didn't do. Ivan Demidov and Jakub Dobes got extensions, which is fine, but Montreal came into the summer looking to add and left it mostly standing still.
None of these swings mean much in isolation. Add them up, though, and they sketch a rough shape of how sportsbooks are reading the league three weeks after the draft: Edmonton and Washington trending up on the strength of specific, explainable moves, Colorado untouched at the top, Vegas absorbing a real loss without losing its footing, and the rest of the league sorting itself out in smaller, messier ways that won't make sense until training camp settles things further.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The sneakers worn by Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Rob Manfred has made his position on the Giants’ Pride Night controversy unmistakably clear: San Francisco failed to properly communicate with its players.
“End of story,” the MLB commissioner told reporters Tuesday at the Baseball Writers’ Association of America gathering.
Rob Manfred again blamed the Giants for poor communication after four pitchers protested the team’s Pride Night caps. Laurence Kesterson/UPI/Shutterstock
Four Giants pitchers protested the team’s Pride-themed caps during its June 12 celebration. Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote Bible verses beside the rainbow-colored logo, while Sam Hentges chose to wear the club’s standard cap.
The Giants and the Dodgers are the only clubs permitted to use Pride-themed logos on the field. That allowance came with the understanding that players would not be required to wear them and that each organization would clearly explain the opt-out process.
“The understanding with the two clubs that were grandfathered, in terms of using logos on the field, was that they would take responsibility to communicate with their players that they had the option to wear their own uniforms if they were uncomfortable with whatever logo it happened to be,” Manfred said. “That didn’t happen. End of story.”
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A rainbow-colored logo is shown on a Giants hat during the team’s Pride Night game between the Giants and the Cubs. AP
There is some ambiguity over how widespread the communication failure was. Hentges said after the game that he knew players could decline the Pride cap, suggesting at least part of the roster understood the policy.
Roupp, Brubaker and Walker later told the San Francisco Chronicle they were not pressured to wear the hats and had planned their demonstration in advance. Manager Tony Vitello also indicated he knew some form of protest was possible.
Manfred previously told Sen. Josh Hawley that the players would not be fined or disciplined. He described MLB’s response as a routine warning issued before the league learned the Giants’ messaging had been “inadequate and not clear.”
The Giants have not publicly answered Manfred’s criticism beyond prepared Pride Night statements and have declined interview requests on the issue.
That silence has left the commissioner’s version as the league’s final word.
For Manfred, the controversy was not created by religious expression or uniform policy.
It began with the Giants failing to adequately explain the rules — end of story. Right?
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and left-hander Colton Gordon from the Houston Astros on Wednesday in exchange for outfield prospect Jadyn Fielder.
Brewers general manager Matt Arnold announced the swap that included cash from Houston. Milwaukee cleared space on the 40-man roster by sending left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny to the 60-day injured list.
Milwaukee went into the All-Star break with a five-game lead in the NL Central. They trailed the defending NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers by 1 1/2 games in the league standings.
The Brewers own a 3.48 team ERA that ranks second in the majors — behind only the New York Yankees — but injuries to their starting rotation left them seeking depth.
Two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff is on the 60-day injured list after an MRI exam revealed a new injury to the anterior capsule in his shoulder, which was surgically repaired after the 2023 season. Left-hander Kyle Harrison was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with tightness in his throwing forearm.
McCullers, 32, who helped Houston win the World Series in 2017 and 2022, has spent his entire career with the Astros. He is 53-40 with a 3.85 ERA over 154 games. He was an All-Star in 2017, had Tommy John surgery in November 2018 and missed the 2019 season. Surgery in June 2023 kept him out through the 2024 season.
This season, the son of former MLB reliever Lance McCullers is 2-3 with a 6.86 ERA in eight starts. Inflammation in his right shoulder landed him on the 15-day IL on May 19, and he has been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land.
