Former Heat guard Josh Richardson surprisingly retires at 32
One NBA journeyman is calling it a career at 32.
Josh Richardson, who played for six teams, including the Heat twice, announced his retirement via an Instagram post.
“I always gave my best, that’s why i can say this with no regret,” he wrote Wednesday night. “I am grateful to have been able to love this game and it love me back as much as it did. It wasn’t set up for me at any point in my career, and from high school, college, and the pros i humbly worked my butt off every day be the best that i could be.
“All my fans, coaches and teammates, i hope i left a good impression and a positive view of me. Love, JRICH.”
In case there was any confusion, Richardson confirmed it was a retirement post at the end of his caption and included a laughing emoji.
The 32-year-old began his career relatively unknown as a second-round pick by the Heat in 2015, but quickly found his way into the team’s rotation.
He played meaningful playoff minutes in the Heat’s run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, playing over 25 minutes per game throughout the playoffs.
Richardson spent four years during his first Miami stint, averaging a career-high 16.6 points per game in 2018-19.
The guard then joined the 76ers and Mavericks for the next two seasons, averaging over 12 points per game while being an effective free-throw shooter.
He started the 2021-22 season with the Celtics, but was dealt to the Spurs in the Derrick White trade midseason.
After spending time with the Spurs and Pelicans, Richardson returned back to the Heat in 2023 but couldn’t return to his former self, averaging under 10 points per game in two seasons.
Richardson didn’t start a game in his final NBA season with the Heat in 2024-25, making just eight appearances.
He played briefly for Spanish club Zaragoza last season.
Royals vs. Twins Thursday game discussion
The Royals have a chance to win their first road series since they beat the Twins in their last visit to Minnesota in early June.
Noah Cameron will start today with no opener, even though he had a pretty good outing as the “bulk” guy last time. He spun seven shutout innings, but the Royals couldn’t get him the win because Beck Way gave up two runs as the opener and the offense managed just one run. Cameron has never lost to the Twins – he is 3-0 with a 0.77 ERA in four career starts.
The Twins start Bailey Ober, who lasted just four innings in his last start, with a fastball sitting in the upper 80s. He has a 4.74 ERA in 14 career starts against the Royals.
The game airs on Royals.TV and you can list on 96.5 The Fan in Kansas City.
MLB Home Run Props & Predictions Today: Best HR Picks & Parlay for July 30
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I stacked another winning day last night with +2.72 units and am looking to make it three in a row today on a short Thursday slate that still has tons of MLB player prop potential.
Esmerlyn Valdez is the best rookie hitter in baseball and will see plenty of Rhett Lowder and Cincinnati's lefty relievers today at GABP. He joins our card that already includes fellow unsung names like Chase Meidroth and Andruw Monasterio.
These are my favorite MLB home run props for Thursday, July 30.
- UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
MLB home run props for today
| Player to hit a HR | Odds |
|---|---|
 Chase Meidroth | +1100 |
 Andruw Monasterio | +546 |
 Esmerlyn Valdez | +356 |
| 💲Today's HR parlay | +33481 |
Home run prediction: Chase Meidroth (+1100)
This matinee might have the best home run matchup on the board. New York Yankees starter Ryan Weathers is one of the hardest-hit pitchers on today's slate, and his home run luck could finally run out against Chase Meidroth at a massive price.
Weathers has been especially vulnerable to right-handed hitters, with 29 of the 35 home runs he has allowed coming in righty-on-righty matchups. That's where I'm finding value today.
Meidroth is slugging .564 over the last two weeks, just 17 points behind Chicago White Sox leader Munetaka Murakami. His 44% hard-hit rate is the real deal, and his .398 xwOBA ranks second on the club over that stretch, suggesting this isn't just a hot streak.
The middle-of-the-order bat already has three hits in this series, all of them for extra bases. The Yankees' bullpen has also shown some cracks, allowing seven runs and three home runs over the first two games.
On a short slate, this is the type of long shot I'm willing to back. I'd play it down to +750.
- Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: YES, Chicago Sports Network
Home run prediction: Andruw Monasterio (+546)
Let's take another big swing, this time at Sutter Health Park, where the ball flies, and the Athletics' pitching staff is hanging on by a thread. Mason Barnett is making his first start of the season after working in a bulk relief role.
The rotation injuries continue to pile up with Luis Severino, JT Ginn, Jeffrey Springs, and Gunnar Hoglund all sidelined. Barnett is a home-run-prone arm with just a 33% ground-ball rate and will eventually hand things over to a bullpen that owns an MLB-worst 8.14 ERA over the last two weeks.
Andruw Monasterio crushes left-handed pitching and more than holds his own against righties. With three left-handed relievers available in the Athletics' bullpen, he should see favorable matchups throughout the game. He already took Jose Suarez deep in extra innings last night.
Monasterio also leads the Boston Red Sox with a .714 slugging percentage over the last two weeks, while his .511 wOBA ranks sixth in baseball during that span.
There should be plenty of balls leaving the yard at Sutter Health Park today, and Monasterio's hot bat is a play down to +450.
- Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBCSCA, NESN
Home run prediction: Esmerlyn Valdez (+356)
This price could easily be closer to +250, and it already is at some books. That's what happens when you combine the home-run boost of Great American Ballpark with a matchup against Rhett Lowder.
