SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 14: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins warms up before a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Utah Mammoth at Delta Center on March 14, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Eli Rehmer/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Kyle Dubas makes such frequent transactions around the Penguins that plotting a long-term path can be difficult. It only takes one call to dramatically alter the future in ways that can’t be imagined these days.
With that in mind that this exercise is likely to have more hits than misses, what could the Penguins look like for the 2027-28 season? Let’s take a shot.
Top-6 forwards: Sidney Crosby, Egor Chinakhov, Ben Kindel, Bryan Rust, ?, ?
The forward group is going to need a lot of work. We’ll project that Crosby signs an extension and plays as a 40-year old in 2027-28 and Evgeni Malkin heads on to a happy retirement. Rickard Rakell is still under contract for this season, but we’ll put an outlook that he’s traded, which isn’t the case for Bryan Rust.
By this point, McGroarty ought to be in the NHL lineup, though it’s not a certainty. Similarly, is a then 21-year old Bill Zonnon ready for prime time after one year in the AHL coming up in 2026-27? It’s a possibility but also a big leap to even pencil him in as a full-time NHLer by then, as can be said for all the other players a rung below the NHL.
Right shot defense: Harrison Brunicke, ?, Kris Letang
Kris Letang is under contract, he’ll also be 40 this year and his decline could push him elsewhere by the start of 2027-28. He might well have a spot here. There could be an outside chance that Erik Karlsson sticks around, but it seems better odds than not by 2027 that he will be gone. Beyond Brunicke, there isn’t a lot in the even intermediate picture here, though that could be solved in the coming days or weeks if the Pens are able to acquire the services of a defender on a multi-year contract.
Left shot defense: ?
On this, we’re drawing a complete blank. Maybe one can hope Owen Pickering and/or Jake Livinavage will be in the picture by this point. It’s certainly possible, though nothing to bank on with confidence. The Pens have a lot of work to do, whether that means re-signing Parker Wotherspoon or bringing in more NHL bodies soon, the canvas is pretty blank and needs a lot of painting to be done. This could be one reason why those Darnell Nurse rumors are lingering, Nurse might not be the most optimal potential option out there, but the Pens do need some material here.
Goalie: Sergei Murashov, ?
It’s possible Arturs Silovs could grow into some staying power and come back for a third season as a Penguin in 2027-28. The pliable nature of goalies makes us think this could be something at least TBD more than baking in an expectation at this point.
—
There’s not much material above, which is kinda the point to emphasize how open-ended the situation is for Pittsburgh moving forward. They only currently have seven players who finished the season in the NHL (Kindel, Rust, Rakell, Lizotte, Dewar, Letang, Graves) even under contract in 2027-28, several of those names being veterans that they may even trade in the next 15 months. That small number is bound to change soon, including once they get through the heavy player movement seen at next week’s draft and through the thick of free agency in the opening days of July.
It emphasizes a ton of options available and flexibility of how to move forward. Some answers will find themselves, like if players like McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen and Elmer Soderblom step up and prove they should have a spot moving forward or if mid-level veterans like Wotherspoon, Novak, and Sam Girard entrench themselves into a longer stay.
Otherwise, at this point, the Penguins have a position that looks both risky and also exciting in a medium-term outlook. From 2021-23, tons of players like Rust, Rakell, Letang, Malkin, Graves, Tristan Jarry and Noel Acciari all got 3-6 year contracts, lately that’s been eradicated. Only Lizotte (three-years) and Jack St. Ivany (2024, a near-minimum deal for three seasons) have received term of more than two seasons since July 2023, not counting the requisite three-year deals that go to entry level rookies.
