The first phase of the MLB proposal for the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) included a hard salary cap and a hard salary floor. They also outlined multiple revenue-sharing proposals.
The MLBPA quickly rejected the concept, as they have in past negotiations. The debate between the two sides began in May and will continue intermittently until the current agreement expires on Dec. 1.
The second proposal from MLB to the union included changes to the draft, including the elimination of high school drafting and the institution of an international draft. In response to that proposal, the union requested the elimination of the Qualifying Offer from free agency and the shortening of time it takes for a player to reach free agency.
On Thursday, during their regular negotiation session, the MLB negotiators proposed a minimum salary increase from $780,000 to $1 million for pre-arbitration players with two years of service time.
Those with less than two years would receive $900,000 with a $100,000 bonus at the end of the year if they spend less than 50 percent of the season on the injured list and complete the season with the team.
They agreed to the MLBPA’s request to reduce the free-agent eligibility requirement to five years of service time from the current six years for players 30 and older. They accepted the request for the elimination of the qualifying offer.
The MLB then proposed that all free-agent contracts be capped at five years for players changing teams or six years for those staying with their current team. The maximum dollar amount would be capped based on payroll. The top would be 15 percent of total payroll with a five percent increase per contract year. (Example: six-year/ $265 million under 2025 numbers).
The proposal also included the elimination of deferred money contracts, such as the controversial contract Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The pre-arbitration pool would increase by 30 percent ($50 million to $65 million) and up to $75 million by the end of the agreement.
The MLB proposed expanding the Prospect Promotion Program with the eligible player yielding up to two draft picks if the player is in the top two or three in Rookie of the Year or four or five in Cy Young voting or MVP voting. The picks would be distributed one for each draft (domestic and international).
MLB released its statement in support of its proposals.
“The biggest issue baseball fans want solved to strengthen the game is fixing the payroll disparity that leaves too many fans without hope of their team competing for a World Series title,” MLB spokesperson Glen Caplin said. “Every other major U.S. sport has tackled this problem, and every year more small-market teams in those leagues have a chance to win. The salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field, allowing us greater flexibility to address longstanding player priorities while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50/50.
“Today, in addition to proposing the largest-ever increase in the minimum salary, earned by over half of MLB players, we accepted two landmark changes to free agency that have been in place for 50 years. We agreed to both the MLBPA’s proposal to provide earlier access to free agency, and their proposal to eliminate the qualifying offer system, a provision players view as a drag on free agency. We also proposed to eliminate deferred compensation and to create a new ‘Cornerstone Player’ provision similar to the NBA’s ‘Bird rights’ to give every team a fair shot at retaining their fans’ favorite star players. We will continue working with the MLBPA during the bargaining process to improve the game for teams, players and fans.”
The MLBPA had a rapid response to the latest offer from the MLB negotiating team.
“After making a series of proposals to reduce player compensation by billions of dollars, eliminate fundamental rights with a salary cap, and destroy the amateur entry process, Major League Baseball and team owners are now attempting to distract from the true impact their plan would have on baseball,” a statement from the MLBPA said. “These misleading offers are designed to look like ‘improvements’ but are of little or no value, given they are expressly conditioned on agreement to the league’s cap system which eliminates the free market, and ensures gains for one player only come at the expense of another. The league also introduced a litany of additional restrictions on player rights — limiting salaries, contract length, performance, award, and signing bonuses. While MLB claims to be acting in the interest of fans, their proposals thus far are entirely consistent with owners’ long-held goals: suppressing player salaries and maximizing club profits.
“Owners’ attempts to pit players against players are nothing new, but they’ve failed in the past and will fail again now, because PA members remain unified. We are committed to achieving a fair deal that protects the rights of all players, promotes competition, and leaves our game better for future generations.”
The two sides are expected to meet again before the All-Star break in July. There seems to be very little current space for agreement with the initial proposal as the basis for all subsequent proposals by both sides.
With the players staunchly refusing to consider that suggestion, nothing else can be achieved until they find some common ground on the competitive balance issue.
The Suns have re-signed center Mark Williams to a fully guaranteed three-year, $38 million deal, according to ESPN.
Williams played 60 games for the Suns this season, averaging 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 blocks.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams slaps hands with teammates during player introductions. AP Photo
He joined Phoenix this season after spending three years with the Hornets, where he was drafted No. 15 overall from Duke in 2022.
Despite being a starter, Williams will be the 34th-highest-paid center in the league in total value and 32nd in AAV, according to Spotrac.
This is largely because of the fully guaranteed nature of the deal, parlayed with the fact that Williams has had trouble remaining available for long stretches of his career — missing 162 games in his first four seasons in the league.
Williams has dealt with a nagging foot injury for the better part of his NBA career to this point.
It kept him out of the four-game series loss to the Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs this season.
Mark Williams of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket as Noah Clowney of the Brooklyn Nets defends. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Suns surprised many last season with a 45-37 record and only slowed down at the end because of injuries.
The Williams deal, as well as re-signing rotation guards Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin for four- and three-year deals, respectively, show their intent to run it back in 2026-27 with a similar core.
The Suns acquired Williams from the Hornets in a draft-day trade.
He had previously been traded to the Lakers on the 2025 deadline day, but the deal was rescinded after he failed his physical in Los Angeles.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 19: Duke Miles #2 of the Vanderbilt Commodores looks to shoot the ball during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the McNeese Cowboys held at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Normally, a slew of undrafted free agents sign with teams at the conclusion of the second round. Things were pretty quiet though after the 2026 NBA Draft — especially for the Sixers.
That changed slightly Friday with the team reportedly adding Vanderbilt guard Duke Miles on an Exhibit 10 deal. Adam Aaronson of Philly Voice was the first to report the news.
NEWS: The Sixers are signing Duke Miles to an Exhibit 10 contract, source tells @thephillyvoice. An E10 deal is a training camp contract which gives player a signing bonus if they are waived and report to that team's affiliate in the G League. Vandy On SI reported earlier today.
