CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Darryn Peterson participates during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are less than a week away from the NBA Draft. Hell, it’s next Tuesday, June 23! And the Wizards are rattling sabers behind closed doors. NBA Insider Marc Stein reported on his newsletter last night that they are taking a closer look at Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.
With only a few days to go before Tuesday night’s first round of the NBA Draft, multiple draft experts have passed along that they legitimately believe Washington could select Kansas’ Darryn Peterson over BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick.
“Increased consideration” is the way one well-placed insider put it.
Just so everyone is aware, if we haven’t said it a million times already, consideration doesn’t mean that the Wizards WILL do something. But it is food for thought.
Meanwhile, the NBA world still seems to be focused more on the New York Knicks winning the 2026 NBA Finals. Good for them. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are the early favorites to win the 2027 Finals per FanDuel. In our national SB Nation Reacts survey, fans are more keen on the Thunder.
SB Nation reacts' national results are focused on the Knicks NBA championship. We're still more focused on the draft. Still, here are the national survey results. pic.twitter.com/Mmj8nfkbpC
So if you ask me right now if I think Dybantsa is going to the Wizards? My answer is yes. And yeah, I’m happy that the Knicks won an NBA title once in my lifetime. I’ll be even happier to see the Wizards win a title in my lifetime.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Cooper Flagg (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted first overall by the Dallas Mavericks during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 22: Justin Brazeau #16 of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves the puck in front of Mike Reilly #6 of the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins are likely looking at replacing a defenseman from last season. Pierre LeBrun dropped a not unexpected nugget that it looks like Ryan Shea will be headed to the free agency market on July 1 since the Pens aren’t interested in giving a contract with the term (likely 3-4 years) that Shea can command after a breakout season in 2025-26.
One possible name for a Shea replacement could be found via Dom Luszczysyn’s look at free agency in Mike Reilly.
From Mason Marchment to Vincent Desharnais, 10 free agents teams should target this summer based on their expected contracts from @AFPAnalyticshttps://t.co/ReXsFil2P8
No player confounds models on an annual basis more than Reilly. Every year, his on-ice numbers dazzle, and every year, he struggles to get much playing time out of it. C’est la vie.
While I don’t think Rielly is anywhere near as good as last year’s 60 percent xG (!) would indicate — he plays extremely sheltered minutes — I do think he’s capable of third-pair duty. At 6-2, there’s no issue with size either. Reilly is projected to cost about a million bucks and should deliver a bit more value above that with his puck-moving ability.
The description of Reilly sounds similar in some regards to the scouting report on Parker Wotherspoon, before he enjoyed a breakout season in Pittsburgh as a player who did good things with limited opportunities but never fully got established. The salary range of $1 million bucks annually fits the bill too.
Granted, there are some key differences in these two profiles as well. Wotherspoon always carries a better defensive impact. He’s also four years younger than Reilly, who has played NHL games for a decade and bounced around through seven different NHL teams without finding much traction. In Wotherspoon’s case, he was a player that mostly bided his time in the AHL in two organizations and failed to make much headway. Reilly is much different being a journeyman who has been all over the place.
It would be a major reach to project that Reilly could step into top-pair responsibilities like Wotherspoon did and perform that well. The base of his game is too different, Reilly has averaged 40 NHL games over the last five seasons. He has been more a guy to come in and play a part for a period of time, but seldom become a lineup regular. He HAS been able to do it at times (Boston 2022 and 2023, NYI in 2023-24) but often tends to slip back into a depth position, like he did with Carolina this year (42 regular season games, two in the playoffs).
So while it’s a nice thought for a Wotherspoon-esque glow up if given a chance, the fact is that Reilly’s had several chances over the years and never quite latched on, for whatever reason(s) that might be. However, when shifting the focus back for the matter of replacing Ryan Shea, Reilly aligns well style-wise based on that.
Mike Reilly wouldn’t be a hugely glamorous add, but then again neither were the free agent signings of Wotherspoon, or Shea for that matter. Whether or not Reilly, who will have his name etched on the Stanley Cup, gets any additional shine for his free agency prospects remains to be seen, though at this point (and with his 33rd birthday coming up this summer) it seems unlikely the market will heat up an extreme amount.
The Penguins are likely seeking a low-cost, short commitment to players who can join the blueline, Mike Reilly is just the sort of under-the-radar name that would fit the bill and carries some traits to suggest he could provide value to an NHL team next season. It probably wouldn’t end up as much of a success story as the Parker Wotherspoon experiment did, but an NHL team could do a lot worse adding Reilly to the mix, especially since it appears they’ll be watching a defender depart via free agency in Shea.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 04: Ben Rice #93 of the New York Yankees hits his first career home run during the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Yankee Stadium on July 04, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A four-game winning streak came to an end last night thanks to Andrew Benintendi’s late grand slam. Whatever. It’s not news that the bullpen needs work (Tim Hill and Camilo Doval were the villains on Thursday), and even the best teams will take their lumps in that department. The Yankees remainl 8-2 in their last 10 games and already had the series win in the bag.
Next up: the Yankees face the Reds beginning today. For one reason or another, they’ve proved to be a tougher opponent than expected every time they’ve gone head-to-head since 2022, when MLB teams began playing every other club for at least one series on an annual basis. Cincinnati has one three of the four sets, going 7-5 against them with the Yanks’ only triumph coming in a sweep from the otherwise-underwhelming 2023 team. The Reds memorably returned the favor the following year, sweeping the Yankees in the Bronx during their pennant-winning 2024. The only real highlight for the Yanks in that one was Ben Rice’s first career homer. Cincy won two of three last year at Great American Ballpark.
