CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 117-115. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have proven to be a good team over the last several seasons, but they still aren’t quite at the championship level they aspire to be.
Coming into this past season, it seemed like the Cavs’ goal was to win now while also keeping their runway as long as possible. That changed drastically when they sent out former All-Star point guard Darius Garland for a decade older James Harden.
Instead of staying committed to the two-timeline approach, the Cavs have pushed all of the chips to the middle for this current group. Or at least, they’ve pushed almost all of their chips in.
Evan Mobley is a crucial piece for the Cavs. He’s their best defensive player and has the skills to grow into an elite offensive big. The question is, do the Cavs have time for him to grow into his potential offensively, or would they be better served with a better, more polished player who could elevate this group more now?
The Cavs would have plenty of options if they decided to move Mobley. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Williams, and even someone like Jaylen Brown are all plausible players the Cavs could get in return for Mobley.
The downside would be age and team control. Someone like Giannis effectively only has one more year left on his current contract. Moving Mobley for a possible one-year rental is a huge risk.
So, would you trade Mobley for a short-term upgrade if this was your call? Let us know in the survey below, and tell us why you voted the way you did in the comments.
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
First and foremost, I want to apologize to the community for missing my Game 2 article; it wasn’t because the last 10 seconds made me want to throw up (though that certainly was the case); rather, it was because my two young kids have been sick and spent the weekend throwing up on me. In any case, I couldn’t be happier to return to action in a game where the Spurs corrected the main thing that plagued them in Games 1 and 2: poor execution down the stretch. On top of that, this game produced a box score laden with several interesting quirks. Let’s review:
Note: Now that we’ve moved into the postseason, the reference period used for grading changes from the set of regular season games since 2012-2013 to the set of postseason games since 2012-2013. Unless otherwise noted below, this set DOES include play-in games. As of the end of June 8 2026, this group include 1,204 games.
Factors that decided the game
The Spurs and Knicks traded off some important box score wins with respect to offensive opportunity, though in the end this trade favored San Antonio. First, New York recorded 3 more defensive boards and six more offensive rebounds, which (all else equal) should have secured them a solid edge in offensive opportunity. However, They did have five more turnovers, which dampened that edge significantly. Furthermore, the Knick’s turnovers were costly, as the Spurs crushed them on points off turnovers (21 to 7).
From an efficiency standpoint, no team racked up a massive advantage in any one area. The Spurs were slightly better from the field, with FG% and 3P% differentials of +0.97 and +0.16 percentage points, respectively. However, New York’s FT% margin was +3.69 percentage points.
While less efficient, the Knicks outscored San Antonio by three from the field on the back of better volume, including four more total shot attempts and three more threes.
Given this advantage from the field for the Knicks, this game was ultimately decided at the free throw line. New York only committed two more fouls than San Antonio, but the timing and type of those fouls was much worse (which largely reflected San Antonio’s aggressive offense). As a result, the Spurs got to shoot 10 more free throws, and ultimately outscored the Knicks by seven from the charity stripe.
Rare Box Score Stats
The Spurs became just the ninth postseason winner since 2012-2013 to have at least 10 more assists than their opponent and win by no more than four points. Typically, a victor with an assist margin at least as good wins by 20 or more.
Contrary to what Mike Brown would have you believe, the Spurs FTA margin in this game wasn’t wildly out of the ordinary; in fact, nearly 18% of postseason winners (213 of 1,204) have had a FTA differential at least as good since 2012-2013. However, the Spurs did accomplish this feat while only logging two fewer fouls than New York. Only 36 of 1,203 (a bit more than 1 in 33) other postseason winners during the period have enjoyed 10+ more free throws than there opponent with so narrow an edge in fouls.
San Antonio became the 46th postseason winner since 2012-2013 to make fewer field goals and threes than their opponent.
It’s relatively rare for a postseason winner to really struggle on the offensive glass while handily winning the turnover battle. In fact, San Antonio became just the 48th postseason winner since 2012-2013 to have an ORB differential no better than – 6 and a turnover differential of – 5 or better.
Wemby’s great games seem to nearly always coincide with a box score combination that is extremely rare. In this case, he recorded just the 10th playoff performance since the 1996-1997 postseason that included 32+ points, 8+ rebounds, 6+ assists, 2+ steals, and 3+ blocks.
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
Police descended on the Bryant Park around tip-off time in an effort to control the crowd of over 7,000 who gathered for the Knicks watch party, arresting 21 people for offenses including assault on a police officer, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
Five NYPD officers were injured in the fracas.
Fans fight outside of a watch party at Bryant Park for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images21 people were arrested for a variety of offenses, including assault on a police officer, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration Getty Images
Eight fans were taken into custody and charged and 13 were released with criminal court summonses.
Cops said a large crowd of people “took over” 42nd Street and refused to disperse, blocking vehicle traffic and causing a significant backup in the area.
The crowd engaged in “incredibly reckless behavior” including violent fights that resulted in multiple injuries.