Miles is a 6-foot-2 guard who played last season at Vanderbilt. He’s an undersized but feisty guard in the mold of Jose Alvarado or Jamal Shead. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.5 assists and a conference-leading 2.6 steals per game. He shot 43.5% from the field and 34.8% from three. Miles enjoyed a six-year collegiate career, spending three years at Troy before stops at High Point, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. He’s an Alabama native, just like Sixers first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr.
As a reminder, an Exhibit 10 contract is basically a glorified G League deal. Miles will likely spend the summer league and training camp with the Sixers, but will be financially incentivized to spend the 2026-27 season with the Delaware Blue Coats.
The only other name we’ve seen even linked to the Sixers is Javontae Campbell, the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Campbell’s alma mater, Bowling Green State, shared the news. He’s yet another undersized, defensive-minded guard at 6-foot-2.
We don’t know who else will be on the Sixers’ summer league roster, but we do know they will only be making the trek to Vegas from July 9-19. Unfortunately, the team will not be participating in the Salt Lake summer league in 2026.
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 29: The sneakers worn by Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 29, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Draft day has arrived, and it represents one of the most important dates on the Calgary Flames’ calendar.
The Flames enter the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in an enviable position, with an abundance of draft capital and the chance to further accelerate the organization’s rebuild. With multiple selections in the opening rounds, Calgary has the flexibility to add high-end prospects, package picks to move up the draft board, or use those assets in trades for NHL-ready talent.
The club currently holds two first-round selections; sixth overall and 30th overall, the latter acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights, along with three second-round picks and additional selections throughout the draft.
That collection of picks gives general manager Craig Conroy several options as he looks to strengthen both the present and future of the franchise. Whether Calgary stands pat, moves around the draft board, or swings a trade, the decisions made over the next two days could play a significant role in shaping the next phase of the team’s retool.
For Conroy, however, the priority remains straightforward: select the best players available, regardless of where the Flames are picking.
“We’re looking for best player,” Conroy told FlamesTV. “We want to have the best player at each pick, but really, with all those picks we want to make sure - whether you’re the sixth overall pick or our last pick in the sixth round - we want to make sure the guys are ready and we want to be excited about the player we pick at that position.”
The Ottawa Senators announced on Friday afternoon that they have acquired goaltender Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for their fifth-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft.
The acquisition is an odd one.
Ten days ago, the Leafs sent goaltender Joseph Woll and defenceman Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenceman Emil Andrae, Ersson, and a 2026 third-round pick.
The inclusion of Ersson in that deal was a head-scratcher, simply because the Leafs already had a ton of goaltending depth in the form of Dennis Hildeby and the Calder Cup-winning Artur Akhtyamov.
Considering that Ersson was coming off a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.4 million, as an impending restricted free agent (RFA), he would need a qualifying offer of $1.6 million for the Maple Leafs to retain his rights.
While playing professionally over parts of five seasons across the AHL and NHL, Ersson has never recorded a season with a save percentage greater than .900. In 33 appearances with the Flyers this past season, the 26-year-old posted a 14-11-5 record, a 3.12 goals against average, and an .870 save percentage.
According to Evolving-Hockey’s model, Ersson’s -6.09 goals saved above expected (GSAx) was the fifth-lowest total in the league. In 2024-25, his GSAx of -22.09 was the league’s worst.
Using their ‘wins above replacement’ model, Ersson has been worth -3.3 wins over the course of his NHL career. Meaning, had he been replaced by a league-average goaltender over the same period, it would have benefited the Flyers by three wins. The only season in which he posted a positive GSAx was his rookie 2022-23 campaign.
Ersson is still relatively young at 26, but he has not performed well in North America. Albeit, his experiences in the NHL, with the exception of this season, came while playing in front of a porous Philadelphia Flyers team.
It is worth noting that Ersson is arbitration-eligible, but a player must still be qualified by a club to maintain his rights and take him to arbitration. Given his ineffectiveness and the relatively high cost to qualify him as a RFA, there were rumours that the Maple Leafs were not going to qualify Ersson, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA).
The Maple Leafs obviously exhausted the market trying to trade Ersson’s rights, but the Senators must have had confidence that another team was close to acquiring his services. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to give up any assets for a player that they could have likely signed as an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
On many levels, it would make sense for the organization to target Ersson as a young goaltender with NHL experience who could be called up from Belleville in the event that injuries or ineffectiveness beset other options, but on the surface, this feels like the Senators have tabbed Ersson as their backup.
There is simply no reason for Ersson to turn down his qualifying offer. Given his body of work, a $1.6 million one-way salary would be way too expensive as a luxury in Belleville.
It is a puzzling move given the team’s goaltenders' performance this past season.
Until Linus Ullmark returned from his leave of absence in late January, the Senators’ goaltending collectively let the organization down. Despite some of the best defensive metrics in the league, they had created a deficit in the standings that the team just barely overcame.
In his end-of-season media availability, general manager Steve Staios acknowledged that his greatest misstep was not insulating Ullmark with a veteran option, because of the pressure it put on him and rookie Leevi Merilainen. The addition of veteran James Reimer had a noticeable effect on the dressing room and on Ullmark, but Ersson has only 143 games of experience, and the performances have not been particularly inspiring.
In consideration of Ullmark’s mental health battles and the fact that he has never appeared in more than 50 games in a regular season, entrusting the backup duties to an unproven Ersson feels like a massive gamble with the Senators taking on a lot of risk.
In fairness to Staios, however, the free agent market is not exactly brimming with desirable options. And of the veteran goaltenders who are somewhat intriguing, like Stuart Skinner or Connor Ingram, they are not going to come cheaply.
It feels odd to hang hopes on the fact that goaltending is such a volatile position and that maybe there’s a reality where Ersson comes in and does a great job. But the organization obviously has some measure of familiarity and confidence in its ability to turn around Ersson’s game.