Today on the site, Jeremy will offer an expanded series preview against the Reds, Sam will run through the Rivalry Roundup, and Matt will celebrate the 123rd birthday of one of the greatest and most beloved players in MLB history: the “Iron Horse” himself, Lou Gehrig. (Donate to your favorite ALS research organization in his memory!) Later, Peter will break down an at-bat against Cam Schlittler for his Sequence of the Week, Josh will discuss why MLB’s latest CBA proposal to the players is horrible for the game on multiple fronts, and Madison will answer your mailbag questions.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees vs. Cincinnati Reds
Time: 7:05 p.m. EST
TV: YES Network, Reds.tv
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. The Yankees’ best three relievers right now are (in some order) David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, and Brett Headrick. Who is next on the depth chart for you?
2. Will you watch any of the Team USA vs. Australia World Cup match in the afternoon today before the Yankees game? If so, any pregame thoughts?
Pride Night signage is displayed before a 2023 game between the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. (Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)
Amid the first days of grief after Alex Vesia and his wife lost their newborn daughter last fall, Vesia noticed something as he watched the World Series on television. He paused the broadcast, then checked the video, then texted another player to make sure.
51.
Dodgers teammates wore his number on their caps. So did players from the Toronto Blue Jays.
“It was awesome,” Vesia said. “It was a very heartwarming moment.”
Who knew, really, until this week? Three pitchers from the San Francisco Giants wrote the name of a Bible verse on their Pride Night caps and, amid an uproar, Major League Baseball said it had warned the players that “writing of any kind, with any message” on any playing apparel is not permitted. The issue, the league said in a statement, was not what they wrote on their caps but simply that they wrote on them at all.
Said MLB in the statement: “We have given the same warning numerous times in the past to players for messages such as ‘Dad’, ‘Happy Mother’s Day, I Love Mom’ and names of family members.”
To its credit, the league did not enforce the rule when Vesia’s number started appearing on caps in the World Series. But, if you’re going to draw a line on enforcement, where should you draw it?
In San Francisco, the actions of the Giants’ pitchers were widely condemned.
“They were in for a rude awakening with the response, and it wasn’t just from the gay community,” Giants broadcaster and former pitcher Mike Krukow told KNBR, the team’s flagship radio station. “It was from the Northern California community that supports the gay community.”
In response to media inquiries, and as first reported by Outsports, MLB confirmed it had warned the three players. I asked the league whether warnings had been issued in two other instances in which players had written on their caps, including Clayton Kershaw last year writing the same Bible verse on his Pride Night cap that the Giants’ pitchers wrote this year. MLB declined to comment.
“I got chastised by the league when I put Charlie [Kirk]’s name on my hat last year, because a man was murdered in cold blood,” Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen told me, “and now these gentlemen who are relievers in San Francisco are getting chastised by the league for putting a Bible verse on their hat. It’s crazy to me.”
Treinen said league officials had told him the rule is strictly enforced.
“I straight up asked Clayton last year, ‘Did they call you when you put that on your hat?’” Treinen said. “He said, ‘No.’”
The Pride caps feature team logos decorated in the colors of the rainbow, a symbol long associated with the gay community. In the Bible verse cited by the pitchers (Genesis 9:12-16), the rainbow represents “the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures.”
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley fired off a letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, alleging apparent discrimination “against baseball players who profess their Christian faith” and threatening the league’s antitrust exemption. Assistant U.S. Atty. Gen. Harmeet Dhillon said on national television that players might be able to file a claim for employment discrimination.
That is complete nonsense. This is what you want: When employees raise an issue to their employer, the employer listens and addresses their concerns.
“We have told teams, in terms of actual uniforms, hats, bases that we don’t think putting logos on them is a good idea just because of the desire to protect players: not putting them in a position of doing something that may make them uncomfortable because of their personal views,” Manfred said then.
Teammates congratulate Freddie Freeman after his walk-off home run gave the Dodgers a 1-0 win on June 5, when the Dodgers held their annual Pride Night. Blake Treinen, the winning pitcher that night, elected to wear his regular Dodgers cap instead of the Pride version. (Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
Manfred said the Pride Night celebrations could go on, however a team wished to stage them — or not, in the case of the Texas Rangers, the only one of the 30 MLB teams that declines to hold a Pride Night. And the league still sells Pride gear on its website for all teams, including the Rangers.
In the cases of the Giants and Dodgers, MLB grandfathered each team’s long-running use of a rainbow logo on the cap, with this accommodation to players: If you don’t feel comfortable wearing the Pride cap, just wear your regular cap.
That is what Treinen and outfielder Alex Call did when the Dodgers celebrated Pride Night. That is also what a fourth Giants pitcher did.
“My job is to abide by the rules,” Treinen said. “Ultimately, the only rule we have is to wear our team-issued uniform. So that’s what I chose to do.”
To Treinen, the decision over whether to wear a Pride cap is not about passing judgment on anyone else but about what he sees as the push “to force something on people that you know that is controversial to their faith — and, in fact, straight up against their faith.”
“Kudos to those men over there who are standing strong in their faith,” he said. “It’s a sad thing to corner someone and try to make them feel bad about their convictions.”
I respect Treinen for explaining his viewpoint. To me, wearing a Pride cap for one night does not diminish your faith at all. It might sharpen your convictions. More important, it signals a welcome to everyone in the community that buys the tickets and broadcast subscriptions that help pay your salary.
“I think a few people made it about themselves and not about the community,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie told the Bay Area Reporter.
We always proclaim the life lessons of sports. One of them: Sometimes you have to put the team’s interests ahead of your own.