Rookie Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Esmerlyn Valdez is a human weapon who can handle both sides of the plate and launch baseballs 110 mph. He leads MLB in barrel rate at 26.9% (min. 50 PA) and owns a higher slugging percentage than Yordan Alvarez. His 34% HR/FB rate ranks second in baseball.
He is still available around 10/1 for NL Rookie of the Year, but has played half as many games as St. Louis' JJ Wetherholt, so there is still value in the market.
The Reds could be down to just four bullpen arms today, with two of them being left-handed. That creates plenty of opportunities for the man missile against Lowder and the Cincinnati bullpen.
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Reds.TV
Josh Inglis's 2026 Transparency Record
- HR picks: 27-145, -14.78 units
Best home run combo for July 30
| Chase Meidroth | Trade Now +33481 |
| Andruw Monasterio | |
| Esmerlyn Valdez |
Want more baseball parlays? Check out our MLB parlay picks page!
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Red Sox News & Links: Sox reportedly “going big” at trade deadline
How bold do you think the Red Sox are going to be this trade deadline? The team is no doubt in a tricky situation, with a playoff berth currently in hand, but a roster that likely presents too many challenges to genuinely contend. But one ESPN insider isn’t mincing words: “They are going big,” says Jeff Passan. “Maybe that means getting Zach Neto from the Angels. They could try to convince Houston to move Jeremy Pena, even as the Astros try to win now, or wheedle [CJ] Abrams from Washington. The best opportunity, though, could be [Otto] Lopez, the Marlins’ All-Star shortstop.“ (Jeff Passan, ESPN)
Lopez is having a fine season, but the shortstop that really gets the mouth watering is Bobby Witt, Jr. Is he a total pipedream? “Acquiring Witt, Kansas City’s 26-year-old All-Star shortstop, would require a haul, and yes, I’d have to imagine the Royals asking price starts with Anthony and Arias. Starters Payton Tolle and Eyanson would probably also be part of the Royals’ asking price.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Otto Lopez may or may not be the answer in the middle of the diamond, but there is little question that the Red Sox need to beef up the offense. “There’s been a through-line among teams that have advanced in the playoffs and particularly among those that have won: the ability to mash… Since 2020, 24 teams have reached the League Championship Series … On average, those teams have ranked sixth among all teams in regular-season runs, with 13 of the 24 ranking in MLB’s top five in runs per game, and 19 finishing in the top 10.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
There is a slight chance that Curtis Mead will be around to help out that offense at some point this season. After returning to Boston, a specialist ruled out the need for surgery to repair his fractured wrist. “One source said that Mead was given a ‘tentative’ timeline of 6-8 weeks. The regular season ends eight weeks from Sunday, on September 27.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
Having enough offense to take an early lead could be particularly valuable for this team because, thanks to the emergence of Tyron Guerrero, the Red Sox bullpen is suddenly shortening games for the opposition. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
When Guerrero was first promoted we heard a lot about his velocity. But what has made him really effective is his control, as he currently carries just a 3% walk rate. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Giants’ top pick Jackson Flora gets new perspective of Oracle Park
SAN FRANCISCO — Growing up, Jackson Flora was always in the seats, Buster Posey was usually behind the plate and a pitcher such as Ryan Vogelsong would be on the mound.
On Wednesday morning, Flora and Posey were both on the grass in front of the home dugout as the Giants’ president of baseball operations and onetime top draft pick introduced one of the five other highest selections in franchise history.
The 21-year-old from nearby Pleasanton was joined by his parents, grandfather and two siblings, including one who wore a jersey-style shirt with Posey’s name and No. 28 on the back.
“I was just telling them I’ve sat in just about every seat in this ballpark, but I’ve never been on the field before,” Flora said, shortly after introducing himself by name and shaking the hand of every individual media member. The first hand he shook was Posey’s.
“Crazy. I grew up watching him play. I’m a huge fan. It’s kind of still settling in a little bit, but it’s exciting. … Hopefully in a few years somebody’s sitting down here talking about me pitching in those games.”
Soon enough, the Giants hope that Flora will call the dugout home permanently. There’s not a whole lot on the horizon in terms of in-house pitching help, and manager Tony Vitello reiterated the organization’s belief that the college arm and first pitcher selected in this month’s draft (fourth overall) can move quickly.
The skipper was asked before the Giants wrapped up their series against the Brewers if he believed the UC Santa Barbara product could be a big-league contributor within a year or two.
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“I do,” Vitello said. “First thing’s first, he’s durable. He’s got a really good frame. The athleticism, I think, too, matches up with the guys that are on the field out here. And then the stuff is there.
“To take a guy at four, it means you don’t see a whole lot of changes that need to be made. So really it’s about him staying in a rhythm with his throwing program, coming in and seeing what he can do.”
It remains to be seen what’s in store for Flora the remainder of this season. He already threw 102 innings for the Gauchos while posting a 1.06 ERA in 16 starts this spring, and there’s no reason for the Giants to rush him given the big-league team’s place in the standings.
His first assignment after agreeing to a reported $7.9 million bonus sent him to the team’s facilities in Arizona, where he joined up with the high school arms they took with their next two picks, Carson Bolemon (No. 29 overall) and Kaden Waechter (No. 55 overall).