If anything, the acquisition may speak to the influence of the newly-hired director of goaltender development, Maciej Szwoch. There does not appear to be any overlap in the respective careers of Ersson and Szwoch from their time in the SHL. Szwoch worked as a goaltending coach for MODO and Färjestad BK, while Ersson played for Brynäs IF.
If Ersson can't turn it around, it could be one of those moves that gets heavily scrutinized in retrospect.
By Graeme Nichols The Hockey News
This article first appeared at The Hockey News/Ottawa, where you can read more articles at the links below:
Cameron Boozer’s girlfriend has no doubt the forward is going to be received well in his next big career step.
Yva Lauren Cao gave fans and followers an inside look into Boozer’s NBA draft night, in which he walked away as a member of the Grizzlies after being the No. 3 overall pick out of Duke.
“Memphis, you’re going to love him,” she captioned the Instagram post, featuring various photos of the couple throughout the night.
Cao wore a stunning lowback orange dress as she posed for photos with Boozer, who was in a white suit and often seen wearing his team’s hat, which had rhinestones on it.
The University of Miami cheerleader shared a picture of the couple hugging as Boozer’s name was called and one of the two holding hands while leaving the event and again posed together at an after party location.
Cao also shared a photo of her and Boozer in front of his new locker and new No. 27 jersey in Memphis on Friday.
“Memphis just gained the best there is!!” she wrote in an Instagram story of Boozer at the draft. “So proud of you and beyond grateful to watch your dreams become reality.
“Your talent is undeniable, but who you are is what makes me proudest. I love you endlessly. This is only the beginning. Here we gooo.”
Yva Lauren Cao and Cameron Boozer sit for a photo in front of the forward’s new jersey. Instagram @yvacaoYva Lauren Cao and Cameron Boozer pictured after the NBA Draft. Instagram @yvacao
The couple has been together since high school as they both grew up in Miami, Fla.
They started dating in August 2023 and attended several proms together before they both moved onto college in 2025.
Yva Lauren Cao and Cameron Boozer hold hands as they leave the NBA draft. Instagram @yvacao
As Cao chose Miami and Boozer took his career to Duke, the two sparked a sports rivalry and both established early success.
Cao went on to cheer at the national championship football game against Indiana in January while Boozer made his name known in the college game and beyond as he averaged a double-double per game (22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds) in his only season at Duke.
Cao was also seen to support her Blue Devil at various games, and Duke went as far as the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before a 73-72 loss to UConn.
Boozer will be tasked with making an immediate impact on the Grizzlies, who are coming off of a tough 25-57 season.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 18: Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks celebrates during the New York Knicks 2026 Championship Parade and Ceremony on June 18, 2026 in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Pamela Costello/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The life of an NBA role player is one of uncertainty.
Every year could be in a different city. You’re fighting for guaranteed contracts every offseason. It’s more a matter of survival than finding a true home.
Some of these players evolve to the point of being not easily replaceable, allowing them to worry more about team fit and overall salary than survival. Those players are the ones with solid bench roles, but not the guys who are big franchise pieces.
I don’t know if Landry Shamet has reached that second part, but he’s certainly evolved past the first, which is where he was to start 2025-26. A guy who didn’t have a guaranteed contract in the preseason for consecutive seasons, who’s already suited up for six teams in seven seasons, and someone who’s only sizable contract saw him bought out midway through, has reached the mountaintop.
And the cherry on top? He did it as a key contributor, joining the likes of “Big Shot” Robert Horry, Steve Kerr, John Paxson, and more as a role player who stepped up big time and put his name in the history books for an NBA champion.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JUNE 13: Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait after winning Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Shamet was born on March, 13, 1997, in Kansas City, Missouri, to a single mother, a former Division I volleyball player at Boise State. He didn’t meet his father until he was 24, so his uncle took on an important role in his upbringing, marred by financial instability. His family lost their apartment when he was in middle school after going bankrupt.
He went to Park Hill High School, where he became one of the best players in the state of Missouri. As a three-star recruit, he held offers from multiple Big Ten programs, but decided to stay close to home at Wichita State, enrolling there in 2015.
Shamet figured to be a big part of the Shockers’ plans in 2015-16 as a true freshman alongside Fred VanVleet and OAKAAK Ron Baker in the backcourt, but sustained a season-ending foot injury in his first career start against Division II Emporia State in November. When he returned the following year, he was thrust into the starting lineup, where he led a balanced Wichita State team to the NCAA Tournament.
After a season in which he was All-MVC First-Team and MVC Rookie of the Year, he took another step forward as a redshirt sophomore in 2017-18, leading the conference in three-point percentage and assists as the leading scorer on a 25-8 team. Despite two years of eligibility remaining, he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, where he snuck into the first round, being picked No. 26 by the Philadelphia 76ers.
He wouldn’t even last an entire season in Philly. Despite showing flashes, including a 29-point outburst in January 2019, he was used as a small piece in the Tobias Harris trade, being sent to the Clippers with two firsts and two seconds for the one-time all-star that would become one of the most hated men in the city.
In Los Angeles, Shamet would start 23 of the remaining 25 games, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team. He again played well the following season, splitting time as a starter and sixth man while being one of the best shooters on a team that was now built around Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. His performance in Game 3 against the Mavericks in the bubble was a big reason they got out of the first round.
But that would be his final few games as a Clipper. He was traded to Brooklyn that offseason in a three-team deal that landed Luke Kennard and four seconds in L.A.
While it would be his third team in three years, Shamet was on yet another winner and another team that was a title contender in 2020-21. He had another typical year, averaging nine points a game on 38% from downtown, but didn’t have an impact in the playoffs and couldn’t step up after injuries to Kyrie Irving and James Harden damaged their hopes of getting past the eventual champion Bucks. That offseason, he was flipped to Phoenix for Jevon Carter and the No. 29 pick.