Gordon, 27, made his major league debut in 2025. He went 6-4 with a 5.34 ERA and a save in 20 games. Gordon has started one of his four appearances with Houston this season.
Fielder, 21, the son of former Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, made his professional debut in 2025. He was in Class A before the trade.
The Winnipeg Jets made one of the more intriguing moves of the offseason on July 1, signing goaltender Stuart Skinner, a proven playoff performer with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, to a two-year contract carrying a $3.75 million annual cap hit.
For now, it appears Skinner will slot in as the backup behind three-time Vezina Trophy winner and Olympic gold medalist Connor Hellebuyck, even as trade speculation continues to swirl around the superstar netminder. Should the Jets keep both goaltenders, the tandem in Winnipeg's crease could be one of the best in the league.
Hellebuyck is widely regarded as the best goaltender in hockey, while Skinner has shown through three deep playoff runs with the Edmonton Oilers that the moment rarely feels too big for him.
The move is a good one for Winnipeg on paper, but it complicates things for the Jets' top goalie prospect, Thomas Milic. The 23-year-old was hoping to compete for the backup job this fall after Eric Comrie, last season's backup, departed in free agency to sign with the San Jose Sharks. Instead, Milic now finds a veteran with legitimate NHL starter pedigree standing in his way.
The signing comes at an awkward time for Milic, who is coming off a strong season in the AHL, posting a 20-13-8 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage for a New Westminster, B.C., native looking to take the next step in his development.
Thomas Milic became the first #MBMoose goaltender since Mikhail Berdin in 2019-20 to record back-to-back shutouts 🪄 🥅 Unbeaten in 119:48 🥅 61 combined saves 🥅 8th in the AHL in SV% STAY HOT, MILLY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dn0M4CewrZ
Milic did see NHL action last season, appearing in three games while Hellebuyck was sidelined with injury, but he was hardly given an easy runway. All three of his appearances came against playoff teams in the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres, and his lone NHL start came against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
Simply put, Milic has not been given a fair shake at the NHL level, and the addition of another veteran goaltender only makes his path to regular NHL minutes in Winnipeg murkier. That raises an obvious question of do the Jets now consider moving their young netminder?
The goaltending market around the league remains active, with teams constantly looking to add depth or upside wherever they can find it. Winnipeg could look to flip Milic for future assets, such as draft picks, while also giving the young goaltender a genuine chance to win a roster spot elsewhere.
A blockbuster return isn't likely, but modest value is still on the table. The Toronto Maple Leafs, for example, were able to package their third-string goaltender, Dennis Hildeby, along with a pair of draft picks, to acquire impact depth forward Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Winnipeg could look to pursue a similar type of deal, one that would net immediate roster help heading into what looms as a pivotal season for a team with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations.
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Jun 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby throws out the first pitch before the game between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
On Friday, the hand heard ‘round the five boroughs and the larger body it belongs to turn 29 years old. In a stunning bit of coincidence, I offer thee a list of reasons to love OG Anunoby even more than you probably already do if you’re reading this. Then again, you could be a Spurs fan; there’s been a lot more cross-pollination between P&T and Pounding The Rock since last month’s NBA Finals.
If you are a Spurs fan, quit talking about how you “actually should’ve” won the Finals. San Antonio owned the first quarters. The Knicks owned the other three. If you’re a fan of the side that wins actual trophies and not made-up analytical ones, enjoy this medium-dive into the Knick who puts the “Ohhhhh” in “jumbo wing.”
1) When the Knicks acquired Anunoby, one of the biggest question marks was his availability. OG had played in 89% of Toronto’s games his first three seasons, but missed a combined 49 games the following two. The Knicks were trading away two younger players in Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, and would have to extend Anunoby that summer. Was the gamble on talent worth the depth being lost?
Spoiler: God, yes. Interestingly, since missing more than a month with an inflamed elbow that first abbreviated season in New York, Anunoby’s played in 86% of the Knicks’ games. Meanwhile, Quickley and RJ have played in 62% and 69% of the Raptors’, both respectively and niiiiiiice.
