NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2026-06-24 05:53:33
NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2026-06-24 10:43:59
First Round Draft Recap – Darryn Peterson brings hope to Salt Lake City
The 2026 NBA Draft will go down in the history books for the Utah Jazz. It really was a long time coming. Tonight, they selected their first top-2 pick since the 1980 Darrell Griffith selection. For weeks, there was a shakeup between the top-3. First, the Wizards-Jazz egregious mock trades (sorry, Ace is still ours, Wizards fans), then came the rumors that the Wizards preferred Darryn at #1, in addition to the consideration of Cam Boozer at #2.
The board fell as expected. BYU phenom AJ Dybantsa was the first name off the board in the 2026 NBA Draft, as well as the wails and cries of Cougar fans ringing off in Salt Lake City.
Then, it seemed as if the Ainge family was already on speed dial. At 6:13 am MST, Jake Fischer leaked the pick:
The pick seemed like a no-brainer. Utah could have paired the father and son Boozers (who fell the next pick to Memphis), but called through yet another draft bluff and took the consensus #1 high-school star. This moment will *hopefully* play in the back of my head for the rest of my days:
Jazz fans reacted just as enthusiastically, video courtesy of SLC Dunk’s very own Diana Allen:
But Darryn Peterson’s night wasn’t over. An hour later, he graced the cover of SLAM 263 despite being a #2 pick, rocking his brand spankin’ new black and purple threads. I’m no psychic, but I have the belief he may want to play here if he already did a photoshoot in a Jazz uniform during the weeks and weeks of rumors.
Darryn Peterson’s night refused to end. The draft marked the day Adidas signed Peterson to a long-term deal with Adidas, making it the top 5 richest rookie shoe deals in NBA history. No other prominent Utah Adidas rookies to mention…*cough* …none whatsoever.
As of the end of Round 1, the Jazz do not own a second-round pick, or any other pick at all after #2. They could attempt to add another rookie if they decide to reset their contract timeline. Or the Jazz could stand pat and relax in the Darryn Peterson cheers. They’re not in a rush to develop talent anymore. Now they’re ready for the big leagues to battle aliens and Greek freaks. Peterson is going to need time to figure out how to shoot at the NBA level, but Keyonte, Lauri, Jaren and Ace will have his back until then.
Robbie Ray Stymies A’s as Giants Take Game No. 1
The Athletics took on the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game midweek series on a beautiful summer night in San Francisco. The Giants scored a pair of early runs that held up in the hosts’ 3-1 victory, snapping their losing streak and stretching the A’s skid to three games. Robbie Ray, a looming free agent, boosted his trade value by quieting the A’s offense over eight sparkling innings.
Giants Take Early Lead
Starting pitchers Aaron Civale and Robbie Ray each got off to a strong start, tossing scoreless first innings. The Giants took the lead in the second inning. Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center field against Civale. Shortstop Willy Adames doubled and then third baseman Matt Chapman crushed a ball off the left field wall, bringing home the Giants second run of the inning.
A’s left fielder Tyler Soderstrom made a nice throw to catch Matt Chapman trying to stretch his hit into a double, but A’s second baseman Zack Gelof got his right hand stepped on while applying the tag and had to be replaced by Jeff McNeil. Gelof’s early injury-related exit ended his hitting streak at an impressive 24 games. He suffered a right hand laceration and contusion on that play. Thankfully, he avoided a more significant injury.
A’s Respond
Athletics’ right fielder Colby Thomas reached to start the third inning when Lee dropped the fly ball off his bat in right field. The A’s quickly capitalized off the Giants’ mistake. Third baseman Max Muncy singled to left, scoring Thomas to cut the Giants lead in half. Muncy proceeded to make a base running mistake, as Ray picked him off first base for the first out of the inning.
Civale Escapes Trouble
In the bottom of the fourth, the Giants hit two straight singles against Civale, putting two runners on the bases with one out. Civale struck out San Francisco’s catcher Daniel Susac to strand the bases loaded and end the threat.
Game Rolls Along
Having thrown 84 pitches through four laborious innings, Civale did not return for the fifth inning. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking none. Left-hander Matt Krook replaced him out of the A’s bullpen, making his second MLB appearance of the season. The southpaw pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Krook returned for the sixth, recording one out before giving way to right-hander Mason Barnett, who struck out Susac to escape a two on, two out jam and keep the score the same. Twice, Susac came up to the plate with runners in scoring position and two outs, and both times he failed to come through for the hosts.