Sawyer Gipson-Long gave the Hens a decent start, and the offense did the rest. Jace Jung has been running hot in June, and he led the way with a double and a home run.
Gipson-Long allowed three runs, but he went 5.2 innings, striking out seven.
Jung opened the scoring with a blast to center field for his 12th long ball of the season. Max Clark singled and scored on a Ben Malgeri single in the third. From there, Rochester chipped away at Gipson-Long to take a 3-2 lead until the Hens broke through in the seventh.
Jung started things off with an opposite field double and Tyler Gentry was hit by a pitch. Tomas Nido and Andrew Navigato walked, forcing in a run, and after the Red Wings went back to the bullpen, new reliever Zach Penrod walked Max Clark to force in a run. A Max Anderson ground out plated another, and a Gage Workman sacrifice fly brought in Navigato to make it 6-3. Two more walks made it 7-3 in a pretty ghastly display from Red Wings’ pitching.
In the eighth, Navigato and Clark hit singles with one out, and then they pulled off a double steal that produced a pair of errors that allowed them both to score. 9-3 Hens.
Ricky Vanasco collected four outs in relief of Gipson-Long. Nick Sandlin allowed a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth. Jung walked and scored on a Navigato sacrifice fly in the ninth. Sandlin allowed two more runs trying to put this one to bed, and Konnor Pilkington had to come on to get the final out, which he did.
Jung: 2-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR, 3 BB
Clark: 2-4, 3 R, RBI, BB, SB
Malgeri: 1-4, RBI, BB
Gipson-Long (W, 3-3): 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: The Hens have a 2-1 lead heading into a 6:45 p.m. ET start on Friday.
Lefty Carlos Peña threw a pretty good game, but the Senators pitching kept the SeaWolves in check all evening.
Peña gave up single runs in the first, fourth, and fifth innings, but he only allowed five hits and no walks. The Senators managed to sequence their hits well, as they also struck out eight times.
Justice Bigbie cracked a solo shot in the seventh inning for the SeaWolves only run.
Bigbie: 1-3, R, RBI, HR, K
Peña (L, 3-3): 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:30 p.m. ET start on Friday.
West Michigan Whitecaps 16, Lansing Lugnuts 0 (box)
It’s been a rough first half for the Whitecaps, but on Thursday they were the hammer.
Ben Jacobs fired four scoreless innings with six strikeouts, though he did walk three and battled his command a little bit. He also spent a lot of time waiting between innings as his teammates piled up the runs. Lucas Elissalt was rained out this week, so he was about to get in four innings as well, and he looked great, showing off some good sliders and curveballs as well as a pretty dominant heater. He struck out six, allowing just two hits and a walk.
Of course, the story was the offense. Bryce Rainer and Garrett Pennington led the way as they each homered and collected three hits in this one. Everything Rainer hit seemed to be 112 mph or better, including a pair of screaming singles.
Bryce Rainer smashes a 113-MPH single to center to put West Michigan up 12-0. pic.twitter.com/uDmBYIcl2M
Ricardo Hurtado homered and had two hits. Woody Hadeen had two hits and two walks, while Jackson Strong had two hits and a walk of his own. The Whitecaps piled up 16 hits and four walks, scoring four in the first, two in the second, and then eight runs in an endless bottom of the third in which the Lugnuts also made a couple of errors.
Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are up 2-0 in the now five-game set, with first pitch set for 6:45 p.m. ET on Friday.
Lakeland Flying Tigers 11, Dunedin Blue Jays 3 (box)
The Flying Tigers bounced back with an impressive showing behind Malachi Witherspoon on Thursday to get back into this series with the Blue Jays.
Witherspoon’s consistency remains an issue, because the stuff remains undeniable. He had everything under control in this one, including his changeup, and the Blue Jays had no answers. The right-hander fired five innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts against three hits and a walk allowed. He racked up 13 whiffs, averaging 95 mph with his fourseamer. He allowed a single and a double in the first to produce the run he allowed, and then was dominant the rest of the way.
Malachi Witherspoon with one of his best outings of the year: 5IP 3H ER BB 7K 13 Whiffs
It looks like he broke out his changeup for the first time this season. Some were mischaracterized as sinkers, but we count 11 changes, 7 swings, 2 hits, 4 whiffs. Full video later. pic.twitter.com/dJZHPXDriQ
The Flying Tigers took control in the second when Carson Rucker led off with a walk and Anibal Salas blasted his sixth home run. Salas remains interesting with plus raw power, plate discipline, solid speed, and a strong throwing arm.
In the fourth, Nick Dumesnil, Rucker, and Salas singled in order to produce a run. Zach MacDonald smoked a line drive single to left to plate Rucker, and then Jack Goodman singled in Salas. Beau Ankeney and Edian Espinal got into the act with RBI singles as the inning continued and they batted around with an 8-1 lead.
In the seventh, Espinal led off with a single and Espinal walked. A wild pitch with two outs advanced the runners and MacDonald and Goodman walked to push across another run.
Joe Ruzicka allowed a two-run homer in the top of the eighth, but his teammates came right back for two more in the bottom half as Dumesnil launched a two-run homer.
Nick Dumesnil crushes a 2-run homer to left to put Lakeland up 11-3. It’s his 4th home run of the season. @AaronArnstein on the call. pic.twitter.com/LiKaKt6Lmz
Jack Bushell was lit up in a shorter start this time out after punching out 10 last time out. Johnathan Rogers did even worse, and the Blue Jays just poured it on from there.
What was notable in this game was the return of the Tigers’ 2025 competitive balance round A pick, Michael Oliveto, returning from a broken toe to make his pro debut. He walked twice and struck out once in this one.