“We’ve only been at it for a couple weeks. Nobody’s throwing too much in a game or off the mound or anything. Those are awesome dudes and fun to hang out with. I’m excited to get to work and learn from them, and hopefully they can learn from me.”
Awaiting him in Arizona was another pinch-me moment for the Bay Area native.
The person he’s been primarily working with has been none other than Vogelsong, who now serves as a roving pitching instructor based out of Arizona. Flora named him as well as Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum as his inspiration once he moved from shortstop to the mound.
“He’s somebody who I grew up watching all of his starts,” Flora said. “Just his mindset, how he goes about pitching, how competitive he is — it’s been awesome to learn from him.”
There hasn’t been much time to get into specifics, but Flora said the focus so far in Arizona has been “getting bigger and stronger” as well as “polishing” his pitches. His fastball that can touch triple digits needs to get “more consistent,” and there’s still work to be done on the changeup that he added this year to an arsenal that also includes a sweeper, a cutter and a curveball.
“My fastball’s fun to throw,” he said. “And when it’s good, it’s really good.”
College hitters were no match for the heater, but it’ll now be put to the test against professional competition. Flora is eager to begin his journey, but he knows the pace at which it proceeds is out of his control. Posey was an advanced college hitter who only needed 172 minor league games under his belt, and now he’ll be the one who decides when Flora is ready.
“I try not to think about that stuff and put too much pressure on myself,” Flora said. “I kind of just like to focus on what’s in front of me and try to get better. I’m doing everything I can to make that decision easier for the people who have to make those decisions.”
VJ Edgecombe, Deni Avdija among the summer 'stock fallers'
With Summer League play in the rearview mirror and most major transactions completed, now is a good time to look back at some players whose fantasy values have been affected by the changes. After looking at the players whose fantasy outlooks have improved earlier this week, we look at some whose values may have taken a hit, some through no fault of their own. Kicking things off are two players in Philadelphia who are well-positioned to contend for an NBA title, at the expense of their respective fantasy outlooks.
A look back on what’s happened so far this summer and players whose fantasy values should increase.
Raphielle JohnsonReturnees
G VJ Edgecombe and G/F Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers
Obviously, no front office worth its salt would ever consider fantasy value when making moves that could improve the roster. Between the acquisition of Brown and the recent signing of LeBron James, the 76ers are well-positioned to contend for an NBA title next season. However, a stronger starting lineup also means that some individual sacrifices will need to be made.
As the least experienced player in the 76ers' starting five, Edgecombe may be the one who's asked to sacrifice the most offensively when everyone is healthy. The athletic guard is coming off an excellent rookie season in which he provided sixth-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats, as well as points leagues. Edgecombe's usage (20.1) wasn't too high, but that number may decrease with Brown and James on board, especially with both proving to be more durable than Paul George was.
As for Brown, he's coming off the most productive individual season of his NBA career. With Boston not having Jayson Tatum for most of the season as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Brown's usage was a career-high 36.2. With the trade to Philadelphia, that number was already going to take a hit. Add in LeBron, and that is something else for fantasy managers to consider. Hopefully, Brown will be able to clean up the turnovers (3.6 per game), which factored into him finishing outside the top-50 in nine-cat formats.
G/F Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Avdija is coming off the best season of his NBA career to date, having earned his first All-Star Game appearance. He posted career-high averages in points, assists and three-pointers while offering third-round per-game value in eight-cat formats. However, between the departure of head coach Tiago Splitter, the return of Damian Lillard and the acquisition of Ja Morant, Avdija's usage (29.3 last season) is bound to decrease. He can still offer reliable fantasy value, especially if the three-point accuracy improves and the turnovers decrease. However, Avdija's ceiling took a significant hit this offseason.
G Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
While he did enter last season with a top-100 ADP, few expected Rollins to be as productive as he was for the injury-riddled Bucks. He recorded career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and three-pointers while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from three and 79.6 percent from the foul line. The Bucks' chances of being a factor in the East took a significant hit with Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to Miami. Still, there are even more perimeter options for new head coach Taylor Jenkins to sift through.
In addition to Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. return, with the latter having signed a deal that shocked many (four years, $64 million). Among the players Milwaukee received from Miami were guards Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakučionis, and lottery pick Brayden Burries was one of the best performers at the Vegas Summer League. While he won't fall off the face of the earth, the increased number of guards on the roster may not do Rollins' fantasy value any favors.
F Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat
Speaking of the Antetokounmpo trade, his arrival in Miami may mean that Wiggins' usage takes a hit. Despite Herro and Norman Powell (who's now in Chicago) missing extended periods of time due to injury, Wiggins still averaged just 15.4 points per game last season, a decrease of more than three points when compared to his 2024-25 average (19.0). The positive is that Wiggins shot a career-high 41.4 percent from three on 4.9 attempts per game; if he can maintain that accuracy, it would help preserve some of his category-league value.
C Alex Sarr and G/F Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
After years of stockpiling young talent, the Wizards began to shift the franchise's approach with the acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season. Add in AJ Dybantsa, who was selected with the first overall pick in June's draft, and some of the other young Wizards stand to take hits to their fantasy values in 2026-27. Sarr may be better equipped to preserve his fantasy value, especially if Washington decides to start him alongside Davis.