Some threw glass objects at each other and police officers, and ripped bus signs and trees out of the ground to throw them.
Meanwhile, wild footage shows crowds of Knicks fanatics screaming and ferociously tearing apart jerseys with the 7-foot-4 Spurs star’s name on the back.
NYPD officers detain a person as they move back New York Knicks fans outside of a watch party at Bryant Park for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026. Getty ImagesDozens of enraged Knicks fans surrounded a Spurs fan on the streets and tore apart his Victor Wembanyama jersey from his back after Monday night’s squeaker loss in Game 3. X / @NICHETONOTABLE
“Take it off! Take it off!” members of the crowd can be heard yelling as the jersey was torn into rags while onlookers cheered.
In another similar scene, a large group of men yanked a jersey from the back of a fan who was helpless to fight back against the horde.
Last night’s regularly scheduled watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled on the day of the game due to heightened security concerns after it was announced President Trump would be attending.
Tip off for Game 4 at the Garden is set for 8:30 Wednesday night in the Knicks’ first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
In a video shared online, President Donald Trump appeared to close his eyes for several moments during Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York, For the Win reported.
Trump attended the game from a suite at the arena after being met largely with boos from the crowd during the national anthem. Video clips shared on social media later showed him sitting with his eyes closed for a brief period during the game.
It is unclear from the footage whether Trump was asleep or simply resting his eyes. Neither the White House nor Trump has publicly responded to the allegations.
The clips nonetheless sparked discussion online among viewers.
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) June 9, 2026
Claims follow congressional exchange over Trump sleep allegations
The claims come days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the president amid similar online speculation that he was sleeping during public appearances.
During a June 3 congressional hearing, Rubio told Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., that he had never seen the president fall asleep in a meeting.
“Secretary Rubio, have you been at more than one meeting where President Trump has fallen asleep?” Lieu asked during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing.
“I’ve never seen him fall asleep,” Rubio said. “On the contrary, the guy doesn’t sleep, which is a big problem,” adding that Trump has called him in the early morning hours.
Lieu then displayed multiple video clips while questioning Rubio, alleging the president appeared to have his eyes closed during parts of significant discussions, including wartime matters.
"The president's inability to stay awake on the job has caused other countries to perceive him differently," Lieu said. "They mock him."
Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT/7:30 p.m. CT, Wednesday, June 10.
The series returns to Madison Square Garden for a second straight game.
Will Trump attend Game 4 of the NBA Finals?
The White House has not announced whether Trump plans to attend Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Who currently leads the series between the Knicks and Spurs?
New York leads the series 2-1 after San Antonio's Game 3 win.
When was the last time the Spurs won the NBA Finals?
The San Antonio Spurs last won the NBA Finals in 2014, when they defeated the Miami Heat in five games (4–1) to capture their fifth championship.
When was the last time the Knicks won the NBA Finals?
The New York Knicks last won the NBA Finals in 1973, when they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games (4–1) to capture their second championship.
That 1973 team was led by players like Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe.
This story was updated to include additional information.
In one year at Houston, Kingston Flemings established himself as a potential first-round pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft with his two-way capabilities and dynamic athleticism.
But Houston coach Kelvin Sampson believes it’s who Flemings is off the court that will separate the 19-year-old point guard from others in the 2026 draft class.
“Well, I think that’s the strength,” Sampson told NBC Sports California in an exclusive phone interview Tuesday. “I think what he does off the court is better than what he does on the court.”
Houston had just come off its second consecutive Big 12 championship with a 19-1 conference record. Milos Uzan, the point guard who led the Cougars to that success in the 2024-25 season and played all 40 games, returned to Houston for his senior season in 2025-26.
Along with Uzan, a couple of other familiar faces returned to the Cougars in 2025. One new face, however, was Flemings’.
Sampson shared that Flemings initially didn’t want to step on toes, given that he was the new guy joining a successful program. But one pep talk from Sampson was all it took.
“Kingston came in with kind of a compromising attitude where he didn’t want to step on toes,” Sampson said. “So I bring him in my office one day, and I said, ‘Young fella, I didn’t bring you over here to take a back seat. You’re the best player on this team, don’t run from it, embrace it. God gave you these gifts, don’t hide them because somebody was here before you. I want you to know when you climb Mount Everest, if you have this great accomplishment, you take your flag and stick it in, you claim it as your ground. You can still be a great teammate, you can still treat people with respect. But it’s not fair to you or to us if you come in and take a back seat.’
“So I said, ‘You’re either going to be driving this bus or you’re going to be a passenger. You haven’t been a passenger your whole life, so don’t come over here and act like you’re sitting in the back row; you can get up there in the front row and be proud of it.’ I think that’s what he needed at the time, and from that day forward, he was the best player on the team. But he was very respectful of those returning guys. I’ve read comments that they made about what a great teammate Kingston was, how respectful he was. But if you know Kingston, that’s just who he is. He’s very articulate, he’s very bright, he has a good perspective on life.