Giants Extend Their Lead
In the last of the seventh, Barnett struck out the first batter before Giants’ designated hitter Bryce Eldridge walked and then second baseman Casey Schmitt recorded his second single of the game.
The A’s turned to left-hander Jose Suarez with two left-handed hitters coming up. First baseman Rafael Devers made the visitors regret the pitching change by grounding an RBI single up the middle with Eldridge just beating A’s center fielder Henry Bolte’s throw home to score the Giants’ third run of the game. Suarez retired the next two hitters he faced, stranding runners on second and third.
The A’s offense struggled against Ray. The “Green and Gold” swung at a lot of first pitches, allowing the Giants’ starter to need just 102 pitches to complete eight innings of one-run ball. Despite walking four, Ray only allowed two hits, inducing eight groundouts and four fly outs. He would have finished with a scoreless performance if not for Lee’s fielding error, which led to the Athletics’ lone run.
Ninth-inning Drama
Giants’ reliever Caleb Kilian came on in the top of the ninth to try to secure the save. Soderstrom hit a one-out single. After shortstop Jacob Wilson grounded into a force out, Killian walked pinch-hitter Lawrence Butler to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Alas, Bolte struck out to end the game, as the A’s last chance fizzled out.
The Athletics will look to bounce back and even up this interleague series tomorrow night. Left-hander Gage Jump has pitched exceptionally well through his first few MLB starts and now gets to face the Giants for the first time in his young career. He will be opposed by Giants’ right-hander Tyler Mahle, who is returning from a monthlong absence due to a left hamstring injury.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. dismisses Yaxel Lendeborg age concerns: ‘He’s not 38’
The Golden State Warriors used the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Yaxel Lendeborg, a consensus first-team All-American who was viewed by most as second only to Cameron Boozer among collegiate players last year. So why did he fall all the way to No. 11?
It’s fairly simple: his age. Lendeborg was a super senior who spent time at both a junior college and a lower-level NCAA school before transferring to Michigan his final year, where he won a national championship. Because of that, he’ll turn 24 before making his NBA debut, which stands in stark contrast to everyone else drafted in the first round on Tuesday.
You can easily make the case that Lendeborg’s age limits his ceiling (the oldest player among the 10 prospects drafted ahead of Lendeborg, Brayden Burries, is a full three years younger). But Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. doesn’t seem concerned. Speaking with reporters after the draft, Dunleavy wryly got off a joke, saying, “He’s what? 23? Almost 24? I’m not worried, because he’s not 38.”
While part of Lendeborg’s allure is that he’s one of, if not the most NBA-ready prospect in the draft, Dunleavy helped set expectations accordingly, saying, “I think it’s tough anytime a guy’s changing levels, whether you’re going from high school to college, college to the NBA … but generally guys like this guy, who’s physically read, who’s played at the highest level of college, won a national championship, maybe those guys can play sooner.”
Despite those comments, Dunleavy made it clear that the door is not only open for Lendeborg to earn minutes as a rookie, but that he’ll likely be thrust into a role by nature of the circumstances. “Next year, to be frank, whether we want him to or not,” Dunleavy explained, “Given our roster constraints, and injuries and stuff like that, the opportunity will be there.”
While Lendeborg’s age may have kept him from being one of the top picks in the draft, it surely is something of an asset to the Warriors. Golden State is hoping to compete for one of the top seeds in the Western Conference next year, but has a difficult path to reach that goal, due to a lack of depth on the roster, and serious injuries to Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody, which will sideline each player until sometime around the All-Star break.
Braves blow another one in 7-6 loss to Padres
A wild night at Petco Park was capped off by a walk-off single by way of Manny Machado as the Braves fell to the Padres, 7-6, in 10 innings.
This is a bad baseball team at the moment.
The second inning was a doozy for both sides. The Braves loaded the bases and cashed in on a Rowdy Tellez two-run single up the middle to take an early 2-0 lead. Michael Harris then doubled off the wall to make it 3-0, and Matt Olson drew a bases loaded walk to extend the lead to four.
Unfortunately, the lead evaporated in a hurry. JR Ritchie walked the first two batters of the inning — a continuing problem for the rookie — and two duck fart singles found their way through the left side of the infield to make it 4-2. Fernando Tatis Jr. then doubled in a run and Samad Taylor drove in two more to give San Diego the 5-4 lead. In total, the second inning took nearly an hour.
Despite the disastrous second inning, Ritchie settled in nicely and kept things under control over the next three frames. He ended the night with back-t0-back strikeouts, something to build from perhaps. But until he’s able to throw more strikes, the struggles are going to continue.