Four teams in four years. Despite showing himself as a valuable role player, that’s still extremely concerning. He inked a four-year, $43 million extension before the season, which seemingly gave him stability. His two years there were solid, but slightly down due to a reduction in role.
Aside from Game 3 against Denver in 2023, he didn’t produce much in the playoffs, and recurring foot injuries limited him to 40 games in the regular season. Just one year into his four-year pact, he was dealt to the lowly Wizards in the Bradley Beal trade, being left to the fishes and exiled into NBA irrelevance.
As many do, he struggled after going from perennially making the second round of the playoffs to the worst organization in basketball. The 2023-24 season was miserable for him, as he shot a career low from behind the arc, struggled with more foot injuries, and was an afterthought late in the year for a Wizards team focused on development.
Just like that, he was waived in July and spent months on the free agent market. Less than two years after being a valuable role player for a perennial playoff team and making $10 million a year, he was on the cut line. Dozens of players are stuck in that limbo every year, barely sneaking onto NBA rosters or being forced to continue their careers overseas. That’s where Shamet was in the summer of 2024.
But circumstances brought him to New York. He was brought in during September to compete for a roster spot with guys like Chuma Okeke and Marcus Morris Sr., but got a life raft when the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster went through ahead of training camp, prompting Morris to be waived for space. When he was offered to re-sign after the trade went through, he said no, so with that and the loss of Donte DiVincenzo, a role existed for a player of his archetype.
Tom Thibodeau was a fan and planned for him to get minutes in the Opening Night rotation in Boston, but a devastating dislocated shoulder in the penultimate preseason game threw a wrench in the team’s plan and one in Shamet’s career.
He was released because of the team’s limited second-apron space and his non-guaranteed contract. Once again, his NBA career was in serious jeopardy.
But the Knicks believed in him more than it looked. They fully intended on bringing Shamet back when he recovered, going as far as to pick him in the G-League draft to keep him in-house during his rehab. It all culminated in him being re-signed in late December and making his Knicks debut on December 23, 2024.
He struggled early after the long layoff, but fully shook off the rust as the team got closer to the postseason. His shooting slump with the Wizards was an aberration. He had two games of making at least six threes in April. He was ready for his triumphant return to playoff basketball.
And then, he was just removed from the rotation. Cam Payne’s electric Game 1 against the Pistons necessitated more minutes for him, and Shamet’s poor play early in the series led to him being fully benched in Game 4, the rest of the Detroit series, and the entire Boston series. Thibs ran a tight ship, and with every game being a full-blown war, he had no time to deal with the bench.
Until the Knicks went down 0-2 to Indiana, that is. For the first time all season, true desperation was settling in. Needing a spark. Thibodeau inserted Mitchell Robinson into the starting lineup and unleashed Shamet and Delon Wright off the bench to add defensive intensity.
Shamet combining physical post defense with a flop. It's one of the best ways to combat a mismatch. Shamet applies a lot of force. Toppin responds in turn…flop. Turnover.
At least in the short term, it worked. Both added a needed spark to make a huge Game 3 comeback, and the team won their minutes in the first three games they played, but Indiana just simply had too many answers for what the Knicks could throw at them, ending their season in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Despite a solid season, Shamet once again had a limited market when he re-entered free agency. He once again entered September without a contract, holding out hope that he would be able to stay in New York if he were to continue his NBA career.
Well, the offer came, and he once again was in a battle for the final roster spot. Malcolm Brogdon and Garrison Matthews stood in his way, and unlike last year, he was not the perceived frontrunner to make the roster.
Until Brogdon retired at the end of the preseason. While Mike Brown was always a big fan of Shamet, the needs of the roster likely had him on the outside looking in. For a guy who’s gotten some bad luck over the years, it was some good fortune shining on him.
Unlike last season, he had a big role on the bench right away, stepping up to make some big performances when guys went in and out of the lineup.
There’d be more adversity on the way before he got there, though. Yet another shoulder injury brought about fears of a similar injury to last year, which could’ve led to Shamet’s release.
Fortunately for him and the Knicks, it was a sprain, not a dislocation. He was back soon enough and continued to make big plays throughout a season where he played the most, shot the best, and scored the most in a half-decade.
But his story didn’t end in the regular season this time. This time, he was going to put his name in the history books.
He was out of the rotation after the first few games against Atlanta due to more early-series struggles, but all he could do was stay ready. When his time came, he didn’t let it go to waste.
Landry Shamet, who's fallen out of Knicks playoff rotation, on the court running sprints postgame as Josh Hart appears on NBC pic.twitter.com/K8dyZd9AI6
Re-inserted in the rotation against Philly, it was his tremendous second quarter in Game 3 that flipped a sure Sixers win to a Knicks party in the City of Brotherly Love. His hot shooting bled over into Game 4, where he and Deuce McBride buried a franchise that gave up on him in less than a year.
Against Cleveland, he hit three titanic threes down the stretch in Game 1, being the catalyst along with Jalen Brunson for the 22-point comeback. His game-tying three that rolled around the rim felt like redemption from the Haliburton shot and gave the team the feeling of a team of destiny. His name echoed through the Garden and through the streets of New York.
Two timely triples from Landry Shamet 🔥
Shamet (3-3 3PM) delivered in big moments for the Knicks to help them complete their largest postseason comeback in franchise history!
What he did against Cleveland was otherworldly. He went an unfathomable 11-for-12 from three in four games and was a plus-53. If it were a seven-game series, there’s a chance he’d get consideration for Eastern Conference Finals MVP for his standout performance.
He played huge roles in the first two games of the NBA Finals, making six threes and averaging 31 minutes a game, but he finally went cold afterwards. The Knicks were able to manage his minutes quality deteriorating and closed things out in five games. Shamet finished the postseason 26-for-50 from downtown.