And in that scenario, players like George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Will Riley would lose their luster as fantasy options. Of those four, George's overall profile gives him the highest category-league ceiling, but it would be challenging to expect a top-100 season out of him.
F/C Santi Aldama, Dallas Mavericks
While he finished last season with career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists (tie), steals and blocks, injuries limited Aldama to 43 games for the Grizzlies. The move from Memphis to Dallas puts Aldama on a team headlined by Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, and there's a surplus of bodies in the post as well. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford remain on the roster, as does Moussa Cissé after the Mavericks matched the offer sheet he signed with the Knicks. Add in lottery pick Morez Johnson Jr., and Aldama's fantasy value stands to take a hit unless someone is traded.
Rookies
G Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz
After finishing the Salt Lake City portion of Utah's summer league run on a positive note, Peterson played three games in Las Vegas. In those appearances, the second overall pick in June's draft averaged 20.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 three-pointers. However, the efficiency was lacking, with Peterson shooting 30.8 percent from the field while averaging 4.7 turnovers.
Long-term, Peterson should be fine; there is too much talent for the Jazz to work with in the former Kansas guard. Short-term, does he start alongside Keyonte George or come off the bench? George, who is extension eligible this summer, is coming off the best season of his NBA career and appears to be Utah's answer at point guard. There's also Ace Bailey to consider, as he made 61 starts as a rookie. Peterson should still be one of the first rookies taken in drafts, but managers may need to temper their expectations early on.
G Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings
Similar to Peterson, Acuff put up good averages this summer, but the efficiency was an issue. In three games in Las Vegas, the seventh-overall pick averaged 19.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers while shooting 36.8 percent from the field, 26.3 percent from three and 64.3 percent from the foul line. Between the 4.7 turnovers per game and limited defensive value, Acuff has some areas to clean up going into his rookie campaign. The good news is that managers who can withstand the efficiency concerns should be fine, as Acuff should be the Kings' starting point guard on Opening Night.
F Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks
Ament did not play in the California Classic, but he did appear in all five of Milwaukee's games in Las Vegas. In those appearances, the former Tennessee forward averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers per game. Ament posted solid percentages, but his overall impact was somewhat muted. Once training camp opens, he will face significant competition for minutes. Miami added Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware via the Giannis trade while also re-signing Ousmane Dieng. Add in returnee Kyle Kuzma, and Ament's rookie year fantasy outlook may not be great.
F Dailyn Swain, Chicago Bulls
While fellow first-round pick Caleb Wilson was one of the standouts in Las Vegas, Swain struggled. In four games, he averaged 4.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.8 steals, shooting just 12.9 percent from the field. While Summer League is nowhere near the level of play Swain and the other rookies will face in the fall/winter, the inability to get things done offensively in his first NBA experience is a concern.
F Alex Karaban, Sacramento Kings
Karaban's summer got off to a rough start, as a sprained ankle sidelined him for the entirety of the California Classic. That injury likely factored into his slow start in Las Vegas, with the former UConn standout averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 three-pointers per game in four appearances. Karaban shot just 38.1 percent from the field, and there's no guarantee that the quality of looks he gets will improve once the regular season begins, with the Kings likely starting fellow rookie Darius Acuff Jr. at the point.
MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, July 30
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Thursday may be a smaller slate, but there are still plenty of spots to attack.
I found a couple of pitchers I'm looking to fade, along with a red-hot bat in a prime spot to inflict some damage.
Let's dive right into my three favorite MLB player props for July 30.
Best MLB player props today
| Player | Pick | Odds |
|---|---|---|
 Rhett Lowder | Over 2.5 earned runs | -124 |
 Jake Irvin | Over 2.5 earned runs | +106 |
 Ryan O'Hearn | Over 1.5 total bases | +114 |
Rhett Lowder Over 2.5 earned runs (-124)
Sadly, yes, we’ll be fading your mother’s favorite country singer and Cincinnati Reds starter, Rhett Lowder, this evening.
The right-hander enters Thursday with the third-worst pitcher rating in Batters-Box's current season dataset. He also draws a difficult matchup against a Pittsburgh Pirates lineup featuring three elite-rated hitters and two more with strong ratings. To make matters worse, Lowder has the worst matchup wOBA on the slate and the fifth-lowest projected strikeout rate.
His recent form has not helped either. Over his last three starts, Lowder carries a 9.64 ERA and 1.71 WHIP while allowing a 47% hard hit rate and 9.38% barrel rate.
The Pirates already rank third in first five-inning scoring, making this a great spot for them to jump on Lowder early.
Playable to -130.
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: CINR, SNP
Jake Irvin Over 2.5 earned runs (+106)
The worst-rated pitcher on today's Batters-Box slate is Washington Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin, and it is not hard to see why.
Irvin draws four elite-rated Atlanta Braves hitters and another with a strong rating. Over his last three starts, the Nats starter has recorded a 4.50 ERA while allowing a 46.43% hard hit rate and 10.7% barrel rate.
Atlanta's offense has been rolling lately, posting a 126 wRC+, .352 wOBA, and .802 OPS over its last 12 games. The Braves also boast the highest-rated offense on today’s Batters-Box slate, with an average hitter rating of 0.43 — just shy of elite.