The Braves tied it in the fourth by way of an Ozzie Albies RBI double. They took a 6-5 lead by way of a no-doubt blast from Mauricio Dubon in the fifth.
In the 7th inning, Walt Weiss inexplicably left Carlos Carrasco out there for a second inning. As literally everyone scratched their heads, Carrasco promptly surrendered a solo homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. to tie things at 6-6. Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias were all fresh and ready to go. I have no earthly idea what Walt was thinking.
The Braves and Padres will conclude their series on Wednesday evening with Martin Perez and JP Sears set to take the mound. First pitch is an hour earlier at 8:40 p.m. ET.
2026 NBA Draft: Henri Veesaar, Bruce Thornton among best available after first round
The expectation entering night one of the NBA Draft was that there would be a ton of trades. Well, the first trade didn't happen until pick 16, and while there was some movement, only draft picks were dealt.
However, that doesn't mean it wasn't a fun draft. Morez Johnson Jr. to Dallas at pick No. 9 was the first surprise of the night, which reunited him with head coach Dusty May after the pair helped lead Michigan to a National Championship last season.
The Knicks made some cost-cutting moves that may help them retain more of their championship team. They moved out of the first round after multiple trade downs from 24 and acquired future second-round picks and cash considerations.
This is a loaded class with plenty of talent already gone, but there is still a lot left for teams to be excited about. Here are the 10 best available players after round one.
C Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
Veesaar was one of the stars for the Tar Heels last season after spending two years at Arizona. He’s a floor-spacing seven-footer that can pass and rebound, which led to him averaging 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.3 triples per game last year while shooting 60.8 percent from the floor and 42.6 percent from deep. There were definitely a few teams that could’ve used his services that opted for a different center at the end of the first round. Veesaar should immediately slot in as a strong backup option down low for whichever team drafts him.
G Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
After being a five-star prospect out of high school, Thomas was disappointing during his freshman year for the Razorbacks. That led to his slide to round two, but there is still plenty of talent to be intrigued by. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.2 triples per game last year while playing alongside Darius Acuff Jr. He didn’t test well at the combine, but he’s one of the few upside swings left in the draft entering the second round.
G Richie Saunders, BYU
Saunders will turn 25 in September, making him one of the older prospects in the class. He also tore his ACL in February, which means he won’t be available for the start of next season. However, Saunders is going to be really productive at the next level, and his game is built for the modern NBA. He can get to the rim and shoot from the perimeter, but he can also force turnovers on the other end of the floor. He averaged 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.6 triples per game last year and should become a solid rotation player in the NBA.
G Isaiah Evans, Duke
The former five-star recruit didn’t see the floor much during his freshman season at Duke, but he was a big part of last year’s team. He averaged 15.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.7 triples per game and projects to be a high-level shooter at the next level. He should go early in round two and be a rotation piece in year one as a floor spacer that also improved as a rim finisher last season.
G Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
It’s unfair to deem any player the “next Jalen Brunson”, but if there were to be one in this class, it’s Thornton. He’s a smaller, stocky guard that was incredibly productive during his four seasons at Ohio State. Last season, he averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.8 triples while being incredibly efficient as a scorer and playmaker. Again, expecting Thornton to turn into Brunson is setting him up for failure. However, he does project to outplay his draft position and should be one of the steals of the second round.
F Trevon Brazile, Arkansas
After spending a year at Missouri and four years at Arkansas, Brazile entered the NBA Draft at 23 years old. He provided well-rounded numbers last season, averaging 13.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 triples, but his combine numbers are what make him intriguing. At 6’10.75”, Brazile boasts a 7’3.75” wingspan and a 41.5” vertical. He doesn’t have superstar upside, but he should be a strong option in round two.
G Jack Kayil, Alba Berlin
Kayil was inefficient in Germany last season, which is to be expected for a young guard playing in a professional league. However, he averaged 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 triples per game. He still has plenty of growing to do, but he’s a strong guard with upside, making him worth the swing for rebuilding teams.
G Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
Lipsey is another smaller guard that projects to be an effective rotational ball handler in the NBA. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.2 triples per game last season. He doesn’t project to be a strong perimeter shooter, but he was still able to impact the game in other ways and should make an impact on both ends of the floor from day one.
F Baba Miller, Cincinnati
Miller is an older prospect at 22 years old, but there is a lot to like about him as a prospect. Last season, he averaged 13.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 blocks per game, though he doesn’t have much upside as a shooter. He’s a strong defender, rebounder and playmaker and is nearly seven-feet tall, making him an intriguing addition in round two.