A lifetime of instability, setbacks, and unfortunate timing led him to this moment. At times, it looked like he just wasn’t meant for this. At times, it looked like he had to settle with a fine, brief career as a role player, somebody whose legacy would be defined by dudes in bars 15 years from now saying “Remember that guy?”
Well, now nobody in New York will ever forget his name.
–
(P&T will be doing player-by-player article tributes over the next few weeks to commemorate the special team that ended our long, half-century nightmare)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 12: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after the final out of the ninth inning in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field on June 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Misiorowski threw a complete game and allowed only one hit. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jacob Misiorowski is having among the most dominant pitching seasons we’ve ever seen. What does he need to do to get it up there with the all-time greats?
In a recent piece I did about the greatest single season pitching seasons, I quickly mentioned in the intro that Misiorowski was on pace for an all-time season if he kept up his current pace before launching into verbose soliloquies about 2018 Jacob deGrom and 1985 Dwight Gooden. But the blueprint was there; if we have some sense of what makes the best pitching seasons, surely we can get The Miz to that level.
Two factors consistently colored my ranking: dominance relative to other pitchers in the same time (why steroid-era Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000 was the greatest pitcher ever) and statistical outliers extended over a full season. Misiorowski needs a true mathematical trump card that will be visible and obvious to everyone for the rest of time. For Misiorowski, that’s currently his ERA: 1.45, the best ever save for 1968 Bob Gibson (number three on my other list) and his patently absurd 1.12 ERA in over 300 innings pitched. That figure is so good it needs additional context, namely that the strike zone was much larger than it is today in 1968, and Gibson’s dominance — along with Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale — led to rule changes that fixed that. Misiorowski would, for all intents and purposes, pass 1985 Dwight Gooden for the best non-“juiced zone” ERA ever.*
(*whenever I say “ever” in this piece, I generally mean since 1945, since I think post-World War II is a good starting point for pitching legacy conversations given many players returned from military service, integration began soon after and pitchers stopped pitching 19 billion innings per year. It just wasn’t the same sport for pitchers before.)
But ERA is a flawed statistic, and not necessarily great at capturing true pitcher performance. I also like ERA estimators like FIP and SIERA, basically ERA-scale stats that try to correct for things pitchers can’t control like defense and balls in play. I only have SIERA data going back to 2002, but Misiorowski would be third all-time in the SIERA club behind 2014 Clayton Kershaw (fourth on my list) and 2002 Curt Schilling (by .01). As for FIP, or fielding independent pitching, good at telling you which pitchers prevent runs by themselves rather than with defensive help, Misiorowski is in hallowed ground. Since 1945, he trails only 2021 Corbin Burnes (FIP god for some reason) and 1999 Pedro Martinez — number one on my list and the undisputed king of pitching seasons.
You may be thinking “what do I care about FIP? I’ve never even heard of that until now!” But I assure you, FIP is a powerful thing, and Misiorowski being a FIP and ERA god is good for other historical markers, namely Wins Above Replacement (WAR), calculated by two websites differently. “bWAR” from Baseball-References relies more on runs allowed, while “fWAR” from FanGraphs is FIP-based. Misiorowski is insane at both, meaning if he keeps this up, his WAR number could go down as an all-timer — he’s already on pace for about 10 WAR right now, a bonkers achievement for a starting pitcher in the age of the reliever.
But Misiorowski’s greatness goes beyond this numerical soups I’ve just concocted. He’s also super cool because he throws super hard and refuses to throw slower. He threw 47 pitches above 101 mphin a loss to Atlanta, which is the record for a starter. He threw a pitch to strikeout Kyle Schwarber that clocked in at 105 mph, the fastest ever from a starter. In 2026, he ratcheted up his four-seam fastball usage up almost 10 percent from 2025 to a ridiculous 64 percent, the highest in the majors by a lot and the second highest in the Statcast era (since 2015) behind only 2017 Kevin Gausman. MLB has moved away from a lot of fastballs and towards fewer-but-better fastballs, but Misiorowski pulled up to the club and said “nah, I’ll just throw more, better fastballs.”
And why not? Using Baseball Savant’s glorious new swing timing + miss distance data, we can see that 2026 Jacob Misiorowski’s fastball is among the most unhittable pitches since they started tracking in 2023. I would go so far as to say it is the single least hittable pitch since it is a fastball producing a 44 percent whiff rate. That is not something you are supposed to be able to do, and Misiorowski’s fastball is straight-up the best swing-and-miss fastball in the Majors since at least 2023 (probably longer) among both starters and relievers.
I don’t know if my profuse use of italics is underscoring how impossibly impossible it is that Misiorowski is putting up these kinds of numbers, but even if you don’t like numbers, we also have historical intrigue: Misiorowski is on pace for one of the greatest seasons ever, but he’s actually not the most on pace anyone has ever been.
That title goes to 2021 Jacob deGrom, who was, if you can believe it, a wildly superior version of 2026 Misiorowski through basically the exact same number of innings pitched. He has a 1.08 ERA (would be the best ever) a 1.24 FIP (would be the best ever) and struck out 14.28 per nine innings (would be the best ever). And that’s where it stands today; deGrom got injured and missed the rest of the season, meaning he pitched by far the greatest half-season ever. This is what Misiorowski needs to avoid.
He throws hard, we all know that, and while it’s commonly debated whether velocity is the real culprit for UCL injuries and tears, it’s obviously a concern that Misiorowski may not be able to sustain this pitching output that’s like he’s the Winter Soldier with a vibranium arm. But I don’t speculate about injuries; I speculate if this is sustainable for the rest of the season.
Looking at expected statistics, Misiorowski is overperforming based on his contact quality, but so is every pitcher who’s ever had a great season in the history of ever. And he’s not actually overperforming by that much — most of his expected numbers are within small enough margins not to take much stock in them, and the discrepancy is mostly because it is not supposed to be possible to create this kind of swing-and-miss with a fastball as a starter. It’s legitimately unprecedented stuff.