I would do everything I can to avoid laying juice on this prop. Shop around and grab the best number available.
- Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: ESPN
Ryan O'Hearn Over 1.5 total bases (+114)
One of the hottest bats in Pittsburgh over the last few weeks has been Ryan O'Hearn. Across his last 60 at-bats against right-handed pitching, O'Hearn owns a .288 batting average, .519 slugging percentage, and .884 OPS, while producing a 51.3% hard hit rate and 12.8% barrel rate.
Entering Thursday, O'Hearn covers nearly 100% of Rhett Lowder's pitch mix and carries an elite rating on Batters-Box's current season dataset.
Lowder has been getting torched by left-handed hitters this season. Across his last 60 at-bats against right-handed pitching, O’Hearn owns a .288 batting average, .519 slugging percentage, and .884 OPS, while posting a 51.3% hard-hit rate and 12.8% barrel rate.
If Lowder gets lit up tonight, expect O'Hearn to lead the charge. I would play this down to +105.
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: CINR, SNP
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
- Prop picks: 349-682, -15.7 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Game 110: Royals at Twins
First Pitch (CT):12:40 PM
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN/830 WCCO/102.9 The Wolf /Audacy App
Know Yo’ Foe:Royals Review
After getting shutout by notorious ex-Twin Randy Dobnak last night, the Twins will try to get things back on track facing someone ever harder than a journeyman pitcher with a Triple-A ERA over 5: an anonymous lefty with an ERA just below 5.
The Twins looked like one of the league’s best offenses from June 1 onward, but have scuttled coming out of the All-Star Break and still have hit 0 home runs since then. Not exactly a good way to right the ship. It won’t be getting any easier with Byron Buxton on the IL for the second time this month and with the team scheduled to facing the grueling trio of Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby this weekend in Seattle. The Twins could have used the Buxton injury to bring a jolt to the lineup with one of their top 20 prospects crushing it at AAA, but instead we got the return of Tristan Gray who has a .566 OPS in St. Paul since being optioned. Oh and recently DFA’d backup catcher Alex Jackson is starting at first base.
Tom Pohlad and Jeremy Zoll say they expect to buy at the trade deadline which means they want to win, but it’s hard to believe there’s a scenario where Tristan Gray puts this team in a better spot than Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, or even lower ranked players like Hendry Mendez, Gabriel Gonzalez, or Kyler Fedko. Gray had two big hits at the beginning of the year and has apparently carried that momentum to hold a roster spot hostage. He can’t really hit, makes Brooks Lee look like Gold Glover at short, and is a slow, bad baserunner.
It’s entirely possible Jenkins or Culpepper aren’t ready, but why not let them try? We know what Gray is and at 30 years old, he’s not getting any better. In the meantime, let’s at least try to scrape some runs across against a bad pitcher and sneak out of here at .500 and with another series win under their belts.
Go Twins, go!
Lineups
| Twins | Opponent |
| SP: Bailey Ober | SP: Noah Cameron (LHP) |
| 1. Austin Martin, LF | 1. Carter Jensen, DH |
| 2. Ryan Jeffers, C | 2. John Rave, CF |
| 3. Royce Lewis, 2B | 3. Jac Caglianone, 1B |
| 4. Josh Bell, DH | 4. Salvador Perez, C |
| 5. Kody Clemens, RF | 5. Michael Massey ,2B |
| 6. Luke Keaschall, CF | 6. Nick Loftin, RF |
| 7. Brooks Lee, 3B | 7. Isaac Collins, LF |
| 8. Alex Jackson, 1B | 8. Josh Rojas, 3B |
| 9. Ryan Kreidler, SS | 9. Tyler Tolbert, SS |
Kawhi Leonard’s Raptors future revealed amid ongoing NBA investigation
The possibility that the NBA’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers could stretch into 2027 has not killed the blockbuster trade sending him back to the Toronto Raptors.
Both franchises still intend to complete the deal, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, despite uncertainty over when the league will conclude its investigation into allegations that the Clippers circumvented salary-cap rules to compensate Leonard.
The nearly year-long probe centers on a four-year, $28 million endorsement agreement Leonard received from Aspiration, a now-bankrupt company that previously held a major sponsorship deal with the Clippers.
Los Angeles owner Steve Ballmer has acknowledged introducing Leonard to Aspiration but denied arranging or knowing about the endorsement agreement. The Clippers and Leonard have consistently denied wrongdoing.
The league is examining whether the endorsement was legitimate or an improper method of funneling additional money to Leonard outside his NBA contract.
Holmes reported that the investigation could extend into next year if the league, Clippers, Leonard and National Basketball Players Association cannot agree on the findings or any proposed punishment.
The union would reportedly be prepared to take the case to arbitration if it believed the NBA attempted to discipline Leonard without sufficient evidence. That process could add months to an investigation that has already complicated one of the offseason’s biggest moves.
Toronto and Los Angeles reportedly agreed to the trade on June 30. Leonard would return to the franchise he led to the 2019 championship, while the Clippers would receive a package headlined by Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and multiple draft picks.
The transaction was placed on hold after the NBA informed Toronto that it would assume the risk of any punishment affecting Leonard once the trade became official.