“He puts others first, but when he walks across those lines – he’s a killer.”
Flemings had a historically dominant freshman season at Houston, averaging 16.1 points on 47.6-percent shooting from the field and 38.7 percent from 3-point range, with 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. He led the Cougars in scoring, assists and steals – becoming the most decorated freshman in program history.
The Kings, who are in need of a starting point guard, hold the No. 7 overall pick. Flemings is one of the many guards who have been projected to go around that range, with other guards such as Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr. also mixed into the guard gauntlet.
Sampson explained how Flemings’ game is different from the others.
“Well, we played both those teams last year. We played Arkansas and we played Illinois. [Acuff Jr. and Wagler are] both outstanding players. I think it depends on what you’re looking for. Of the three, I think Kingston is the best true point guard, because that’s what he is. He is a point guard. We played Arkansas in New Jersey right before Christmas, and I think Kingston had 28 in that game, and Acuff may have had 25. They’re both really good, but you know, Kingston is 6-foot-4. He sees the floor; he cares more about winning than he does about anything else. He had games where he had eight or nine assists and six points and games where he had 42 points. He does whatever you need him to do.
“But he’s true beyond his years. His basketball IQ is off the charts, really understands the game at a high level. It’s only going to get better. When we signed Kingston, he probably weighed about 165 pounds, maybe, and he played last year around 183, 184, something like that. Eventually, he’s going to be 195, and he’s not gonna be 19 years old. Kingston is 19; he’s a teenager. I was looking at the [NBA Finals] game last night. Look at how old [Jalen] Brunson is. [Stephon] Castle is a young guy. Castle also has [Victor] Wembanyama with him. None of these other teams have a Wembanyama, so it’s a little bit harder to be the point guard when you may wind up being the best player on the team.
“So Acuff has the strengths, I think he is an elite, elite scorer. Wagler has his strengths. I think he’s a really good basketball player that’s only going to get better. I like all three of them. I just think if you’re looking for a point guard, and based on how you define that position, I think Kingston would be the choice for me.”
Another key trait that has separated Flemings from other guards projected to go early in the first round is his defensive capabilities. At least to the so-called “draft experts.” However, Sampson doesn’t necessarily believe that to be the case.
While Flemings was committed to Houston’s elite defensive identity under Sampson, the coach understands that doesn’t automatically make Flemings a lockdown defender as he transitions into the NBA.
Sampson, the winner of multiple Coach of the Year awards who also coached in the NBA for six seasons, is more realistic – and honest – than that.
“Well, I think that’s where he’ll struggle the most,” Sampson said of Flemings’ defense. “When you’re 19 years old, you’re not going to go in and say, ‘Well, he was a good defender in college, he’s going to be a good defender here.’ He’s guarding guys that are 26, 27, 28 who have grown man strength. They’ve been lifting and understand the rigors and know how to do all the tricks of the trade. He’s not coming in as a Day 1 NBA defender, but nobody in the draft is either. We played [AJ] Dybantsa last year twice. He’s not. [Cameron] Boozer’s not. We played [Darryn] Peterson twice last year; he’s not.
“So this notion that he’s a good defender in college means he’s gonna be a defender in the NBA, that will take him a couple of seasons. That doesn’t mean he’s not going to try, and his athleticism is going to lead him to steals, but because you have steals and you can block shots doesn’t mean you’re a good defender. … So Kingston is going to be a good defender, because it’s important to him, and he wants to win, but he’s 19 years old, and he weighs 180 pounds.”
Fair enough.
Kings coach Doug Christie, a devoted defender during his playing days, and general manager Scott Perry are trying to enforce a defensive identity in Sacramento. They want to, at the very least, see the effort and a commitment on that side of the floor from their players.
While Christie outright pleaded for a starting point guard this offseason, Perry made it clear that his staff will go for the best available player on the board, regardless of position.
Whether Flemings has a future in Sacramento remains to be seen, but Sampson is sure about one thing. NBC Sports California asked him to fill in the blank with the following sentence: “The team that drafts Kingston Flemings is getting …
“A kid that has a high ceiling. They’re getting him on the ground floor of a career that’s probably going to be a high-rise building in a high-rent district.”
The Knicks’ front office may have given Mike Brown the green light.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst speculated that Leon Rose’s crew OK’d the Knicks’ coach ripping the referees after Monday’s 115-111 home loss to the Spurs in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
The Spurs shot 34 free throws to the Knicks’ 22, including a 24-8 edge in the second half when San Antonio overcame a seven-point halftime hole to slice their series deficit to 2-1.
Mike Brown was not happy about the free-throw disparity Monday night. NBAE via Getty Images
“I know Mike Brown and I have covered Mike Brown at times when he’s been upset with officiating in the playoffs, and he has had a conscious conversation with the front office. ‘Do we go in there and make an issue of the officiating?'” Windhorst said on ESPN after the game. “While I don’t know for sure, I suspect that they made a decision, ‘Let’s go in there and make this a topic of conversation.'”