Maybe that will regress, and maybe Misiorowski will start getting barreled later in the year. But I could see a world where we look back on 2026 Misiorowski and think of one of the greatest pitching seasons in the history of baseball. So I suggest we all drink it in while we’ve got it.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 24: Tyrone Taylor #28 of the New York Mets at bat during a game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 24, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After parting ways with manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday morning, the Mets made a flurry of smaller roster moves. Tyrone Taylor has been activated from the injured list and left-handed-pitcher Zach Thornton has been recalled from Triple-A, while MJ Melendez and right-hander Daniel Duarte were optioned to Triple-A.
Taylor spent exactly one month on the IL with a right hip flexor strain. In four rehab games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse over the past week, Taylor went 7-for-15 with two homers and six runs batted in. He was slashing .186/.210/.320 before getting injured, and notably posting defensive metrics well below his career norms (-1 Outs Above Average and -1 Arm Value).
A fifth-round pick in the 2023 Draft, and Amazin’ Avenue’s No. 14 preseason prospect, Thornton made his big-league debut at Nationals Park on May 20 – allowing four earned runs in 4.1 innings of work. The 24-year-old holds a 4.25 ERA in 55.0 IP this season between Binghamton and Syracuse.
Duarte has made three appearances with the Mets this year, most recently on June 14 against the Braves. He’s been awfully effective, allowing no runs, one hit, and one walk while striking out three in five innings of work. The 29-year-old was promoted to the Major League roster on Thursday, and spent one day with the team before being sent back to Syracuse.
Melendez started hot for the Mets, posting a 1.024 OPS through his first 16 games after being promoted on April 15. But he’s been mired in a slump since then, batting just .123 with a .495 OPS.
The Mets will look to find a spark with their new roster pieces (and their new interim manager, Andy Green) during a three-game set with the Phillies this weekend at Citi Field. The series opener is Friday night at 7:10 p.m. ET, with the ever-fearsome Zack Wheeler on the mound for Philadelphia.
Carns had a .289 batting average, six home runs, 11 doubles, one triple, 38 RBI, and 48 runs scored while appearing in 51 games during the 2026 season, including 49 combined starts at both catcher and designated hitter.
Carns is considered a physical right-handed hitter with plus-power at the plate while also showing rare athleticism behind the plate. He presents a similar profile to the player he’ll likely replace in the Bulldogs’ lineup: Daniel Jackson, who won the SEC’s triple crown with a conference-best .379 average, 32 home runs and 87 RBIs. He joined Mississippi State‘s Brent Rooker and Rafael Palmeiro as the only other SEC players to achieve such a feat.
Jackson, who also became the sixth Division I college baseball player to hit at least 25 home runs and still at least 25 bases, raked in multiple awards in 2026 — the Dick Howser Trophy, the Buster Posey Catcher of the Year Award, the Bobby Bragan Slugger Award, and the D1 National Position Player of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods. Jackson is widely expected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming 2026 MLB Draft next month.
Carns was originally drafted in the 20th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but chose to attend FSU instead. The Jacksonville, Fla. native hit .384 with 28 hits, seven doubles, 27 runs scored, 16 RBI and seven home runs as a senior from First Coast (Jacksonville, Fla.) High.
As a freshman at Florida State, Carns hit .286 with eight doubles, six home runs and 15 RBI in 40 games during the 2025 season, including 39 starts.
Carns becomes Georgia’s sixth transfer addition this offseason joining outfielder Mikey Bell (Gonzaga), shortstop Matthew Farner (North Florida) and right-handed pitchers Cooper Wells (Florida), Christopher Cespedes (Maryland), and Luke Howe (Long Beach State), according to On3’s Baseball Transfer Portal tracker.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 24: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during the game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Michael R. asks:What’s going on with Dax Kilby? Is he in a witness protection program? Last I heard it was a hamstring injury. Was there an amputation needed? Surely, if it was just a hamstring issue he should be back by now.
Hamstrings are finnicky muscles, and tweaking them can easily set back a rehabbing player’s progress — look no further than Giancarlo Stanton for a prime example of how long it can take if things go poorly. Kilby did manage to get into a rehab game at the end of May, but reaggravated the injury during the game and has been out again since. We don’t know the full extent to how bad the hamstring was after that game, but the team is going to be cautious with any soft tissue injury like this especially after the rehab attempt went poorly. If we don’t have an update around mid-July then there’d be some valid concern, but for now Kilby is simply going to be on the shelf for a bit longer.
jws85 asks:Why do writers keep talking starting pitchers? I would think the hot topic would be Josh Jung and Higgy from Texas.
It’s not so much that starting pitching is a need as it is the singular face of the trade market this deadline appears to be Tarik Skubal — and when the reigning two-time Cy Young winner is available, you have to at least consider being the one to make a move for him. Any other starter wouldn’t make sense for the Yankees to pursue when they have one of the strongest rotations in baseball and have some clear holes elsewhere, but Skubal could push them all-in on being perhaps the most dangerous team in the field even with the reigning champion Dodgers looking every bit as strong as they have been the last two years.
Make no mistake though: it would be an all-in move, and it would be costly. Even though the team that lands him would only guarantee Skubal’s services for the remainder of this season, the Tigers can demand a king’s ransom for him and have a number of suitors willing to pony up. Skubal did sit out for a month with an elbow injury that might raise concerns, but he’s recovered in admirable time and the Yankees just got a front-row seat to see how sharp he looks already so I doubt there would be a major discount on account of his arm. Any trade on the Yankees’ ends would start with top prospect George Lombard Jr. and likely include several other top prospects within the organization’s top 10, probably even their top five given their rankings fall off quick from there. That’s going to mortgage the future fairly significantly, but if they don’t push those chips into the pot the Dodgers can definitely outbid them (and possibly still can even if the Yankees leave no one off the table).