2) Last season, Anunoby’s free throws made per 36 minutes were up 25%. That’s pretty good! What change are YOU proudest of in 2026?
3) “Adjusted shooting” includes eight categories that measure an NBA player against a theoretical average: field-goal percentage, 2-point shooting, 3-point shooting, free throw, effective field goal, true shooting, free-throw attempt rate and 3-point attempt rate. 100 is average, anything above 100 above-average and you can take it from there. Only one Knick was above-average from all eight categories. You guessed it. The birthday boy.
4) Every postseason, the NHL awards the Conn Smythe Trophy to that year’s top playoff performer. The NBA doesn’t. If it did, last year’s Conn Smythe winner would’ve been OG. Over 17 playoff games, he averaged 20 points, six rebounds and 2.5 stocks on 56/49/85 shooting. You probably remember, but I’m not even a little tired of repeating it. And honestly, he looks better on the mound than half the Mets starters, too.
5) Another way of numerically translating OG’s playoff heroics: his postseason player efficiency rating was 23.8. That would have ranked seventh in the regular-season, behind only Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Nostradumbass, Luka Dončić, Kawhi Leonard and Jalen Duren. They say under the new CBA Big Threes have gone the way of the polar bear — extinct*. Jalen Brunson was as ruthless a Finals MVP as any guard we’ve seen. Karl-Anthony Towns was a Long Island iced tea of novel dominance, 3-point shooting like Dirk, facilitating like Joker, driving like Giannis, rebounding like Moses Malone and defending like Patrick Ewing. On top of those two, OG played at an MVP-level on both sides of the ball for two months. If that’s not a Big Three, there never was such a thing.
*I know, not yet. But soon enough.
6) You already know OG is a great defensive player. Two-time All-NBA All-Defense, in 2023 and this past season. Not only is his defensive disruption remarkable, so is its longevity: Anunoby is one of only three players who were All-Defense both seasons, three years apart. Can you guess the other two? I’ll give the answer at the end.
7) There is a stat under “per 100 possessions” called “defensive rating.” Last year OG’s was 112, while KAT’s was 110. In the playoffs Anunoby’s fell, but Towns’ rating led all playoff performers, period. I don’t know what “defensive rating” measures, but it seems like some B.S.
8) Anunoby had more than 100 dunks and 100 3-pointers last season. How cool is that? If rarity is your kink, it’s pretty hot. There were only two other players in the entire Association to do both. Any guesses?
LeBron James did neither, though came surprisingly closer to reaching 100 dunks (97) than 3s (77). I thought Jaylen Brown was a shoo-in, but he doesn’t even have 100 dunks the past two seasons combined. SGA only dunked 20 times last year. Chet Holmgren (12 dunks away from 100/100) and Kel’el Ware (eight dunks) were the close-but-no-cigar runners-up. You’ve probably already guessed Wembanyama is one of the answers. The other? Well, it isn’t the clip I’d hoped to use, but Trey Murphy III has enough money to hire a social media team. Get your people on Bluesky, yo.
Anunoby was 100/100 in 2026 and 2025. How cool/rare/hot is that? As far as what I can find in Knicks history — which only records dunks as far back as 1996-97 — it’s unprecedented. Not only had no Knick ever done it two years in a row, none did before OG period.
Towns managed the feat twice in Minnesota, back when he was still a kitten; his Knick high for dunks in a season is 76. When you start going back over the years, you realize there aren’t a ton of candidates. Julius Randle made the longballs, but never dunked more than 62 times in a year here. RJ Barrett? 40. Carmelo Anthony ‘s Knick season-high was 34. Young Melo, in his early Denver days, was more spry than you may recall. Even had a couple years early with over 150 dunks, a mark I was stunned to learn LeBron never reached once. But these were still the early 2000s; Anthony wouldn’t break the century-mark for treys in a campaign until the magical 2013 season.