Feb 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) celebrates with guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have some tough decisions to make this summer. Anything they choose to do will come with a risk. From making another blockbuster trade to simply running back the same squad. The latter feels like something they can’t afford to do.
That’s because reality has caught up with the Cavs. They’ve built this roster on speciality players that fill specific roles. And while the rest of the NBA is thriving on versatility, Cleveland’s Jenga Tower of one-dimensional skillsets is starting to teeter.
You can dissect the roster and find overlapping talents at every position. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley share the frontcourt. James Harden and Donovan Mitchell dominate the backcourt. There isn’t a whole lot that separates those duos from their counterpart.
The stars of this team aren’t multifaceted. Neither is the supporting cast. They’re a layered collective that looks to be greater than the sum of its parts. That can lead to wonderful things when everything is going right. But relying on that many moving pieces is nearly impossible.
The Cavs need to consolidate.
And since all indicators suggest that the front office is committed to the core four, that turns our eyes to the supporting cast. Flipping one of their three-point specialists for a player of greater variety could help them find long-term solutions in the playoffs.
Max Strus and Sam Merrill come to mind.
Now, I want to be clear. Both Merrill and Strus have been positive contributors. This is not meant to be a knock on either of them. They are fantastic role players to have on your squad, and you can never have enough shooting. Parting with them isn’t easy.
But a team that lacks size and athleticism can not continue to overindex on two three-point specialists who play the same position (even if they’ve refined other aspects of their game).
Look at the teams that have made it to the Finals this decade. You’ll see a clear pattern of length and mobility on the wing. Switchability and versatility enable them to meet any challenge thrown their way. They have players who can provide a counter option when the three-point shot isn’t falling. Cleveland doesn’t.
The Cavaliers’ front office hasn’t successfully added those types of players this decade. That’s not Merrill or Strus’s fault, but moving one of them might offer the clearest path towards finally addressing that this summer.
Of course, this is easier said than done.
It’s one thing for me to tell you the Cavs need to upgrade at a specific position. It’s another thing to actually suggest a realistic deal that will appease both sides. That’s why I’m a blogger, not a GM. I can point out flaws better than I can fix ‘em.
Still, the Cavs should have a clear goal this offseason: get more athletic and versatile. That likely comes with the difficult decision to part with one of their more helpful role players. Making the tough choice should result in a deeper roster that has more answers to problems that can emerge in the playoffs.
UNITED STATES - MAY 06: Basketball: finals, Los Angeles Lakers Jerry West in action vs New York Knicks, Los Angeles, CA 5/6/1970 (Photo by James Drake/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X14924)
Jerry West was a famously complex man. He wrestled with his demons for most of his life, the emotional wreckage of a difficult and traumatic relationship with his father, and a constant battle with depression that tormented him without end.
Yet he remains one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, so revered that his silhouette was used for the league’s logo. After his playing career, his time as GM of the Los Angeles Lakers rivaled that of Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics, with West’s teams winning six championships to Auerbach’s seven.
By any definition, he had a brilliant career. However, West’s focus was always on the shortcomings. He never beat Boston in the NBA Finals as a player, and as a GM, would not set foot in Boston Garden, finding it too physically stressful.
One of West’s greatest plays came against the New York Knicks in 1970 in the NBA Finals. Dave DeBusscherre hit a shot from near the foul line to give the Knicks a 102-100 lead with three seconds to play.
Because the Knicks won in overtime, 111-108, and would later win the series, which devastated West. He was convinced that L.A. was the best team in the league after Bill Russell retired, but they came up short yet again.
The Boston Celtics have recently been at the forefront of a seemingly endless cycle of rumors and speculation.
With the NBA Draft and free agency rapidly approaching, one might expect those events to dominate the conversation. However, amid the flurry of developments surrounding a possible trade, those offseason milestones have largely taken a backseat, until now.
The Celtics have multiple avenues to bolster their depth at both guard and center this offseason. Below are four potential draft-and-free agent pairings that could help accomplish that goal.
All the free agents featured in these scenarios are projected to command contracts at or below the value of the Celtics’ non-taxpayer Mid-level exception (MLE), which is worth just over $15 million. The same approach was taken with the draft prospects. Each player highlighted is currently projected to be available around Boston’s No. 27 overall selection, although anyone who follows the draft closely knows those projections can shift dramatically in the blink of an eye.
The ultimate question, however, is one I will leave for the community to answer: Which of these combinations would benefit the Celtics the most? Be sure to hit the comments (respectfully).
Anfernee Simons (FA) + Tarris Reed (Draft) Center – UConn
After being traded to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Nikola Vucevic, former Celtics guard Anfernee Simons was asked whether he could envision a return to Boston at some point in the future. Simons did not hesitate with his response.
“For sure,” Simons replied.
Now just because someone says something doesn’t mean it’s true, but I do think a much nicer phone call from Brad Stevens to Simons this summer wouldn’t hurt. In 49 games wearing green, Simons averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc on seven attempts per contest, establishing himself as one of the league’s most prolific flamethrowers off the bench.
After not seeing the floor in the Celtics’ Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, it appears increasingly unlikely that Nikola Vučević will return to Boston next season. While his departure would create an opening for another big man, a position we’ll revisit shortly, it would also leave the Celtics in need of additional scoring punch off the bench. Simons is an unrestricted free agent and should be in the early to late teens range as far as per year money. I think the team could really use his shooting regardless of what the team ends up looking like around him.