Going after the referees can be a bit of a chess game, with the hope that it can sometimes lead to better calls in the future or perhaps the referees adjusting how they call the game.
Coaches have to be careful too since they risk a potential fine, although at this point in the season it’s fair to assume Brown will gladly pay that violation if a better whistle helps the Knicks win the title.
Monday’s game marked the third straight in this series in which the Spurs have attempted more free throws than the Knicks, and the Knicks have been called for more fouls in the last two games.
Finals Tale of the Tape: Fouls and free throws
Category
Knicks
Spurs
Game 1 fouls committed
23
23
Game 1 free-throw attempts
18
25
Game 2 fouls committed
23
20
Game 2 free-throw attempts
21
27
Game 3 fouls committed
23
21
Game 3 free-throw attempts
22
32
The Knicks have committed 69 fouls to the Spurs’ 64, leading to them attempting 61 free throws compared to the Spurs’ 84.
In the second half Monday night, the Spurs connected on 20 of their 24 free-throw attempts to maintain their lead while the Knicks made six of their eight.
“I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free-throw attempts in the second half to another team’s eight,” Brown said. “I don’t think I complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free-throw attempts. San Antonio is a great team. They are a great team, OK. It’s going to lower our odds big time, big time, if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free-throw attempts to our eight. Maybe we were fouling. Maybe we were fouling. But they fouled, too.”
Mike Brown making his case about the referees. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brunson did not appreciate one play in which Spurs guard Stephon Castle ran him over, while Josh Hart objected after being bumped by Luke Kornet under the basket.
The Knicks actually held a 14-8 edge in free-throw attempts in the first half — and a 64-57 lead at the break — but the Spurs shot 14 and 10 in the next two quarters, respectively.
Brian Windhorst thinks Mike Brown’s speech about the fouls was approved by the front office. @ohnohedidnt24/X
“Again, I don’t complain much,” Brown said during his lengthy rant after his team lost for the first time in 14 games. “I never thought I’d see that in an NBA Finals game, and I saw it tonight. That’s tough to overcome when you’re playing against a great team. … But as a team, if you take away the fouls and the free throws that should have, in my opinion, been a little bit more even, again maybe we fouled that many times but they fouled, too. And it’s not shown at the end of the day on this boxscore.”
The visitors reduced Surrey to 57 for two by the end of play at the Oval and they trail by by 145 runs
Lehmann and Prest in the middle; Topley, leaping up and down at the top of his mark, to finish his over. And the sun is out.
Just realised I’ve been watching the covers on day two on the stream. No wonder it all looked so familiar. Play is actually about to start at The Oval!
CHICAGO - CIRCA 1991: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls shoots against Danny Ferry #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers circa 1991 at Chicago Stadium 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 1991 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Former Oklahoma and Chicago Bulls star Stacey King died Sunday, apparently after what is being termed a “serious fall” at his home. Just 59, he seems far too young to die of a fall, but you never know what is going on in a person’s life, let alone his health problems.
We mention King because on Monday, we saw this very funny clip featuring the former Bull (he won three rings in the 1990s).
We decided to post it because it’s a funny story featuring former Duke star Danny Ferry.
According to King, Ferry came into a game between the Cleveland and Chicago, and his sole purpose, supposedly, was to take a shot at Bulls star Michael Jordan. Jordan got ready to fight, but the Cavaliers took Ferry out after that, and the Bulls had to wait for their revenge.
They got it the next time they played. We’ll leave the rest of it for King to tell, but it was pretty entertaining. We can see why Bulls fans loved the man. It’s a pretty entertaining story.
Captain to miss Nations Championship barring injuries
Feyi-Waboso could recover in time for tour after surgery
The chances of Maro Itoje touring with England this summer continue to diminish after the national captain was left out of Steve Borthwick’s latest June training squad. It is understood England would ideally like to give Itoje a rest barring a sudden rush of injuries which affects the number of other second row candidates available to Borthwick.
Despite his club Saracens having failed to make the Prem play-offs, Itoje is not among the 26 players gathered in Bagshot to prepare for a fixture between an England XV and a France XV in Vannes on Friday week. Other senior players including Jamie George, Ben Earl and Tom Curry are involved, however, alongside uncapped hopefuls such as Gloucester’s Afolabi Fasogbon and Ben Redshaw and the Bristol centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg.
Bruce Cassidy, one of the biggest head coaching names available, doesn't seem to be a favorite in the running for the Maple Leafs' vacancy. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has mentioned multiple times that he doesn't see a fit for Toronto and Cassidy, meaning a marriage between the two doesn't seem likely.
Mike Van Ryn reportedly interviewed for the Maple Leafs job, and though he is an internal candidate, he's been with the organization for three years, and it's clear the organization is looking to make changes.
Not only does Van Ryn not have any head coaching experience in the NHL, but as an assistant in charge of the team's defensemen, it's hard to say he held up his end of the bargain when his team allowed the second-most goals in the NHL this past year. Therefore, doesn't seem like he'd be the final decision GM John Chayka makes for the team's head coaching gig going into next season.