Kristaps Porziņģis’ Knickerbocker peak was 78 dunks his sophomore year. I scraped every player I could think of slamming and splashing. Donte DiVincenzo only dunked 20 times in 2024. JR Smith’s Knick-best was 26. Latrell Sprewell’s was 29. If they’d tracked dunks earlier in Patrick Ewing’s career he’d have had multiple seasons with more than 100; alas, the Big Fella only made 27 3s all-time, regular-season and playoffs combined. Though I’d be remiss not to point out Ewing seemingly swished each and every one.
What was this about again? Oh yeah. Merry born day, OG! Deservedly, you need never pay for a meal in this town again. On the other hand, if wealth disparity weighs at all on your soul, you could afford to spring for your fellow New Yorkers every now and then.
*The other players who were All-Defense in 2023 and 2026: Bam Adebayo and Derrick White.
A year ago, there were reports that Jonas Valanciunas wanted to negotiate a buyout with Denver so he could sign with Greek side Panathinaikos, except that the Nuggets didn't want to let their primary backup to Nikola Jokic walk.
Valanciunas played more than 1,000 NBA games across 14 seasons, averaging 12.8 points and nine rebounds a game in his career. Last season, in 65 games with the Nuggets, averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds a night.
Denver moved on and signed Marvin Bagley III to fill the Jokic backup role next season. While Valanciunas spoke to several NBA teams about a return, it was always expected he would return to Europe for next season.
It's been an oddly Philadelphia-themed offseason for Senators fans.
It started with the Sens re-signing Nick Cousins, who was drafted by Philadelphia and spent his first four pro seasons in that organization. Cousins got a two-year contract worth $1.59 million a season.
Later in the day on July 1st, GM Steve Staios addressed his backup goalie riddle, re-signing newly-acquired RFA Samuel Ersson, who had spent the past five seasons with the Flyers.
Steve Staios talked last month on NHL draft day about acquiring goalie Samuel Ersson.
Then, after false reports that he'd gone back to Philly, veteran free agent Claude Giroux signed on for a fifth season in Ottawa and explained to the media on Tuesday why he did so.
Finally, on Wednesday, the NHL announced that the Senators will open their new 42-game home schedule against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 8 at Canadian Tire Centre.
For Giroux, the decision to return to Ottawa wasn't simply about playing another NHL season. It was about staying with a group he's grown so close to over the past four years.
"I chose to come back because I want to be here. I'm excited to be an Ottawa Senator," Giroux told reporters Tuesday during a Zoom media availability.
"Being around those guys for four years, we got really close. The team feels like a family. I just care for those players."
The Senators officially announced Giroux's new contract on July 7. The one-year deal carries a base salary of $2 million, with the veteran forward eligible to earn up to another $3 million in performance bonuses.
Two million dollars of those bonuses are tied to games played, reaching the 10-game and 40-game marks, while the remaining bonuses depend on Ottawa's playoff success.
Giroux's future had been the subject of plenty of speculation after free agency opened. At one point, inaccurate media reports even suggested he had agreed to return to the Flyers, which naturally got tongues wagging in Philly. There was also talk that he may be in the mix in Toronto and Edmonton.
Instead, the 38-year-old appears to be happy to walk into the NHL sunset with Ottawa, the place he's called home since moving here from Hearst, Ontario, at age 14.
While Giroux chose to stay in Ottawa, another player with Flyers ties is just arriving.
Goaltender Samuel Ersson is expected to begin the season as Ottawa's backup behind Linus Ullmark after signing a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $2.2 million.
As an RFA, Ersson was moved earlier this summer in the deal that saw Philadelphia acquire Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Speaking in an interview posted on the Senators' website, Ersson said he's looking forward to the opportunity and excited for a fresh start.