Potential discipline could include fines, lost draft picks, suspensions for team personnel or even the voiding of Leonard’s contract. Exactly how any penalty would affect a completed trade remains unclear.
That uncertainty explains Toronto’s reluctance to finalize the deal before the league reaches a decision. It has not, however, changed the Raptors’ desire to reunite with Leonard.
Shortly after the trade, Raptors team president Masai Ujiri expressed confidence in Leonard’s mindset.
“He is determined and seems in the right frame of mind,” Ujiri said. “You will be hearing from him shortly. I think there is a fire inside of him and we are all excited about that.”
The 35-year-old is coming off a career-best scoring season, averaging 27.9 points across 65 appearances.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently expressed hope that the investigation would conclude before the regular season, but no formal deadline has been announced.
The Raptors and Clippers are therefore preparing to move forward while waiting for a process they cannot control.
Leonard’s return to Toronto still appears to be the expected outcome. The only question is whether it happens before training camp, before the regular season—or after the investigation becomes a problem that follows both teams into 2027.
LeBron James and ESPN close to deal on Michael Jordan-style documentary
LeBron James’ final NBA chapter could be captured from the inside.
James and ESPN are reportedly nearing an agreement on a documentary series that would follow his time with the Philadelphia 76ers while revisiting the defining moments of his career, according to The Athletic.
Negotiations are said to be at the “one-yard line,” although financial terms and a potential release date remain unknown. ESPN and a representative for James declined to comment on the report.
Should the deal be finalized, cameras would follow James throughout his first season in Philadelphia, where he will begin a record-extending 24th NBA campaign. The series would also pull from an extensive archive of footage collected since James emerged as a national phenomenon at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
That could provide viewers with previously unseen material from a career that has stretched across Cleveland, Miami, Los Angeles and now Philadelphia.
The obvious comparison is Michael Jordan’s “The Last Dance,” the 10-part ESPN documentary centered on the Chicago Bulls’ 1997-98 championship season. Cameras received extraordinary access to Jordan and the Bulls during their final title run, although the series was not released until 2020.
A James project would only intensify the debate that has followed both superstars for years. Jordan’s documentary revisited the end of a dynasty. James’ version could capture the conclusion of the other career most commonly mentioned in basketball’s greatest-player conversation.
The biggest unanswered question is whether this is actually James’ final season.
The 41-year-old called joining Philadelphia his “last decision,” but he signed a two-year contract and reportedly holds a player option after the 2026-27 campaign. His agent, Rich Paul, has also left open the possibility that James could play beyond the next two seasons.
That uncertainty could affect when the series reaches television. A documentary chronicling James’ arrival in Philadelphia would already carry enormous interest, but its impact would be greater if the footage ultimately captured his final games.
James chose the 76ers after ending an eight-season run with the Lakers, whom he helped lead to the 2020 championship. He now joins a star-heavy Philadelphia roster featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and newly acquired Jaylen Brown.
The move was made with a fifth championship in mind. If the 76ers can deliver one while cameras document the season, James could produce the Hollywood ending Jordan enjoyed with Chicago.
Unlike “The Last Dance,” however, nobody yet knows when James will take his final bow.
Eric Lauer would like to stay with Dodgers, but understands trade deadline rumors
Eric Lauer has heard the rumblings.
So, too, has his wife.
“Oh, my wife hates it,” the veteran pitcher said Wednesday night, when asked about the seemingly increasing likelihood that the Dodgers could trade him before next Monday’s deadline.
“I love it here. I think I’m thriving here,” he later added. “And I would love to be part of this team.”
All too aware of his situation, however, Lauer knows he might not be over the next couple days.
When the Dodgers acquired the 31-year-old left-hander earlier this year, plucking him off the DFA scrap heap in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, they told him early on that his stint might only be temporary; that he was a stopgap for a rotation that had endured a couple key early injuries.
“I was aware of coming over here that it might be like a rental thing,” he said. “There’s some big guys that have injuries that there was just a need. So, see a need, fill a need kind of thing.”
And though Lauer has exceeded all expectations since then –– going 5-0 with a 2.96 ERA in nine Dodgers outings, all of which have also been Dodgers wins –– that need he was filling will soon be invalidated, with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and (eventually) Shohei Ohtani all expected to rejoin the team’s rotation for the stretch run of the year.
That has meant, for a Dodgers team long inclined to selling excess players at the deadline in hopes of cashing on inflated midseason prices, Lauer has long looked like a potential trade candidate:
Superfluous on the Dodgers’ roster. But capable of perhaps netting them a prospect at the deadline.
The Dodgers have a history of similar deals, having turned James Paxton into one lottery-ticket talent in 2024 (Moises Bolivar, a 19-year-old infielder who had an .839 OPS in the Arizona Complex League this year), and Dustin May into two higher-ranked prospects after being squeezed out of the rotation last summer (James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard, both of whom have had impressive seasons in triple-A Oklahoma City).
Still, the fact that Lauer has become the latest such candidate is a testament to the turnaround he has made since coming to Los Angeles, where his ERA has been less than half what it was in a swingman role for the Blue Jays earlier this season.