With that said, who remains in the race as a serious head coaching candidate for the Maple Leafs? With the latest reports in mind, here is a list of five NHL coaches who could be among the final five, in no particular order.
"I think Jay Woodcroft probably is," he said of Woodcroft's position among the remaining candidates for the Maple Leafs. He also added that he doesn't have that report 100 percent confirmed.
At any rate, Woodcroft would still be a worthy candidate given his tenure with the Oilers, leading the superstars of Edmonton to a 50-win regular season in his one full campaign with the organization. The Toronto native also took the Oilers beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the two post-seasons he was there for.
Most recently, he spent the past year as an assistant coach alongside veteran head coach Joel Quenneville. Woodcroft helped the Ducks defeat his former Oilers in the first round of the 2026 post-season and is an effective offense-minded bench boss.
Derek Lalonde
Derek Lalonde may not be the hottest pick to be Toronto's next head coach, but he is certainly qualified to guide the Maple Leafs from behind the bench and has been interviewed for the job, for that matter.
Lalonde is an internal candidate, and though management has been making changes with Toronto's staff, Lalonde has been with the Leafs for one season and was excellent at his job.
The 53-year-old was in charge of the team's penalty kill last year, which was one of the few bright spots for the Leafs. Toronto was among the top 10 in the NHL for its penalty kill, converting at an 81.2 percent rate.
He's also won two Stanley Cups as an assistant coach during his four-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning, meaning he knows what a winning team looks like.
As a head coach, he didn't have the best record with the Detroit Red Wings, coaching them through two-and-a-half seasons.
In total, his NHL record is 89-86-23 across 198 games behind the bench. However, in his best year with Detroit, 2023-24, the Red Wings missed the playoffs by a tiebreaker to the Washington Capitals. In different circumstances, Lalonde could've been the one to end Detroit's NHL post-season drought. But even since Todd McLellan came in, the Wings still don't have a post-season appearance to show for it after 10 years of missing the dance.
Seeing how successful the hire of Martin St-Louis has been for the Montreal Canadiens, other teams may want to mimic the ideology of hiring a coach who was an NHL star, despite NHL coaching experience.
St-Louis coached minor hockey, as Pavelski has with the Madison Capitols U-15 AAA team, coaching his son, Nate.
It's certainly a risk, but it could also pay off with the hockey mind that Pavelski possesses. Even with his lack of experience as a head coach in hockey, he appears to be a real serious candidate for the Maple Leafs.
"It's been confirmed to me… Pavelski is among those five remaining candidates that is scheduled for in-person interviews this week with the Toronto Maple Leafs," LeBrun said on OverDrive.
It would be a huge challenge for Pavelski stepping into his first-ever crack at being a head coach, for the biggest hockey market in the NHL, and in a crucial upcoming season that could determine how the organization operates in the next few years.
Nonetheless, if Pavelski didn't feel comfortable in that situation, he wouldn't keep himself in the running. So even though he's played in smaller markets, the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, he seems confident in the possibility of leading Toronto from behind the bench.
His latest tenure with the New York Islanders ended near the end of this past regular season. In what was his third year with the Isles, Roy was fired with four games remaining in the campaign to make way for Pete DeBoer.
However, Roy's dismissal at an odd time of the season shouldn't highlight his time in Long Island.
Though he never made the playoffs with the Islanders, he was on a great path this past year, exceeding the team's expectations going into 2025-26. With the help of the 2025 first overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, the Islanders were competing for the post-season until the very end. In fact, the day before Roy was let go, New York was actually in a playoff spot.
Roy deployed Schaefer effectively, putting the rookie in positions to succeed, which ultimately led to him winning the Calder Trophy and setting the stage for what looks to be a long and successful NHL career.
That reputation may be enough for Chayka and the rest of Toronto's brass to seriously consider hiring Roy as the Leafs' next head coach.
"Patrick Roy is still in this process, I'm told," LeBrun reported.
Also, with the goaltending talent and depth that the Maple Leafs organization have in their system, who better to guide them than Roy, one of the best goaltenders in NHL history.
John Gruden
John Gruden is a candidate who hasn't been confirmed to be among the final list of candidates for the Maple Leafs, but there could be a very good reason for that.
Gruden is currently in the midst of a deep AHL Calder Cup run, as his Toronto Marlies have just advanced to the final following Sunday's win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, eliminating them in six games.
Because of this important stretch for the Marlies, it would make sense if the Maple Leafs kept any contact with Gruden under wraps. Any talk of a potential role in the NHL could become a distraction for the Marlies and hurt what could be a Calder Cup-winning campaign, which would only strengthen Gruden's case.
The 56-year-old has never been a head coach in the NHL, but does have experience as an assistant bench boss with the Islanders and Boston Bruins for five straight years before joining the Marlies in 2023-24.