At the center spot we have 22-year-old big man Tarris Reed who is a physically imposing college center known for his interior scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence in the paint. At roughly 6’10” and 260+ pounds, he plays with a traditional big-man profile, using his strength and frame to establish deep position on the block. His most consistent offensive production comes from close range, where he finishes through contact, converts put backs, and punishes switches or smaller defenders in the post. He also made a huge jump as a passer last season which helps him fit even better for a team like the Celtics.
Defensively, Reed projects as a paint protector who can anchor a second unit or situational lineups. He is a strong rebounder on both ends (nine rebounds per game) and has shown the ability to alter shots simply through size and positioning, even if he is not an elite vertical athlete. Reed also holds his own well on the perimeter for a big of his size, adding valuable defensive versatility. He provides even more value as he is a good defensive playmaker. Aside from his two blocks per game last season, Reed also has great hands and anticipation that helped him average a steal per.
He has slowly been creeping up mock drafts as of late, but I don’t see him going too far outside of Boston’s range.
If you’re anything like Brad Stevens and think Boston could use a jolt of rim pressure, Okorie Island is exactly where you want to be. The freshmen guard ranked in the 99th percentile last season in rim attempts per 100 possessions (13.1) and unassisted rim attempts. Averaging 23.2 points per game on shooting splits of 46/35/83 further solidified him as one of the premier shot creators in the draft class, an archetype the Celtics could greatly benefit from adding to their roster.
Okorie leverages a polished handle and impressive speed plus quickness to create access to virtually any area of the floor. The jump shot may not be the most visually appealing, but the results are strong: 35 percent from three on six attempts per game, 83 percent from the free-throw line on seven attempts, and 43 percent from mid-range, efficiency indicators that are hard to dismiss.
Okorie’s draft projection is among the most difficult to pin down at this stage. He has been mocked as high as No. 8 to the Atlanta Hawks and as low as No. 26 to the Denver Nuggets. While Draft Night is inherently unpredictable, his range stands out as one of the widest projections in the first round.
Jock Landale is a physical, traditional center who has carved out a steady role in the NBA as a backup big capable of providing interior scoring, screening, and rebounding in short bursts. At 6’11”, he relies more on strength, positioning, and touch around the rim than vertical explosiveness, making him effective as a roll man in pick-and-roll actions and a reliable finisher in tight spaces.
In his most recent season, the 30-year-old put up career numbers averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game on 59/38/63 shooting splits. While not a high-impact defender, he brings functional size, boxing out, and scheme-based rim protection that make him serviceable in rotational minutes on competitive teams.
Even though he is coming off his best season, Landale is an aging center that missed the playoffs with an injury. He is fully expected to be ready for his next campaign and put that ankle sprain behind him, but those two factors can be a reason why a franchise gets him for a really team friendly number.
Collin Sexton (FA) + Henri Veesaar (Draft) Center – North Carolina
Before being traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Chicago Bulls, Collin Sexton was having a really underrated season.
In Buzz City, he averaged 14 points and four assists on efficient shooting splits of 48/39/87, a really impressive line for a guard of his size. With an expanded role in Chicago, he increased his scoring output by a couple of points while maintaining that same level of efficiency. Despite not being able to play meaningful basketball for a while now, I’ve always liked the relentless nature and competitive stamina that Sexton brings every night. The scoring guard has had four straight seasons of at least 39% from three as his volume from there continues to grow.
At 27 years old, he enters unrestricted free agency with what doesn’t seem to be a robust market. Boston could benefit from this and bring him in on a smaller deal.
Henri Veesaar is a modern big man prospect known for his combination of size and developing offensive skill set.
Standing at nearly 7 feet tall, Veesaar has the potential to bring real shot making versatility to an NBA team. He averaged 17 points last year on outstanding efficiency for a big who shoots all over the floor. His 60/43/61 shooting splits helped him achieve a 66.4 true shooting percentage which ranked in the 99th percentile. However Veesaar is asked to score, he has the skill set to do so. Unlike many stretch bigs, he is comfortable putting the ball on the floor for a few dribbles, attacking closeouts, and making the extra pass when defenses rotate. He has also flashed the potential to be more than just a stationary handoff passer. While he does a strong job of keeping the offense connected by moving the ball quickly to guards and maintaining flow, he also shows intriguing rip-and-run reads that add an element of creativity to his playmaking.
While he isn’t the greatest athlete or the strongest body inside, his length, skill, and timing allowed him to be really effective around the rim as he shot 79% from there last season. He has an array of hooks and floaters when he has to create for himself, plus he can be a vertical threat when rolling to the rim. He also shot 48% from the mid-range.
Veesaar was effective on the glass last season, posting a 21.9% defensive rebounding rate and averaging 8.7 total rebounds per game. Defensively there is some work to do but at the very least he showed the ability to use his size and length to block and contest shots at the rim nicely.
I haven’t seen Veesaar inside the top-20 in any mock draft I’ve come across, so as things stand, it appears Boston could have a realistic opportunity to select him.
Sergio De Larrea (Draft) Guard/Wing – Valencia + Robert Williams III (FA)
Spainsh guard Sergio De Larrea is a very intriguing prospect with outstanding positional size. He is known for his poise, playmaking ability, and improved catch and shoot three point shot and when you couple that with measurements of 6’6” barefoot and a 6’9” wingspan, things really get interesting.
Off the dribble, he is comfortable running pick-and-roll sets, using his size to read the floor over the top of defenses and make simple, correct decisions. He tends to play with patience, rarely forcing tough shots, instead probing defenses until he can deliver the ball to the roll man, kick out to shooters, or reset the action. His handle is solid rather than flashy, but it is steady enough to keep him in control in half-court settings.