C Ugonna Onyenso, Virginia
Teams can typically find rotation minutes for players that can defend the paint. Onyenso only played 18.6 minutes per game last year, but he averaged 6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. He also added a three-point shot after shooting 0-of-1 from deep in his first three collegiate seasons. He may never become a starter, but he should be able to make a massive impact in limited action.
Cameron Carr gives Lakers injection of athleticism
Before a draft pick was ever made, NBA commissioner Adam Silver laid out why this day was important for every franchise.
“Every pick matters in the chase to become an NBA champion, and that pursuit begins tonight.”
For the Lakers, patience was key for this draft. After waiting hours, anticipation turned into action for the Lakers as they moved up one spot to the No. 24 pick to select Cameron Carr.
It’s always hard to tell what franchises are thinking. During the draft, gathering trustworthy intel becomes a Herculean effort. No longer are teams’ draft workouts touted, and it becomes difficult to understand their goal for each draft.
That’s why tonight’s pick should make Lakers fans happy. Perhaps Carr will turn into a quality selection, becoming a rotation player or even an All-Star. He could also very well be a bust who doesn’t amount to much.
Regardless of his fate, the Lakers’ selection of him is a step in the right direction. It aligns with what Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka said during his exit interview.
“The archetype of the roster we want is going to be retrofitted around Luka [Dončić] and the things he needs,” Pelinka said. “Clearly, he’s that leader and player for the future that we want to build the right way around.”
What Luka needs, outside a top center, are players who can hit shots and apply pressure on the rim. Carr fits that description.
In his sole season at Baylor, he averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Importantly, Carr shot 37.4% from deep and did so on high volume, averaging 6.1 shots from beyond the arc each contest.
As a dunker, Carr will instantly make the Lakers more explosive. Similar to Adou Thiero, Carr has some dunks that will drop your jaw.
Carr also has size and is more than willing to defend. He averaged 2.2 stocks per game. He has good natural instincts and can gamble well on defense.
Given that the Lakers were 22nd in rejections with just 4.3 per game during the regular season, they need an injection of players who can go out there and contest against the league’s best finishers.
During the playoffs, the Lakers’ lack of athletic playmakers became painfully obvious. The team simply couldn’t keep up with the Thunder’s athleticism. It felt as though OKC won all the 50/50 balls and could beat LA not only on the scoreboard, but in the margins with their athleticism, size and depth.
The selection of Carr acknowledges that the franchise is aware of its weaknesses and is working to address them. The last time Lakers head coach JJ Redick talked to the media, he made it sound simple what kind of players the team needs.
“Luke [Kennard] is a great example,” Redick said during his exit interview. “He’s a guy that can dribble, pass, and shoot. I think because of injuries, there were times that we didn’t have enough of that. We’ve got to be better being able to dribble, pass and shoot.”
Carr fits that archetype, and the Lakers didn’t allow anything to get in their way of acquiring him. When the moment came, they paid the Knicks and moved up in the draft to get their guy.
As in life, in sports, you want a franchise’s words to align with its actions. To start this offseason, the Lakers have not contradicted themselves.
They mentioned wanting to get players who can be triple threats, and they acquired one with Carr. There is a lot left to figure out, and the Lakers are far from done with moves this summer.
But this was a good way to begin what is supposed to be a huge offseason for the purple and gold.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
Jung Hoo Lee, Robbie Ray play starring roles in Giants’ win over A’s
SAN FRANCISCO — Jung Hoo Lee was on the delivering and receiving end of two hard knocks. Ultimately, the one he dealt proved to be more powerful.
Lee crushed the longest home run of his career, clearing the fence in Triples Alley, the deepest part of Oracle Park, to get the Giants on the board first in a 3-1 win over the A’s to open their series Tuesday.
“I never thought I was going to hit a home run [there],” Lee said in Korean through a team interpreter.
Then came the inadvertent revenge.
After Lee reached base for a third time, drawing a walk in the sixth, he bolted for second base. When he arrived, he was met by the elbow of second baseman Jeff McNeil, whose momentum attempting to corral the wide throw took him into the path of Lee’s slide.
Lee’s initial reaction sent a scare through the sellout crowd of 40,043 that the throw had possibly nailed the portion of his head unprotected by his helmet. It turned out that it was McNeil’s arm that got his face.
Count manager Tony Vitello among those fooled.