“He’s been great,” manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday night, after Lauer pitched six shutout innings with only one hit allowed in a 4-2 win over the Mariners. “He was always good against us, with just the makeup, the preparedness. And what he’s done for us as far as giving us length – it seems like every time he pitches, we win.”
Lauer gave credit back to the Dodgers on Wednesday night, saying everything (and everyone) in the organization is “geared towards winning the day and winning the pitch.”
He also noted the renewed confidence he has found in his slider and his changeup of late, which helped him rediscover his career-reviving form from 2025 (when he had a 3.18 ERA with the Blue Jays after returning to MLB from a stint in South Korea).
“The changeup for me has always kind of been like the holy grail of what I need to round out my repertoire and get something going armside,” Lauer said. “So being able to just be confident using that now and mixing that in a lot more has been huge to keep guys off balance.”
Lauer’s departure from the Dodgers is not yet a fait acompli.
It will still be at least several weeks, after all, until the team’s rotation is back at full strength. And even then, Lauer could provide value as a swingman in the bullpen, especially if the Dodgers look to curb the late-season workloads of some of their bigger starting arms.
For now, Lauer said he has not heard anything recently from the front office about his chances of getting traded.
“I don’t think that that’s really something that a player would necessarily even want [to know],” he noted. “You don’t want to play GM too much in your head because then you start getting away from what your job is and how you prepare. Thinking you’re halfway out of the game, you’re halfway out of the clubhouse, that’s just never good for anybody.”
In a perfect world for the Dodgers, however, Lauer would likely not be part of their preferred playoff pitching staff.
While he has unlocked a renewed level of consistency with the team, he still lacks the kind of overpowering stuff usually required in October, averaging a nearly league-worst 91 mph with his fastball and barely five strikeouts-per-nine-innings.
Somewhere else, he might be more valued. For a number of pitching-hungry playoff contenders, he could be a more attainable alternative to rounding out a rotation.
Right now, Lauer isn’t trying to think about that.
“Those decisions are made way above my pay grade,” he said.
Alas, he also understands the reality of his situation, too; acknowledging that, even after one of his best starts with the Dodgers on Wednesday night, he knows that it could very well also be his last.
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Former Penguins Forward Signs With Division Rival
A former Pittsburgh Penguins forward is heading to one of their division rivals.
The New Jersey Devils have announced that they have signed forward Colin White to a one-year, two-way contract. At the NHL level, the former Penguins forward will have a $900,000 cap hit with the Devils.
White signing this two-way deal with the Devils comes after he spent all of last season in the AHL with the San Jose Barracuda. In 46 games with the AHL club in 2025-26, he posted 21 goals, 27 assists, and 48 points.
White most recently played at the NHL level during the 2024-25 season, where he had zero points in three games with the San Jose Sharks. Now, he will be looking to make New Jersey's roster after signing this new deal.
White appeared in 11 games for Pittsburgh during the 2023-24 season, where he had zero points, eight shots, and 11 hits. He also posted five goals and 10 points in 21 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during that campaign.
In 323 career NHL games over nine seasons split between the Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, and Sharks, White has posted 44 goals, 69 assists, and 113 points.
Something about Colin White and Jersey just feels right.
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) July 30, 2026
How will the Knicks fare with the biggest target on their back?
Good morning New York! So you broke a championship curse that spanned five decades. Fifty-three years since the last banner went up, and now there’s a new one. Welcome to the club nobody tells you the rules of until you’re already a member. You are the curse breaker, the uplifter of community, the beacon of hope. You’re also the biggest target alive.
Welcome to being the 2015 Warriors after the parade.
I say that with love, because as an Oakland kid who watched his longsuffering franchise FINALLY make good, I lived it. That team walked into the next season with the same core, the same coach, the same swagger, and it still didn’t repeat. Golden State went 73 wins deep the year after and still watched someone else hoist the trophy. Talent wasn’t the problem and neither was continuity wasn’t the problem. The problem is that winning a title doesn’t freeze the league in place around you. Rather, it wakes the whole league up. Every single franchise has to look at itself and say “whoa if that box of misfit toys can win, why can’t we?”. And right now, the whole league is very much awake.
I distinctly recall the Warriors having to battle a myriad of “lucky” allegations that drove the team into a psychopathic competitive zone. The Knicks are gonna have to find some of that juice to make the new climb.
Let’s start with what New York already knows is coming. Mitchell Robinson is gone to the rival Celtics. Miami paired Giannis Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo. Philadelphia is running out Jaylen Brown next to LeBron James. Both the Celtics and 76ers are in their division! And every night, the Knicks are gonna get everyone’s best punch. Every opponent will be hyped to face the champs and embarrass them.
I know the counterargument, because it’s the same one Warriors fans told themselves in 2015. Continuity is an edge. The Knicks added Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges and needed real time to figure out how those pieces fit, and now they get to run it back with that learning already paid for while half the league starts from zero. That’s real.
But then there’s the part nobody wants to say out loud, the championship hangover. It’s not a myth. Winning a championship changes what every day feels like, and the teams that repeat are the ones who fight that change instead of pretending it isn’t happening. Jalen Brunson, Mike Brown, OG Anunoby, they’ve got the reputation for grinding through adversity. But adversity from an opponent and adversity that comes with finally getting everything you wanted are two very different monsters, and only one of them shows up on tape.