Defensively, De Larrea’s size and instincts give him real versatility in the backcourt. He has the frame to defend multiple guard types and competes well at the point of attack, using positioning rather than pure explosiveness to stay in front of ballhandlers. With that being said, he isn’t the best athlete, and the lack of foot speed versus quick handlers can be hard for him. His maturity, feel for the game, and ability to manage possessions stand out for his age.
At the beginning of the process, I had only seen De Larrea in the second round of mocks but in the last couple days he has snuck into the bottom of the first round to the Dallas Mavericks at pick 30. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sneaks up even more before the draft, but there is still a good chance he’s available when Boston selects.
Robert Williams III remains an elite defensive center, with his impact defined by rim protection, vertical athleticism, and instinctive play as an anchor on the back line.
Last season, Robert Williams III recorded 4.1 blocks per 100 possessions, placing him in the 98th percentile league-wide. Even when he wasn’t directly blocking shots, his rim deterrence remained elite, as opponents shot 14% worse at the rim against him as the primary defender, ranking in the 92nd percentile.
Offensively, Williams is still one of the best vertical spacers, offensive rebounders, and quick decision makers at the center position. He also has begun to stretch out his shooting range as he shot 39% from three in the regular season but on only 23 total attempts. He did manage to hit three in the Blazers five-game series with the Spurs. He averaged an impressive 10.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in that series.
The primary concern with Robert Williams III has long been, and likely will continue to be, his durability. However, he is coming off his healthiest season in a while and further reinforced his value with an impressive playoff series vs. the Western Conference champions.
Spencer Strider: ‘It’s important to pursue what you don’t know, because it may be of use to you.’Photograph: Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Spencer Strider made an impression in 2022, his first full season in Major League Baseball: he was runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year. In 2023 he was ever better, leading the majors in wins and strikeouts and earning a spot on the All-MLB first-team.
But what set him apart from many of his peers wasn’t his athletic ability but his life away from baseball. In a sport that is often socially conservative, the Atlanta Braves pitcher was a vegan Bernie Sanders supporter who was just as likely to discuss indie music as his fastball.
Strider, who has been troubled by injuries in recent seasons and is set for another lengthy spell away from baseball in 2026, credits coach Tommy Pharr of the Christian Academy of Knoxville, his high school, as the original source for much of his mindset. He calls Pharr “probably the most influential person for me”.
“[The lessons he taught me] led me … to never be satisfied with the depth of knowledge that I have at any given moment,” he says. “That it’s important to pursue what you don’t know, because it may be of use to you.”
This openness permeates Strider’s attitudes toward many aspects of life – including his veganism.
“I started [eating vegan] in 2019 when I was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery,” he says. “I had blood pressure that I was medicated for, [which] I always thought was a little peculiar for a 20-year-old. I had issues sleeping … and then there were also a lot of ethical and environmental concerns that I was sympathetic towards. I decided one day to try it and, within two weeks, I was off the hypertension medicine.”
Strider is far from the only professional athlete to cite a vegan diet’s health benefits. His commitment to discussing veganism’s broader ethical arguments, however, is less common.
“I understand that people have differences of opinion but, nonetheless … I think factory farming is certainly problematic and not exactly what we’re supposed to be doing to the planet,” Strider says, before clarifying that veganism is just one of many ways to address such issues. “I’m very conscious to the idea that any improvement, while it may seem insignificant, is still worthwhile. For me, it’s easier to be fully plant-based, but I think everybody can have a marginal improvement [around the ethics of the meat industry] that would, collectively, be great for the environment and the planet.”
Championing of a vegan diet is often associated with left-leaning politics and Strider has expressed admiration for Sanders. Given that, by some measures, baseball players are the most politically conservative athletes among the “Big Four” North American sports leagues, this too makes Strider an unusual fit for his profession. (In typically thoughtful fashion, he refuses to make such broad observations about this peers’ politics, nothing that “there’s a diverse group of personalities around here.”)
“I don’t know that I would single anyone out,” Strider says when asked if there are any other politicians he admires.
“Plenty of things are antiquated. I think about homophobia, racism, sexism, those types of structures and behavioral systems that have existed for a long time – they’re eventually going to subside entirely,” he says. “My position is that: to be ignorant to the reality that [homophobia and racism] are wrong is a misguided and unnecessary approach … There’s no reason to pretend that they’re not wrong or not harmful.”
While Strider’s observations on politics and culture are refreshing, such interests do not occupy all his time off the field. Instead, talking with Strider feels a bit like catching up with an old friend – the conservation jumps from the serious to the lighthearted with ease.
“I’m a big music fan. I like playing music, listening to vinyl, listening to music,” says Strider, who has played guitar since he was a teenager. With a laugh, he refuses to share the name of his high school band.
In his own words, his tastes are “middle of the road”. Strider mentions his fondness for millennial indie darlings such as Vampire Weekend, the Strokes and Mac DeMarco before namechecking the slightly more obscure acts that reveal his preference for riffy basslines and quasi-psychedelic sounds. He cites Patrick Taylor of Trash Panda as both a favorite musician and someone who his connections through the Braves have allowed him to get to know personally.
“He’s just an unbelievable musician and awesome creative mind. He’s somebody I’ve really enjoyed getting to be around [and] a really cool relationship for me,” Strider says. “There’s a lot of acceptance and freedom that the [the music] industry could share with the rest of the country and the world.”
Despite his interests outside baseball, Strider isn’t one of those athletes who views his profession as just a paycheck. In addition to music and climate change, he discusses the nuances of his craft with enthusiasm. He thinks recent changes to MLB (pitch clocks and the automated ball-strike system, etc.) haven’t gone far enough in improving the game.