“We thought the ball hit him,” Vitello said. “That probably would’ve been more painful than the elbow. But McNeil’s elbow just kind of inadvertently got his jaw and rung his bell for a little bit.”
Vitello, a trainer and Lee’s interpreter rushed from the dugout to second base, where Lee remained motionless for an extended period. He was, it turned out, just shaken up.
“He knocked me out,” Lee joked. “K.O.”
That blow was, apparently, no match for the one he gave to a cutter that caught all of the plate from Aaron Civale with one out in the second. Lee’s fifth homer of the season traveled 414 feet, 40 feet further than his longest homer to date this season. His career long had previously been 406 feet.
“That’s a tough part of the park to go out,” admired starter Robbie Ray, who hugged Lee after he made an error in right field that resulted in the only run the A’s managed against him over eight innings.
“He came in and said he was sorry [about the error] and I was like, ‘That’s my guy, we’re good.’ … He made some great plays in the field today too. The wind was playing tricks out there.”
The solo shot got the Giants’ bats in business, as Willy Adames followed with a double and came around to score, opening a 2-0 lead, on a line drive from Matt Chapman off the wall in left.
Chapman punished the pitch so hard — 112.1 mph, tied for his second-best hit ball of the year — that he was out by a mile when he tried to take second on the play.
Bryce Eldridge hustled, or more like huffed, home to barely beat the throw on a single from Rafael Devers to pad the lead in the seventh after using an ABS challenge to draw a walk.
Lee wasn’t the only victim of what proved to be a physical game.
Both second basemen were forced to leave early, with Luis Arraez departing after fouling a pitch off his shin and Zack Gelof getting spiked in the hand by Chapman.
What it means
The Giants began their home stand with a much-needed win, following a sweep at the hands of the Marlins to end their road trip that sent them 15 games below .500.
Who’s hot
Ray walked four batters but didn’t let any come back to bite him and largely cruised through eight innings, the only damage coming on an unearned run after Lee flubbed an easy fly ball in right field, resulting in the first batter of the third reaching and coming around to score.
Ray, who had trouble getting through five innings earlier this year, turned in his second-longest start with the Giants and easily his best effort of the season.
“Obviously the walks tonight [were] not ideal, so that’s something I need to work on,” Ray said. “But even though those walks happened, I was able to come back and … get the next guy. I think the two-seam has helped out my arsenal a lot.”
There were signs a breakthrough was coming, though.
The two-hit effort from Ray marked the third time in four starts this month that he didn’t surrender a single earned run. In the one outing he was hit around, he didn’t issue a walk.
It all began when Ray started swapping out his four-seamer at the top of the strike zone for a sinking two-seamer. He used it on 20 of his 102 pitches against the A’s.
“Just the combination of all my pitches, I feel like was pretty unpredictable tonight,” said Ray, who threw all five of his offerings at least 12 times but none more than 27. “I felt like the two-seam was really good. I got some early outs with it. Changeup was good. I think everything was just playing well off each other.”
After posting a 6.44 ERA in May, Ray improved to 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA so far in June.
Who’s not
It was shaping up to be a revenge game for Daniel Susac, the catcher the Giants selected in the Rule 5 draft after the A’s left the former 28th overall pick unprotected.
Upon review, not so much.
Susac struck out three times, lowering his batting average in 24 games since returning from the injured list to .205. He was hitting .407 with an 1.152 OPS when he was diagnosed with neuritis in his right elbow on April 20; his batting average now is down to .267 with his OPS at .652, barely better than Patrick Bailey’s .633 mark with the Guardians.
The A’s determined he posed such little threat that, with two outs and a runner on second in the sixth, they intentionally walked the light-hitting No. 8 batter Drew Gilbert to bring up Susac.
It proved to be a prescient choice. The at-bat ended the same way as the previous two — strike three.
Up next
Tyler Mahle makes his return to the Giants’ rotation as they continue their three-game series against their former Bay Area rivals on Wednesday. Mahle, out since May 29 with a hamstring strain, was 1-7 with a 6.04 ERA when he landed on the injured list.
The Giants will have to make a roster move to activate him from the IL.
Sonny Gray cruises in Colorado, propels the Red Sox to a bounce back win
We don’t care much about starting pitching records anymore, and for good reason. But it’s kind of wild to look up and realize that Sonny Gray is 9-1 following his latest gem for the Red Sox against the Rockies in Coors Field on Tuesday night. On a team that entered the evening tied for the fewest wins in all of baseball, Sonny Gray has pretty much been everything Boston could’ve asked for this year, and he was again following the team’s latest gut punch loss on Monday.