But it's worth noting that coaches who go on to win the Calder Cup typically get a chance at coaching at the NHL level. That would apply to the likes of Jon Cooper, Jared Bednar, Jeff Blashill, Manny Malhotra, Sheldon Keefe, Ryan Warsofsky, and plenty more.
So, while no reports can confirm Gruden to be among the remaining names for the Maple Leafs' head coaching position, it wouldn't be absurd or shocking if he is a finalist.
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SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Enrique Bradfield Jr. #99 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As is our Tuesday tradition here at Camden Chat, it’s time for our recap of the last six days of minor league baseball, with a particular focus on Camden Chat’s top 20 Orioles prospects.
Triple-A Norfolk Tides
Last week: 3-3 at Gwinnett Stripers (Braves)
Coming week: vs. Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals)
Season record: 25-38, ninth place (13.5 GB) in International League East
Creed Willems has been a bit of an overlooked prospect as he’s moved up the minor league ladder, but he’s trying to make sure we don’t forget him. We certainly won’t forget his hair. He’s been crushing the ball in his first season at Triple-A, batting .283/.370/.511, and this week he added his 12th and 13th home runs to his tally. His AVG, OBP, and SLG are all the highest of his professional career. The O’s aren’t in urgent need of a first baseman or catcher, Creed’s two primary positions, so they can afford to let him cook at Triple-A for a while longer. But his breakout year means the Orioles may well add him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft (which they declined to do last year, but he went unselected).
Beyond Willems, the Norfolk lineup is a mishmash of former prospects and veteran journeymen. Former Reds prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand continues to hit, bashing three homers this week. He has a .949 OPS for the Tides this year and could be the next man up if the O’s have an infield injury. Heston Kjerstad was 7-for-27 with seven strikeouts and no walks. With a .669 OPS, he’s not exactly beating down the door for a big league promotion, even if Tyler O’Neill is beating down the door to be released.
On the mound, Trey Gibson (#5 prospect) was the only Tides pitcher to record a quality start — 6.1 innings, two runs, prior to returning to the majors yesterday — while Nestor German (#11) and Trace Bright delivered identical 5.2-inning, three-run outings. The weirdest pitching line was that of Yaqui Rivera, who allowed seven hits and four walks in five innings, but somehow no earned runs (though he did give up four unearned ones). Lefty reliever Andrew Magno continued to shine with two scoreless outings, lowering his ERA to 0.72 in 22 games. Could the 28-year-old, who spent seven years in the Tigers’ organization without a call-up, finally make his MLB debut this season?
Season record: 23-33, last place (14.0 GB) in Eastern League Southwest
Just like with the Tides, the best hitter on the Baysox is a catcher. In this case it’s Ethan Anderson, the Orioles’ second-round pick in 2024, who’s rocking an .866 OPS and 11 home runs in 47 games after hitting three more dingers this week. Anderson had all but fallen off the Birds’ prospect lists after a forgettable 2025 in which he OPS’d .677 and hit just four homers in 90 games, but he’s taken a big step forward this year.
Infielders Aron Estrada (#13 prospect) and Frederick Bencosme each had a seven-hit, two-homer week. Estrada has turned his season around in a big way after posting a paltry .176 AVG and .490 OPS through his first 18 games; he’s now up to .277 and .791, not far off from his career averages. And he’s doing it while being nearly three years young for the Double-A level. Not too shabby.
But enough about that; how did Joseph Dzierwa (#14) do? I’m pleased to report that the Orioles’ fastest-rising pitching prospect delivered another quality start, holding Akron to one run in 6.2 strong innings. I may be tempting fate by saying this, but Dzierwa has really never had a bad outing in his professional career. He hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any of his 11 starts. Across High-A and Double-A, he’s sporting a 2.51 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 11.46 K/9. The lefty strikes out a ton of batters, doesn’t walk many, and doesn’t give up homers. Just stay healthy, buddy, and the sky’s the limit.
Last week: 4-2 vs. Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees)
Coming week: at Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets)
Season record: 35-19, first place (1.5 games ahead) in South Atlantic League North
The offense was alive for Frederick this week, as it’s been for most of the year. The Keys tallied double-digit runs in half of their games this series, including blowout wins of 16-3 and 10-3 and a barnburner of a 14-13 defeat. It was enough for the Keys to reclaim first place in the division after briefly falling into second a week ago.
Slugging first baseman Victor Figueroa crushed four homers and leads all O’s minor leaguers with 15 roundtrippers this year. The 22-year-old was part of the five-player package the Orioles received from San Diego in the Ryan O’Hearn/Ramón Laureano trade last year, and while he’s more of a lottery ticket than a real prospect, that power is undeniable. Time to move him up to Double-A and see what happens.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. (#7 prospect) has heated up as he rehabs a left hand injury. He was a spark plug atop the lineup, reaching base 12 times, scoring 10 runs, and stealing five bases. He should be ready to return to Norfolk shortly. Another rehabbing outfielder, Douglas Hodo III, hit three homers as he prepares to head back to Double-A. And hey, it was even a good week for the much-maligned Vance Honeycutt. The struggling former first rounder hit two dingers and struck out only three times in 18 at-bats.