“I think teams should be able to construct rosters however a team deems necessary for their own strategy,” Strider says. “Right now, it’s limited to 13 pitchers and 13 position players [active on each MLB roster]. If the Atlanta Braves want to have 15 pitchers on their roster, they should be able to … Even if it’s [just] for a series or a week. I think that could lead to more diverse strategies and would be good for the game.”
This perceived shortcoming has yet to hurt the Braves’ season – they are top of the NL East and have one of the best records in the majors. Team success, however, has not always translated into individual success for Strider. He hasn’t pitched a full season since 2023 and it seems this will be another campaign ruined by injury. Perhaps predictably, Strider – who was speaking before his most recent injury setback – approaches these challenges mindfully.
“Injuries are always going to be a part of playing, and I try to do as much as I can to minimize them and minimize the length of them,” the 27-year-old says. “I try to keep the mentality that you know, ‘Wherever you’re at, good or bad right now in this very moment, is not the ultimate definition of you.’ I don’t define myself by any singular moment, so I try to keep him to keep that long-term perspective and know that my career, and what I want out of it, will be defined by the collective [experience].”
At the very least, it’s clear that Strider won’t be bored off the field as he heals.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees reacts after fouling a ball off himself during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on June 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: In case you missed last night’s game, Yankees’ second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was forced to exit it due to a, um, likely quite painful injury. Chisholm fouled a ball off the ground that came right back up and hit him right in the groin. He remained on the ground in pain for quite a while before exiting the game. You would hope that’s not the type of injury that will cause any lingering effects, but we shall see.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: On the positive injury news front, Austin Wells gave us a good sign down in a rehab outing. In a game with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Wells homered twice in Columbus as he continues to recover from cervical headaches that sent him to the IL.
New York Post | Jon Heyman: Not that it’s particularly surprising, but it seems unlikely that the Yankees could swing a deal for two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at the Trade Deadline this year. While every team could always use pitching, the rotation is a strong point on this year’s roster, and the Yankees will likely try to use their assets on deals to shore up more pressing holes on their roster.
CBS Sports | Mike Axisa: We’re not that far away from the 2026 All-Star Game, and at least one Yankee is looking at participating in more than just the game. Yankees’ breakout star first baseman Ben Rice has said that he would participate in the Home Run Derby if asked. He is one of just five American League players at the 20-homer mark at this point.
Narrowing the best fits for the Warriors in the NBA draft this year down to a top five was harder than usual. This is, of course, great news for Mike Dunleavy ahead of his highest pick yet as Warriors general manager at No. 11. The Class of 2026 is that deep, giving Dunleavy and the Warriors’ front office an abundance of options.
Where’s Labaron Philon Jr.? What about Aday Mara? Karim Lopez? Chris Cenac Jr.? Or even Nate Ament, Christian Anderson, Bennet Stirtz and a handful of others? Excluding some players wasn’t an easy pill to swallow.
The Warriors have holes all over their roster, but most of all, they need as much talent as possible to open the doors at Chase Center and walk into their locker room. The Warriors will explore every avenue in the 2026 NBA raft. These five prospects fit the bill and make the cut above the rest in a year where the honorable mentions place an emphasis on honorable.
Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor
The combination of the highest upside and every tool to be what everyone wants from a modern 3-And-D wing makes Carr the ideal fit for the Warriors.
He has the length and shot-making ability to play shooting guard and small forward. He had a slow start to his college career and then burst onto the scene as one of college basketball’s premier breakout stars as his talent caught up his one year at Baylor. Carr had 15 games of 20-plus points last season as a redshirt sophomore, which are five more than the prospect below, and one fewer than the leader on this list.
At 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Carr is the cutout teams search for. He just has to get stronger after weighing in at 184 pounds. The rest of the combine, however, was all his. Carr registered the second-highest standing vertical leap (38 inches) and max vertical leap (42.5 inches), as well as the lane agility sprint (10.46 seconds).
Once he was in a game setting for his scrimmage at the NBA draft combine, Carr took over. The 21-year-old, who will turn 22 in late November, dropped 30 points on 9-of-18 shooting and went 6 of 12 from three in under 27 minutes. Carr also had seven rebounds in the game, blocked two shots and frequently made his way to the free-throw line.
Look at how easy Carr’s high and long 3-point shot goes down. Look at how he glides and accelerates on these dunks, and look at his two-way potential.
Carr in the very least will be a super scoring sixth man. It’s very easy to see him become more.
Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
While Carr is more of a bridge prospect between the present and the future, Lendeborg is viewed as a quintessential plug-and-play pick. Starting the 2026-27 NBA season without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, but being able to trust a rookie from Day 1, would be quite the luxury for the Warriors. Lendeborg could be the answer there.
Lendeborg already has played so many different roles through his one of a kind path to the draft. He will be 24 years old before he plays his first NBA game, yet Lendeborg is a late bloomer. He barely played any high school basketball at all, spent three years in junior college, was a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year in his two years at UAB and then starred in whatever Michigan needed him to do while winning a national championship and counting awards.
What Lendeborg did for any previous critics this past season was show he can evolve, and that there still is potential to be tapped. In two seasons at UAB, Lendeborg made multiple threes in six games. Lendeborg at Michigan reached that number in his first eight games, and he finished with 20 such games.
On a national championship team that featured three soon-to-be first-round 2026 draft picks, Lendeborg ranked first on Michigan in points per game (15.1) and steals per game (1.1), and second in rebounds per game (6.8), assists per game (3.2) and blocked shots per game. He also led them in 3-point percentage (37.2 percent) and was one behind the leader in total threes, 68 to 67.