Gray didn’t just throw seven innings of one run baseball, he struck out eleven guys in a ballpark notorious for balls going in play. It never felt like he was in trouble, he once again proved in command of all of his pitches, and he’s now responsible for nearly a third of the team’s victories all season.
And I guess that’s kind of the other big story of this game: The Red Sox, for whatever reason, seem to play a little bit more of a complete game when Gray is on the mound. It’s probably mostly sequencing and luck, but this squad has wasted so many wonderful outings from their starters in 2026, it’s almost surprising how often they’ve been able to button things down in mostly uneventful fashion for Gray.
But for overall balance, score one for a game going mostly as advertised on paper. The Red Sox had the huge pitching advantage on the mound, and it largely played out that way. If we want to get picky, you wouldn’t be wrong to point out they probably should have scored more than five runs with a wild Sean Sullivan on the mound for the Rockies at Coors Field, but I’m not going to complain about that tonight. The Red Sox got a win they needed, the Rockies looked like the Rockies, and Coors Field proved much more docile than it can be on a warm summer night.
To the studs and duds!
Three Studs
Sonny Gray: Seven innings of one run baseball at Coors Field with eleven strikeouts attached is a golden ticket here every time. If he does get moved later this summer, the price just went up.
Wilyer Abreu: He grew up a fan of Carlos Gonzalez, and he looked a lot like Carlos Gonzalez in his heyday tonight. A monster home run, a triple, and he almost had an outfield assist that turned into an unlucky error when the ball hit the runner. Here’s the big blast:
Nate Eaton: Led off the game with a walk, scored the first run on Abreu’s triple, and then had three more hits the rest of the night.
Bonus Stud: Anthony Seigler: 2-3 with a walk, and helped set up chances all night from the bottom of the lineup.
Three Duds
Jarren Duran: Not only did he go 0-5, but he managed to strike out three times while the rest of the team only struck out once combined. Opponents are attacking him down and away pretty routinely, and they’re having enormous success.
Andruw Monasterio: The only other player to go hitless in the Boston lineup, although he at least walked once.
Garrett Whitlock: He came into a four run game in the ninth inning after allowing four hits last night and quickly looked vulnerable again surrendering a solo home. While Whitlock worked through it and recorded the final out before Chapman was needed, Coors Field doesn’t seem to agree with him, and I have to imagine the Sox will try and stay away from him tomorrow in the finale.
Speaking of which, that will be an early 3:10pm ET first pitch with Ranger Suarez on the hill trying to finish off what would become a 4-2 road trip for the Sox with a win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade linked to 1st of 9 deals in Round 1 of NBA draft
The first round of the NBA draft started quietly on Tuesday night with teams selecting players and keeping them at least through the first 12 spots.
Then the trades started at No. 13 involving the teams that were part of the massive swap agreed to on Monday sending Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee to Miami.
That was the first of nine trades involving 10 players over the final 18 selections to wrap up the first round. The Memphis Grizzlies were involved in two deals sliding back five spots and netting five future second-round selections, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Why? Because none of these trades can be finalized until July 6.
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No. 13: F Nate Ament, announced to Miami with rights quickly sent to Milwaukee.
No. 16: G Bennett Stirtz, selected by Memphis with rights swapped to Oklahoma City for No. 17 and two second-round selections.
No. 17: G Ebuka Okorie, slot held by Oklahoma City sent to Memphis in trade for Stirtz's rights.
No. 21: F Karim Lopez, announced to Detroit with rights sent to Memphis along with three first-round selections for Okorie's rights.
No. 24: G Cameron Carr, New York Knicks sent his rights to the Los Angeles Lakers.
No. 25: F Sergio De Larrea, the Lakers' pick sent to the Knicks with his rights traded to Dallas.
No. 26: C Tarris Reed Jr., Denver traded his rights to San Antonio.
No. 28: F Joshua Jefferson, Minnesota traded this slot to Brooklyn as part of the Julius Randle trade as the Nets moved up five spots.
No. 29: F Alex Karaban, Cleveland moved back to No. 34 in this draft, sending Karaban's rights to Sacramento.
No. 30: F Koa Peat, the Knicks traded out of the first round entirely ESPN reported by sending the Dallas pick to Phoenix for the rights to the player from the Phoenix-area who played for Arizona.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Francisco Lindor could be set to rejoin Mets’ lineup for doubleheader in huge boost
It may be too little, too late, but there’s a chance Francisco Lindor is back with the Mets on Wednesday, according to Carlos Mendoza.