Here’s what should actually worry Knicks fans more than any of that. This team has made a habit of getting knocked down before it gets back up. Down 2-9 to start the year. Down 2-1 to Atlanta. Down 22 to Cleveland in the fourth quarter. Down 29 to San Antonio at the half. Every single time, they answered, and that resilience is real and it’s earned. But resilience like that usually gets built by being an underdog, by being counted out, by having something to prove. Nobody counts out the defending champs. The Knicks are about to spend an entire season being the hunted instead of the hunter for the first time in this era, and we genuinely don’t know yet if that changes how they play when adversity hits, because they’ve never had to find out.
So no, I’m not telling you it’s impossible. Nobody’s won back to back since 2018, and someone has to be first again eventually. But history is cruel because winning it once and winning it twice require two completely different versions of hunger, and only one team in the last decade has figured out how to hold both at the same time.
Do you know who that team was? Here’s a hint: they ran LeBron out of Cleveland.
Kawhi Leonard, Aspiration saga could drag into 2027 due to arbitration on potential punishments
Even while new allegations swirl around it, nearly everyone in league circles — and particularly the LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors — want the alleged salary cap circumvention case about Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers to wrap up fast. However, if Leonard or the Clippers decide to fight any potential punishments, this saga likely would drag out into the season and maybe into 2027, according to a new report.
That's because the NBA's collective bargaining agreement says any cap-circumvention case — and potential punishments out of it — must go before a neutral arbitrator and, potentially, an appeals process. While NBA Commissioner Adam Silver can suggest punishments, the arbitrator would determine if the case has been made and if those punishments are appropriate to the offense.
Those appeals could drag out the process, reports Baxter Holmes of ESPN, who discussed a timeline that could run into next year.
Sources close to the National Basketball Players Association with knowledge of the investigation said the union wouldn't hesitate to take the matter to arbitration if the NBA sought penalties without sufficient evidence proving the claim that the Clippers have denied since the league's inquiry began nearly 10 months ago.
On July 9, NBPA executive director David Kelly told reporters in Las Vegas that he didn't believe there was a "there, there" regarding whether the Clippers compensated Leonard through a $28 million endorsement deal that he signed in 2022 with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration, which also had a 23-year, $300 million endorsement deal with the Clippers.
There are a lot of competing interests here. If the investigation finds sufficient proof that the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer intended to circumvent the cap, Silver would have to come down hard on the team and its owner — but Ballmer has repeatedly professed his innocence and, by nature, is a fighter. He might not let this go. Then there is the players' union, and potentially Leonard himself, appealing things depending upon the punishment.
The best-case scenario for the league might be a "plea bargain" deal where the Clippers and league agree to whatever potential punishments would be handed down. Whether that kind of agreement could be reached is another question.
The Clippers and Toronto Raptors agreed to a trade that would send Leonard back to Toronto — where he won a title in 2019 — for a package centered around Brandon Ingram. However, that trade is on hold because the Raptors, understandably, don't want to trade for Leonard with the threat of a potential suspension hanging over him.
In Las Vegas for Summer League, Silver said that the entire case "needs to be wrapped up before the beginning of next season," but even when he said it that timeline raised eyebrows around the league. Now that timeline seems optimistic at best, which leads to questions about the future of the Leonard trade to Toronto.
Leonard’s secret soccer team
One of the reasons Silver's timeline seemed optimistic were reports that the investigation had widened beyond just the Aspiration endorsement — and may include a Rhode Island soccer team.
A new investigation by WPRI in Rhode Island and the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast uncovered that Leonard, as well as his uncle and manager Dennis Robertson and former agent Mitch Frankel, all have been quiet, secret investors in the United Soccer League's Rhode Island Football Club.
Leonard and his associates became involved around the same time that [Rhode Island FC founder Brett] Johnson was struggling to secure enough private financing to move ahead with construction of Rhode Island FC's new 10,000-seat stadium in Pawtucket, which cost more than $130 million to build. The previously undisclosed role of Leonard underscores how little has been known about who was backing the stadium deal, even with tens of millions in taxpayer funds on the line. Rhode Island FC has never publicly disclosed the identities of its full ownership group.
Leonard's quiet involvement here raises questions on a couple of fronts. One is simply publicity — when star athletes in other sports invest in the USL, the league and teams publicize it, as happened with Russell Westbrook, for example. It also happened when former Celtics big man Daniel Theis joined Rhode Island's ownership group three years ago.
Potentially more interesting was something else reported by Torre: During 2019, when "uncle" Dennis reportedly was making extravagant and improper demands from teams recruiting a free agent Leonard — such as giving him a home, access to a private plane and, most concerningly, a no-show endorsement deal — one of them was to make him part owner of a professional sports team.
That is not proof that Leonard's investment in the team isn't legitimate or doesn't come from his own pocket, it just is another question. RIFC founder Johnson said this to WPRI about Leonard and associates' investment.
"They're particularly interested in real estate, finding ways to invest in housing, particularly in low-income areas," Johnson said.
The building of the stadium was supposed to come with other developments, such as a hotel and about 400 housing units. That housing has yet to be built, despite having received local approvals and some tax deals. The company has applied for more taxpayer subsidies.