Sounds like an awful lot to index everything into a rotation that is already one of the best, and leaves little room to make other upgrades when some are definitely warranted. So why should the Yankees consider this? Well, there’s the opportunity cost of passing on Skubal to consider — if they don’t go and get him, someone else will and the Yankees will likely have to face him on their road to a World Series title, making him a major obstacle instead of a piece of the puzzle. Could anyone compete with the Dodgers if Skubal dons an LA cap this postseason? Will the Yankees’ hopes of walking through a weak American League remain high if say, Seattle doesn’t want to fall just short of making the Fall Classic at long last and throws their arsenal of top 100 prospects at Detroit? Leaving it up to chance that Skubal won’t become the next version of Texas Cliff Lee or Houston Gerrit Cole isn’t ideal for a team whose core is getting dangerously close to old.
Age is the other factor — the Yankees have, outside of their push in 2024 with Juan Soto, danced around the idea of ever going all-in. Now they have a roster with superstars exiting their primes, with Aaron Judge already in his age-34 season and Cole approaching his 36th birthday in September. Both players have now faced mounting injuries in the last few years, and while I’m highly confident in both of them performing in October this year, how many more years will they be able to carry the weight of a title run on their shoulders? The team has gotten a much-needed injection of youth with Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler excelling this year, but they’re facing Father Time down with the contracts still on the books for their superstars. A rental starter would’ve been ideal in past seasons but isn’t this time around, but you could argue that getting picky about which pieces were available to them and at what prices got them into this position in the first place. Now they need to decide if pushing for a championship with their captain is more important than always being in the mix, and act accordingly.
With all this said I truly don’t know if they can even get Skubal or should pursue him if they could, but they have to do their due diligence in considering it. I like Lombard a lot, and he can potentially be the answer to a position that has given the Yankees a lot of headaches over the years. It would take a lot to move him, but the circumstances are undeniably there. We’ll see if they determine it’s worth pulling the trigger or not.
The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks:Clarke Schmidt? He’s going to face live batters any day now, so his return this season seems inevitable. What do the Yankees do with him? Do they just ride out the season and if he’s healthy and available keep him in the minors, or bring him up and force him into a bullpen role? Does he have any trade value? How does he rank among Yankee starters for 2027?
Schmidt is in a strange spot, with the rotation blossoming in his absence and nearly all the candidates to hold down a spot ahead of him being under control long-term. Schmidt, meanwhile, will be a free agent after next season and still has a minor league option remaining to toy with, giving the team flexibility now with how they handle his return but forcing the issue next year if they did keep him down. I doubt they would stash him in the minors, to be honest — when healthy he was one of the better starters the Yankees had, pacing out to about three fWAR per season had he played all of 2024 and 2025. The reality is he hasn’t pitched over 100 innings since 2023 though, so easing him back in a multi-inning relief role would be the ideal scenario if he stays and the rotation remains healthy in front of him.
A trade to shake things up in this equation is very much on the table though, as the Yankees have needs around the roster and for once have an extreme excess of starting pitching. Schmidt’s injuries might prevent him from recouping significant value, but he could also serve as a solid fallback option if Will Warren or one of the prospects like Elmer Rodriguez or Brendan Beck gets packaged in a deal. That could allow Schmidt to build back up his arm with a handful of starts this year and then slide back into the rotation as the fifth starter for 2027 should he beat out Ryan Weathers in spring. The only concern is that you truly can’t have too much pitching, and it would be the height of folly to act as if the team had too much pitching in July only to run on empty in October, but if they seriously pursued the Skubal angle perhaps that’s how they could hedge on building a super rotation for this season and still have depth for next year and beyond.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 23: Mikel Brown Jr. poses for a photo before the 2026 NBA Draft - Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 23: Mikel Brown Jr. poses for a photo before the 2026 NBA Draft – Round One on June 23, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mikel Brown Jr. talked about a lot of things after he was selected by the Brooklyn Nets at No. 6 in the NBA Draft on Wednesday. And in talking with NetsDaily, he spoke as well as what’s important to him, faith and family as well as his Puerto Rican roots.
“Faith definitively plays a big role. I mean, that’s where I come from,” the 20-year-old from Orlando told ND, noting that it’s part of his being Puerto Rican on his mother’s side. “You know actually representing my Puerto Rican heritage, They are big in their faith.”
Brown surprised and wowed a lot of Nets fans of Puerto Rican heritage on Draft Night when he showed off the inner lining of his suit to fellow Puerto Rican, Brooklynite and NBA champion Jose Alvarado. It was a tribute to that heritage…
“You gotta explain the fit!” Mikel Brown Jr. pulls up to the Red Carpet to show off his suit to fellow Puerto Rican and New Era Player Correspondent, Jose Alvarado 🇵🇷 @NewEraCappic.twitter.com/teS1B32xpI
About 600,000 residents of the city have connections to the commonwealth, about 140,000 in Brooklyn alone.
Brown also discussed his family with NetsDaily:
“I’m just so blessed to be in this position right now and also for my family as well. this is not a one-man thing,” he said when asked about family. “It’s also me and my family as well. You know they supported me through every decision. They made so many sacrifices for me and I can’t thank them enough.”
It was a big night for Brown of course, but he seemed prepared for it all…
In his comments to ND, he also noted how proud he is to be in Brooklyn…
“You know just the past. The legends that come from this city,” he said when asked about what he’s looking forward to. “They take pride from people when you hear someone say they’re from Brooklyn. They take pride in it. To be able to represent and you want to come in and have the same mentality. It’s not just about you. It means the world.”
The team and Duren, who is a restricted free agent, are far apart on contract talks, and Duren's camp is now planning to explore sign-and-trade scenarios when free agency opens June 30, according to The Athletic. Duren, 22, is coming off of a breakout All-NBA season. But his next deal likely will fall short of the maximum the Pistons can offer – five years and $287 million – following an underwhelming postseason performance.
Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 65% shooting for a 60-win Pistons team that lost in the second round. He earned All-NBA third team honors, qualifying him for a contract worth up to $287 million that starts at 30% of the salary cap with 8% raises.
But the "higher max criteria" only applies to the Pistons – outside teams are capped to a maximum deal starting at up to 25% of the cap with 5% raises over four years, which comes out to $177.4 million total.
Because outside teams need cap space to make a realistic offer sheet for Duren, a sign-and-trade would open more pathways for Duren to land with a new team. But Pistons still hold the upper hand in negotiations, since they can match any offer sheet or simply decline to agree to a trade. Duren's only other pathway, in that situation, would be picking up his qualifying offer for the 2026-27 to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
They repeatedly have signaled that Duren is a priority and core player they wish to build around, even after his numbers dropped across the board through 14 postseason games, averaging 10.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on 51.4% shooting.
"I want him here, that’s where I’m at with JD," team president Trajan Langdon said on June 18. "We really want JD to be here."
Despite Duren's desire to look elsewhere for a bigger contract, it appears nothing has changed for the Pistons. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Friday after Duren's decision to seek other offers that "the Detroit Pistons are conveying that Jalen Duren will not be moved and are solely focused on coming to terms on an agreement."
Ultimately, the ball is in the Pistons' court. They can match any offer from an outside team and even if Duren is signed-and-traded, he'd be capped to four years and $177.4 million with an opposing team.
NAPA, CALIFORNIA - MAY 22: Jimmy Butler appears on the culinary stage at the 2026 BottleRock festival at Napa Valley Expo on May 22, 2026 in Napa, California. (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/WireImage)
Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler shared an encouraging update regarding the torn ACL he suffered last season. During Thursday’s event announcing IREN as the team’s new jersey patch sponsor, Butler fielded questions from reporters and, while he admitted the rehab process has been challenging, said he is making “incredible progress” in his recovery.
Jimmy Butler gives an update on his ACL rehab. Said he believes he is a month and a half from running. Believes he’s able to dunk jumping off his left foot but isn’t supposed to land on right foot.
Butler is now a little over six months removed from the season-ending injury he suffered on Jan. 19 against his former team, the Miami Heat. The veteran forward said he believes he is about a month and a half away from running again and is encouraged by the progress he has made throughout his rehab, even revealing that he could still dunk a basketball if he jumped off his left leg.
Perhaps the most interesting takeaway from the session, though, was how positively Butler spoke about his time with the team thus far. He shared high praise for the Warriors’ organization, and while his name has occasionally surfaced in trade speculation due to his large, expiring contract, Butler’s comments did not sound like those of a player expecting to be moved anytime soon.
Jimmy Butler says the Warriors organization is a great organization and he doesn’t want to be anywhere else:
“It’s not good, it’s great. It legitimately is the best. You don’t realize it until you’ve been in other places, and I’m not talking down on anybody that are quite lesser… pic.twitter.com/Jr3hs7ye1X
For now, Butler appears focused solely on his recovery and his future in Golden State. He’ll be 37 years old at the beginning of next season, but he made it clear that his priority is getting back on the court and helping the Warriors compete again alongside Stephen Curry.
Jimmy Butler on his rehab and when he’s coming back:
“I got some time, but I promise I’m trying to get back to it. Basketball is what I’ve known for almost forever and it’s very hard not to be able to move and hoop anytime I want to. But as soon as I can get back on the floor… pic.twitter.com/VNMa3xOULI
As speculation lingers that the final year of Butler’s contract, worth almost $57 million, could be packaged in a deal to acquire a different star to pair with Steph Curry, Butler continues to carry himself as a man who wants to play out the rest of his career in the Bay Area.
The messaging has been consistent from both Butler and the Warriors’ front office that Butler is part of the team’s future. Sitting next to Butler on Thursday, Lacob reiterated that he is confident both Butler and the team will come back strong next season. And Butler, who will be entering his 16th NBA season this fall, expressed optimism that the Warriors have enough talent to be a difficult out.
“If we’re healthy, we’re tough,” Butler said. “We’ve just got to be healthy. … As long as we’ve got Steph, we always have a chance.”
Horford’s return is an early checkpoint for a Warriors roster that appears as if it will remain mostly stable. General manager Mike Dunleavy is in active conversations with Kristaps Porzingis‘ representation to bring back the stretch center on a short-term contract, and the Warriors have been under the recent expectation that Draymond Green is likely to return on his $27.6 million player option.
“If the group is healthy, if we’re together, I feel like we’re going to compete,” Horford said. “I don’t want to think too much ahead, but once we’re able to get Jimmy and [Moses Moody] back … we have a very competitive group and we’re going to do the best that we can.”
In one fell swoop, the Wolves have raised their ceiling, lowered their floor, addressed a long-simmering issue at point guard, and formed the most entertaining backcourt in all of basketball. Minnesota has united two of the best players from the 2020 draft, whose play, in some ways, informs the zeitgeist of the present day. Edwards is the more classic figure, an all-world swingman who has increased his scoring average in each of his six seasons and is gilded by Jordan-esque athleticism and an almost supernatural development arc in both his ballhandling and pull-up shooting capability. LaMelo is the mold-breaking savant who sees basketball in shapes and colors that exist only in his head, who intuits the physics of the game differently because no one else had a dad galaxy-brained enough to teach him how to shoot from half court by the time he was 6 years old. Ball’s presence as a creator will allow Edwards to take full advantage of his one-of-one downhill explosiveness off the ball; Ant’s offensive gravity is unlike anything LaMelo has ever played with. It’ll be exhilarating. It’ll be chaos. It’ll be what has been missing from this Wolves team: something altogether new.
An “AI cloud firm” called Iren has agreed to replace Rakuten as the jersey patch sponsor for the Golden State Warriors in a deal that’s reportedly worth $50M per season. For context, that’s enough to pay for 7 1/4 Al Horfords, 10.8 Gui Santoses, or over 58 Pat Spencers!