The Mets have been waiting for Lindor to return from a strained left calf since April. After picking up a pair of hits and playing eight innings at shortstop in a minor league rehab game for Triple-A Syracuse in Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Lindor could be part of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Citi Field against the Cubs.
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Try it freeAfter the Mets lost 9-6 Tuesday, Mendoza said he would talk to the front office and trainers to see if Lindor could “potentially” play Wednesday.
With his return imminent, his teammates are ready.
“It’s exciting,” Bo Bichette said. “We haven’t played at full strength pretty much the whole season, and we’re still not, but having him back is a huge boost.”
Bichette said that in Lindor’s absence, he has stayed focused on shortstop rather than working at third base as well, and president of baseball operations David Stearns said that although Lindor is “a big part of” the Mets possibly turning their season around, “We also can’t put everything on Francisco to come back at a time where he hasn’t been playing baseball very much and expect him to put us on his back.”
When he returns, Lindor will play shortstop, but he will likely get days off and games at DH to try to keep him healthy.
The Post reported in the offseason about issues within the Mets clubhouse last season, including an incident involving Lindor and Jeff McNeil, now with the A’s, and as a chilly relationship between Lindor and Juan Soto.
Stearns said Tuesday that despite the team’s struggles so far this season, he’s not aware of any problems with the team’s chemistry.
“My observation is those guys have meshed pretty well,” Stearns said of the team’s roster, which got an overhaul in the offseason. “I think we’re playing hard. That doesn’t mean we’re always playing well. I think the guys care about winning. I have not seen a clubhouse cohesion issue.”
Much of Stearns’ success as an executive came in small-market Milwaukee.
Now, as he said Tuesday, “The benefit of this job [with the Mets] is we have access to everyone in the player universe. It’s very different [from] some other markets. That’s a benefit for us. It requires me — and us — to do work a little bit differently.”
That’s produced mixed results so far, with Soto playing at an elite level, but other expensive additions either playing poorly or dealing with extensive injuries.
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Luis Robert Jr. (lumbar spine disc herniation) and Jorge Polanco (Achilles bursitis) are doing baseball activities, with Robert taking normal batting practice, but Polanco is still having “some good days, not so good others” while running.
The Mets claimed outfielder Jared Oliva off waivers from the Giants. The 30-year-old was optioned to Syracuse. He’s appeared in 33 games over parts of three seasons in the majors, including seven with San Francisco this year.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell was tossed after a bizarre play in the seventh inning. Michael Busch walked with Pete Crow-Armstrong on first.
Crow-Armstrong was attempting to steal and briefly slid off the bag, where Bichette tagged him. Crow-Armstrong was ruled out after the Mets challenged the call because he touched second and then left the base.
Cavs Trade Grade: Cleveland swaps the 29th pick for two future seconds
The Cleveland Cavaliers did the smart thing. Instead of taking the 29th pick, they moved back five slots to the 34th pick and grabbed a 2032 second-rounder from the Sacramento Kings in the process.
This was a savvy trade because of the financial flexibility this deal provides.
Every first-round pick comes with a guaranteed contract and salary slot. The 29th pick is slated to earn $3 million this upcoming season, with $6.1 million guaranteed over the next two seasons. Those same guarantees don’t come with second-round selections.
Second-round picks can sign whatever contracts the team and player agree to. They are eligible for the minimum salary ($1.35 million) and can also be signed to two-way contracts that don’t count against the cap. As a result, the Cavs could save $1.65 million if their second-round selection signs a minimum contract.
This matters because the Cavs need to cut costs at every corner. They were the only team above the second apron last season and still are above it. Exceeding that threshold comes with numerous restrictions, including an inability to do sign-and-trades, no access to the midlevel exception, and prohibitions on aggregating contracts in trades. These penalties hinder the Cavs’ ability to upgrade their roster.
Right now, Cleveland is just barely on the wrong side of the second apron, and they will have numerous big decisions to make this summer.
Dean Wade and Keon Ellis will become unrestricted free agents. Both would be due significant pay raises if they are retained. The Cavs are also expected to re-sign James Harden once he declines his player option for next season. Re-signing these players — particularly Wade — could take them further into the second apron. And if they lose any of them in free agency, they would need to fill those spots with new incoming players.