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 9, 2026
The Warriors need a bit of everything, and Lendeborg brings a bit of everything. He has an NBA-ready frame at 6-foot-9, 241 pounds with a wingspan over 7-foot-3. His floor is worth questioning the ceiling.
Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
Watching strong guards like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper power their way to the paint in the NBA playoffs only made the desire for these types of players that much more. Burries, at 6-foot-4, is slightly shorter and doesn’t have the same massive wingspan as a Castle or Harper, but he might be even stronger at 215 pounds. He then had the fourth-highest standing vertical at the combine (35 inches) and the fourth-fastest lane agility run (10.59 seconds).
Burries checks all the boxes of the kind of combo guard Warriors coach Steve Kerr would love. He had 14 20-point games, one fewer than Carr, and impacts games in so many ways. Burries had 22 games of five-plus rebounds, including three of 10-plus, 21 games of multiple threes and 18 with multiple steals.
The advanced stats love him, too. Burries ranked second in the Big 12 in win shares (6.4). He was fifth in offensive win shares (3.7) and third in defensive win shares (2.7). There’s a reason he’s the least likely of the bunch to be available for the Warriors.
If he is there, the Warriors should have a happy draft room. It doesn’t hurt that Burries showed out in front of Kerr in the Sweet Sixteen with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, five rebounds and two threes.
Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan
Winning teams will all love Johnson on the court, and it’s easy to see why he’d be loved in the locker room. Just turn on the tape of the national championship game and it’s easy to see why.
Johnson in that game went to work down low to score 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. He led Michigan with 10 rebounds – five offensive and five defensive – and swatted a game-high two blocked shots. Johnson ranked second in defensive rating in the Big Ten (96.1) and fifth in offensive rating (135.4)
Versatility separates Johnson defensively with the chance to be the best player from this draft on that side of the ball. He can play the 4 or the 5 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, but he guards out to the wings and beyond. Johnson wants the challenge of defending 1 through 5 and can back it up.
The Warriors ranked last in dunks last season and are begging for athleticism. Johnson is the kind of athlete they’re lacking, and he has all the right intangibles in his game.
Hannes Steinbach, C/PF, Washington
Can the Warriors find their Alperen Şengün after missing out on him in the 2021 draft? Steinbach is right around the same size as Şengün. He doesn’t pass as well as him, but he rebounds just as well or better, can score around the rim like him, and has shown the ability to be a real stretch big man down the road.
Most teams want to make sure their top pick has at least one elite trait, and Steinbach clearly does. His strong and massive hands help him be the best rebounder in the draft. Steinbach positions his body well and he just has a knack for the ball. He led the country in rebounds per game (11.8) and he also ranked second in the Big Ten with 126 offensive rebounds.
Since his college season ended, Steinbach has proven to teams he has the size to be a center after coming to the combine at over 6-foot-10 barefoot and weighing in at 248 pounds. Steinbach has a strong international background in Germany, and players as productive as him at a high level in Europe and college are going to stick around for a long career.
These are some of Hannes Steinbach’s best buckets imo
He’s really efficient, positions himself well, uses his body well, & has good speed/power with the ball already
From a production standpoint, Steinbach’s freshman season was as good as it gets. He had 16 20-point games and averaged 18.5 points per game, shooting 57.7 percent from the field. The possession battle is becoming so important in today’s NBA, making Steinbach a trusted pick with a lot to like.
New York’s heroes in orange and blue are inspiring an entire generation of players ready to take the game to new heights at their Long Island high school gyms next fall, as these teens learned that anything is possible from the 2026 NBA champs.
“The Knicks had to wait a long time, but it came, and I feel like for anybody, you just take that into your own life,” Sachem North forward Jacob Steffens told The Post of snapping the 53-year drought.
Matt Grande (11), of the Nassau title-winning South Side Cyclones, attended the Knicks ticker-tape parade with friends. Photo courtesy of Matt Grande
“We haven’t made a long playoff run in a long time, we haven’t won our league in 20 years, so I think it could just keep going after it,” added his teammate, guard Sean Galvan.
Greenport guard and all-county star Troy Myers is taking in a lot of the Knicks’ recipe for success that he’ll bring to the Porters next year.
“Nobody on their team has egos; everybody plays together. I just love how they all bond together, even in tough times,” said Myers, who recently moved from North Carolina and fell in love with the Knicks. “When games get tougher, we all just have to stay together. … When we get down, we just can’t let ourselves be down about it. We’ve had to keep going and just keep pushing.”
Delaney Walters of New York state Catholic league champion St. Mary’s High School learned something similar from Jalen Brunson’s bunch as the Lady Gaels aim to win it all again.
Basketball prodigy Delaney Walters, age 14 from Centereach, practices at St. Mary’s high school gym. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“A big thing about them this year was just never giving up. … They definitely didn’t sulk when something didn’t go right, like they just kept their head up and they just kept playing,” the guard said.
“They taught me when things aren’t going how I plan them to go on the court, or if my shots aren’t falling, not to keep my head down, just keep my head up, and just go for the next play,” she added.
Other champs, like Matt Grande of the Nassau title-winning South Side Cyclones, relate to being counted out prematurely after their star guard, John Pericolosi, got injured midyear.
“The Knicks are an underdog story because they were just so bad for so long, I feel like that’s kind of the same way with us,” said the guard, who was all smiles at the parade Thursday.
“Everybody wants to win again. I feel like that was with the Knicks, too — the last guy on the bench to Brunson and the starters encouraging each other … that’s a big role we saw with the Knicks to bring to our gym.”