The Senators' crease now features three goaltenders on NHL contracts, with Ersson joining Ullmark and Leevi Meriläinen, who also signed a one-year contract earlier this offseason. While Meriläinen remains in the picture, Ersson appears to have the clear inside track on the backup job heading into training camp.
Now, the former Flyer won't have to wait long to see his old teammates.
The NHL announced Wednesday that Ottawa's home opener will come against Philadelphia on October 8 at Canadian Tire Centre.
The NHL season starts on September 29th this fall, so that means the Sens will likely open with a two- or three-game road trip. The full regular season schedule, now 84 games long, comes out tomorrow.
With two new extra games to be played in 2026-27, who'd be surprised if one of them is against Philly?
How the Dylan Larkin trade request was handled by GM Steve Yzerman was thought to be a possible watershed moment for his tenure in Detroit. As it turns out, someone else is going to land on that particular grenade.
The Red Wings announced July 15 that Yzerman is being relieved of his GM duties and moved to an advisory role to Chris Ilitch, leaving the organization with Yzerman as a lame duck in the meantime. As such, it stands to reason the Larkin move — should it happen — will be handled by whomever the team appoints to take Yzerman's mantle.
Larkin, of course, requested a trade from the Red Wings in June, and has expressed interest in waiving his no-movement clause for the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers. The Dallas Stars have also been reported as a team Larkin would consider, but those reports are unconfirmed. Larkin has spent his entire professional career with the Red Wings since being drafted in 2014. They made the playoffs in his rookie year but haven't made it since. He was named captain in 2021.
Yzerman and Larkin's relationship has been chilly, at least to the public eye. Larkin criticized a passive trade deadline in 2025, and Yzerman said at the NHL draft whether Larkin would be moved depended on if the return was worthwhile. As a GM, Yzerman has been known to be cautious about trading pieces. Larkin has proven to be no exception.
The transition for the Red Wings creates two branching paths, and they hinge on a big question: Was Larkin's problem with the Red Wings? Or was it with Yzerman?
Path No. 1: Dylan Larkin stays with Red Wings
Yzerman is not exiting the Red Wings organization completely, but there is a world in which Yzerman being out of a decision-making role causes Larkin to rescind his trade request.
The center is on a team-friendly contract, and his extremely truncated list of contenders who would be unwilling to part with win-now pieces makes moving him difficult. The longer this saga drags out, the worse it looks for both parties. If Larkin perceives Yzerman's GM exit as the team choosing him over Yzerman (this is unlikely the case, but some will see it that way), perhaps he stays.
That's still complicated. Captains asking out doesn't happen especially often, so how the locker room would handle this path further muddies the waters of Larkin staying. But that's a bridge the team would have to cross if it gets there.
Path No. 2: A new GM comes in and negotiates a Larkin trade
The problem with trading a player like Larkin, a franchise stalwart, is the return has to be worthwhile. Not just to the person making the trade, but also to the fanbase at large.
Yzerman not making this deal takes every single piece on the board for a Larkin trade and moves it back to start. No passing go. No $200. If the Wild, Panthers or Golden Knights had any momentum in landing Larkin, that momentum has been completely arrested.
That can be good or bad. If Yzerman was asking for an unreasonable package for Larkin, another GM might ask for something more doable. With that being said, the new GM will be under tremendous pressure to get this move right. It can make or break a tenure before a single game has a puck dropped. And the Red Wings are not looking to go into another full-blown rebuild. Anyone will ask for pieces that get them back to the postseason.
Path No. 3: Absolutely nothing changes
This is not physics. Every action doesn't necessarily beget a reaction.
It's completely possible Yzerman moves on, Larkin still wants a trade and Yzerman's replacement can't negotiate anything either. Should that happen, trade talks with the aforementioned teams will resume.
From there, it's just a waiting game as both sides try to navigate the offseason. The Red Wings moving on from Yzerman is in no way a decision on Larkin. But if nothing else, it shows that progress wasn't happening fast enough for the powers that be in Hockeytown.