Every dollar matters for the Cavs. Saving potentially $1.65 million may not seem like much from the outside, but it is a huge deal for the front office. This team needs to get under the second apron, and preferably far below it, this summer if they want to retool their roster. This trade helps them do so, even though additional moves are still needed.
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More importantly, there isn’t a significant drop-off in talent this late in the draft. The Cavs may even be able to select the same player they would have if they kept the 29th pick instead.
On top of that, they still get an additional second-round pick as well. For a team that is starving for future assets, picking up another second is helpful.
At the same time, it’s fair to acknowledge that little maneuvers like this are needed because of the front office’s previous mistakes. Going into the second apron isn’t a death sentence, but only if the team you have assembled is complete. The Cavs weren’t and still aren’t.
In a perfect world, the Cavs wouldn’t have to worry about nickel-and-diming every roster decision. They would just take the best player available. And if a move was to be made, it was one done for strictly on-court reasons, not to ensure the spreadsheets were perfectly balanced.
On its own, this was a good trade, but it also serves as a reminder of previous shortcomings. That’s going to knock it down some in my book.
Grade: B
San Antonio adds front-court depth with Tarris Reed Jr.
The San Antonio Spurs doubled down on front-court depth after selecting Jayden Quaintance with the 20th overall pick. They traded up into the first round, acquiring the 26th pick from the Denver Nuggets for the 35th pick and two future second-rounders. With that pick, the Spurs took Tarris Reed Jr., a senior big man from UConn.
Reed is a massive 6-foot-11, 263-pound center with a 9-foot-2 standing reach. He was one of UConn’s best players on the team’s run to the NCAA Championship game this season, averaging 14.7 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Reed made the All-NCAA Tournament team last season, putting up huge numbers against powerhouses like Duke, Michigan State, and Illinois in March.
Reed fills a lot of San Antonio’s needs as a big man. He’s a strong rebounder with a huge frame that will allow him to hold his own with other physical bigs in the NBA. Reed combines his strength, frame, and instincts to gobble up boards on both ends. He snatched 3.2 offensive rebounds per game as a senior at UConn, mostly with his ability to clear the paint with strength. That skill should translate to the next level.
He’s somewhat of a throwback center with his ability to score on the low block. He’s hard to move around in the paint, and he used spin moves and drop steps on the block to pin his defender behind him and create space. He’s not an above-the-rim finisher who is going to soar for dunks; instead, he uses his size and strength to clear space underneath the basket to put the ball in.
It’s unlikely Reed will be asked to post up much in the NBA, but he could play well in the Spurs’ offensive system as a screener and hand-off hub. UConn is known for its creative use of big men as playmakers, and Reed showed potential as a passer, averaging 2.3 assists per game this season.
Defensively, Reed should be a solid rim protector, thanks in most part to his strength. He is going to be a hard player to drive through. He’s a willing help defender, averaging 2 blocks in his senior season. Opponents shot just 56.2% at the rim against him last year. He’s got big hands that can poke the ball free or grab steals as they come to him. He’s going to do most of his best defensive work around the basket, but has enough quickness and length to not look completely lost against stretch big men on the perimeter.
The question with Reed in his first three seasons came down to his motor. He did not start for the Huskies in his junior season, partly because of his inconsistency. He responded well to those concerns as a senior, arguably the best player on a winning team. He’ll need his motor to run hot in the NBA to make up for some of his deficiencies as a defender. He’s not excellent positionally, fouls too much, and is not a great vertical athlete.
It’s also fair to question whether Reed will be able to bully his way to the rim against taller and stronger NBA players. He struggled in the NCAA Championship game against a 7-foot-3 big man, Aday Mara. He’s going to be an under-the-rim scorer who relies on his touch and strength. It remains to be seen if that skill will translate to the next level.
Don’t expect Reed to be a floor spacer at the next level. He didn’t take any three-pointers in his senior season, and only made one in his four-year collegiate career. He was a 58.2% free-throw shooter over the course of his career. His release doesn’t look terrible, but he struggled to convert on his jump shot.
San Antonio needs more playable guys in their front court. Reed could step onto an NBA court tomorrow and compete on the glass and in the paint. After their big man depth was exposed in the playoffs, it makes sense that the front office wanted to add a few imposing players in the paint. With Quaintance likely set to miss some time due to injury, Reed gives them a player who should be able to contribute as a third big man in his rookie season.
Reed likely won’t be anything more than a solid bench big man in the NBA. He won’t be able to play next to Victor Wembanyama due to his inability to guard on the perimeter or space the floor, but he’ll give the Spurs some muscle to back up their star.