Surprisingly missing from the offensive surge were Ike Irish (#4) and Wehiwa Aloy (#6), each of whom had just four hits in the series. Aloy is in a 4-for-32 rut if you include his three games before that. Even still, both guys had seven RBIs, tied for the most on the team this week besides Figueroa’s 10.
As for the pitchers, righty Yeiber Cartaya continued to cruise through 2026 with a five-inning, one-earned-run effort that featured seven strikeouts and no walks. The 23-year-old Venezuelan has a 1.42 ERA in 44.1 innings. Elsewhere, Twine Palmer worked five scoreless innings of bulk relief. But 6-foot-8 lefty Boston Bateman, who’d been on a nice roll in May, opened June with a tough outing, giving up three runs and walking four in three innings.
Season record: 22-35, last place (19.0 GB) in Carolina League North
Break up the Shorebirds! They’re riding a five-game winning streak and just bagged their first series win since the end of April. It didn’t get them out of last place, but, you know. Baby steps.
Pitching led the way for the Shorebirds, who held Augusta to three or fewer runs in all but one game. It was a true team effort, with 17 different Delmarva pitchers taking the mound this week, 12 of whom gave up no earned runs. The Shorebirds got a boost from newcomer Stephen Still, a 24-year-old lefty signed by the Orioles after two years in independent ball. I’d like to learn more about him, but my Google search keeps defaulting to Stephen Stills from Crosby, Stills and Nash. Anyway, this Stephen Still debuted with 5.1 scoreless innings and nine strikeouts. Nice!
Another pitcher I’m not familiar with, Andrew Herbert, dazzled with nine scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts. It would’ve been especially awesome if it all happened in one game, but it was two long relief appearances. It’s still impressive! The 25-year-old righty is another recent addition from the independent league, signed the same day as Still on May 21.
No Shorebirds batter had more than five hits this week, but four of Edwin Amparo’s went for extra bases, including two homers. And 2025 fifth-round pick Jaiden Lo Re also homered in his first week at Delmarva. He’s a natural fit at this level, because “Lo Re” rhymes with “Low-A.” When he gets moved up to the next rung, he’ll have to change his name to Jaiden Hi Re. It’s the rules.
Creed Willems was the runaway winner in last week’s player of the week poll, earning 67% of the vote. He joins previous winners Payton Eeles, Braylin Tavera, Caden Hunter, Ike Irish, and Wehiwa Aloy. There have been no repeat winners, and there still won’t, because there are two new candidates on the ballot this week. Who gets your vote?
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 18: Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (left) and Philadelphia Phillies Managing Partner and CEO John Middleton (right) applaud and the Phillie Phanatic reacts after the 2026 MLB All-Star Game logo is revealed during Philadelphia's 2026 All-Star Game Declaration on July 18, 2025, at Dilworth Park, in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are one week into Phase 1 of the 2026 All Star Game voting. There have not been any voting updates, but I felt it was worth a reminder to get those votes in while you can!
Last week, I recommended that we prioritize voting for just two San Francisco Giants players: Luis Arraez and Casey Schmitt.
And while that’s still the case, I’m going to also request we throw some votes Jung Hoo Lee’s way, after the tear he’s been on lately.
But that’s up to you! Regardless of who you vote for, you should make sure to get your votes in here.
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue this three-game series against the Washington Nationals tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT
When I said I wish there was a way for the Cubs to get healthy enough to force Jameson Taillon from the rotation, this wasn’t what I meant nor the order I wished it came in.
But let’s talk about the performance put in by Javier Assad!!! I know an unexpected, lengthy, nearly-perfect relief appearance happens a 2-3 times each year, but that was one stellar performance, that ended up getting wasted by the offense! AGAIN! But let’s look at the positive side of this. Omitting his two disastrous outings in April, in 25.2 IP, Assad has allowed 7 hits, 4 walks and 2 earned runs for a 0.71 ERA and a 0.44 WHIP with 19 K. Hopefully, when he gets the ball put in his hand every fifth day (I’m assuming), he will continue with this mindset and performance level. It would have been great to see if Taillon could have continued the solid work he put in against the A’s last week. Maybe he will be the replacement and Assad can keep this run going on the way to a healthy rotation. And here’s a little tidbit I came across:
Javier Assad: first Cubs scoreless relief appearance of more than 6 innings since Tom Dettore (also 6.1 IP) 8/16/1974
This weekend was “Pile on Alex Bregman” time. There were several repetitive articles (almost as many as during PCA’s chatting-to-the-fans weekend), so I plucked one for your reading (dis)pleasure.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Matt Shaw Reportedly Being Activated Tuesday, Kevin Alcántara’s Clock Ticking. “Alcántara will be out of options after this season, and it’s really difficult to imagine the organization suddenly getting comfortable with him being a full-time member of the roster in 2027 and beyond.”
Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): 3 Cubs Right-Handed Hitters Who Need to Step Up. “The Cubs’ lackluster-at-times offense needs to see more from it’s contingent of right-handed sluggers in order to get back on track.”
The Buddaheads (also known as BB Chung King & The Screaming Buddaheads) were a Los Angeles-based blues-rock band founded in 1989 by Japanese-American guitarist and producer Alan Mirikitani, who performed under the stage name B.B. Chung King. The band earned widespread acclaim for their high-energy electric blues, extensive touring, and control over their own independent music releases before disbanding in July 2015 following the sudden death of Mirikitani from a heart attack.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
NEW YORK — Before anyone even asked him a question, Mike Brown constructed the narrative.
His Knicks had just lost Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals here at Madison Square Garden by four points. And with that, New York ceded some leverage back to the San Antonio Spurs in the series.
Brown opened his press conference with a statement, like he always does following games. This time, however, and in a rather uncharacteristic fashion, he bemoaned the game’s officiating.
The Spurs shot 10 more free throws than San Antonio in Monday night’s 115-111 New York loss, but Brown took exception with consistency in the second half.
"First of all, I want to make sure I get something clear: coach Mitch Johnson and the Spurs, they won the game tonight," Brown started. "They came and took the game. But I will say this: I never thought I would be in the NBA Finals and see a team get 24 free throw attempts in the second half to another team’s eight. I don’t complain much about officials or the fairness when it comes to the free throw attempts.
"San Antonio is a great team. They are a great team, okay. It’s going to lower our odds big time, big time, if we play Game 4 and in the second half, they get 24 free throw attempts to our eight. Maybe we were fouling. Maybe we were fouling. But they fouled, too."
To further make his point, Brown stipulated that because the Spurs shot 24 free throws in the second half, it was worse than the box score indicated.
"Now, we didn’t play good," Brown acknowledged. "San Antonio played great. We could have played better. There was a lot of things that we didn’t do that we did in Game 1 and Game 2.
"But to go 24 free throw attempts in the second half, that’s 48 for the game, if you think about the way they called that second half, compared to eight. All the shots we took, we got fouled four times, roughly, for eight free throw attempts."
The reality is that San Antonio took 32 free throws and converted 25 of those. The Knicks, by comparison, made 18-of-22.
But doubling up the second half attempts is a convenient manipulation – one that disregards the fact that New York attempted 14 free throws in the first half, compared to San Antonio’s eight.
And by going down this path, Brown, in essence, created an environment in which he made excuses for New York’s poor play. He even acknowledged as much.
"It’s going to be that, because I said it," Brown said. "The story is going to be that."
Yet, New York lost the battle in points off turnovers by a margin of 21-7. It settled for far too many 3s in the fourth quarter. And the Knicks did not match San Antonio’s aggression for most of the game.
Now, all that said, this is a calculated move by Brown.
He knows Game 4 is massive. If the Knicks win, they move to 3-1 and take complete control of the series, needing just one victory out of three remaining games to claim their first title in 53 seasons. If they lose, however, the series heads back to San Antonio tied at two games apiece.
By getting this out there – and Brown may have to pay the price in the form of a fine – he’s exerting direct pressure on the officiating crew for Game 4 to put their thumb on the scale somewhat. Essentially, Brown is putting out the narrative that his team has been wronged.
The implication being that some corrective measure is owed to the Knicks. Whether it pays off remains to be seen, but, with a title on the line, it’s certainly worth a shot.
Now, were some of the calls enforced against New York in the second half soft? Certainly. But if you look closely, most came after New York lazily grabbed at players after they had put themselves in compromising positions.
Did the Spurs get away with some calls? Potentially. But that doesn’t account for why New York shot just 7-of-27 in the fourth quarter, including a brutal 2-of-14 from 3-point range, many of those decent looks.
"That ain’t cost us the game," Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said when asked about officiating. "We turned the ball over. We didn’t execute. We didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins; that’s how you lose a game."
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 07: Mickey Gasper #30 of the Boston Red Sox throws the ball during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Blah blah blah transaction news.
Carlos Narvaez appeared in 112 games at catcher last season, tallying 15 home runs and playing solid defense, though he’s struggled at the dish this season and has taken a back seat to Gasper since Chad Tracy took over. He’s 27 years old and still pre-arbitration, meaning he’s under team control for the foreseeable future. Connor Wong had a miserable 2025 at the plate but has bounced back this year, although the power still hasn’t returned. He’s 30, but still has a few years of team control left. Mickey Gasper is the surprise addition to the group. He’s been the best of the group offensively, but also is the wrong side of 30 and has only just made the major leagues.
So, what should they do for the rest of this season? Do they let Narvaez work through his slump at the plate because he’s the most likely of the group to be the catcher of the future? Do they continue to run Gasper out to try to give a boost to the struggling offense? Do they let Connor Wong continue to handle the staff, because pitchers seem to like him? Do they trade for Ethan Salas? I don’t know. You tell me.
Talk about whatever you want and be good to one another.