As a result, the future is wide open for the Pens to steer in any number of directions. Dubas already indicated not to expect Pittsburgh to be involved in high-end free agents that will sign for lots of dollars and term this summer. Trades could be a way to bolster the lineup, and progress of any young players in the next 12 months would also be very welcome for a Penguin team that is going to need a lot of material to develop for their club in an intermediate outlook.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Alex Karaban #11 of the Connecticut Huskies dribbles the ball during the National Semifinal game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we inch closer and closer to the 2026 NBA Draft, we continue our series looking at potential draft prospects. In this edition, could the Knicks take a swing at another older, two-time national champion from the Big East with their second-round pick?
Karaban grew up in Massachusetts, but only spent his freshman year of high school at Algonquin Regional in Northborough before transferring to New Hampton School in New Hampshire, where he won New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior. With plenty of collegiate interest, he transferred again to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year.
As a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022, he earned dozens of offers and made official visits to Northwestern, Penn State, and UConn. In the end, he chose Dan Hurley and the Huskies, who were playing just their second season back in the Big East after a forgettable seven years in the AAC. He was even able to graduate high school a semester early, enrolling for the Spring 2022 semester and redshirting.
Right out of the gate, Karaban was a starter for UConn, ultimately finishing with 150 career starts in 151 games played over four years. He would go on to be named to the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2022-23, be named to two All-Big East teams, win two national championships, and go out being named to the All-NCAA Tournament team in 2026.
Throughout his career, he was known as a great shooter, shooting 37.4% from three on over five attempts a game while being one of the best free-throw shooters in college basketball (84.4%). He was never overly impressive defensively, but averaged 1.5 blocks a game as a junior in 2024-25. He also routinely led the Huskies in minutes and even led the entire Big East in 2025-26.
Skills That Pay the Bills
Three-Point Shooting: Karaban has been an above-average shooter in three of his four collegiate seasons. The ability to knock down open jumpers will always be valuable
Team Defense: While he isn’t some one-on-one lockdown force, he consistently makes the right reads on the defensive end, knowing when to switch, making hard closeouts, and has enough size to hold his own down low. He’s not a 1-through-5 defender, but he’s comfortable 2 through 4.
Good Decision Maker: He’s never going to be someone to run an offense, but he makes good decisions with the ball in his hands. Playing a higher usage role at UConn than he will in the pros, he consistently had an assist-to-turnover ratio of over 2.0. He’s also got a nose for making plays off the ball.
Size and Length: He stands 6’7” without shoes, has a 6’11” wingspan, and has an 8’8” standing reach. That’ll play for a wing in the NBA.
Big-Game Experience: Karaban is a two-time national champion and has played in 20 NCAA Tournament games, including six Final Four games. He was the stable rock and locker room leader for arguably the best program in the country in his 4.5 years there. While the latter might not be necessary as a rookie coming into the NBA, he’s as battle-tested as any rookie in this draft.
Concerns
Limited Offensive Game: Karaban can knock down open shots and is a strong cutter and off-ball mover. Outside of that? He’s very limited. You rarely see him create his own shot, and he’s very dependent on others creating those looks for him.
Not Overly Athletic: Doesn’t have the foot speed to be a truly versatile defender. He’ll struggle in certain matchups against smaller guards. While he was a strong finisher at UConn, he wasn’t much of a dunker.
Defensive Limitations: He won’t be hunted out there, but he’ll be vulnerable if he’s switched onto dynamic offensive threats. You won’t see him guarding the Donovan Mitchell’s and Tyrese Haliburton’s of the world, either.
Age: Karaban will be 24 shortly after Opening Night of his rookie season. Many teams stay away from these types of players because of the relentless chase of youth and upside.
The Knicks Fit
If James Dolan’s word is to be believed, and the Knicks will not be going into the second apron, there will immediately be a big hole in the Knicks’ bench, as Landry Shamet will likely go elsewhere after getting a deserving raise on his last two minimum contracts. Shamet’s ability to defend multiple positions and knock down threes will need to be replaced.
Could Karaban fill that role better than, say, Mo Diawara or Pacǒme Dadiet in-house? Maybe. I’d certainly trust Karaban’s jumper to translate, and he’s a significantly more willing shooter than the team’s internal options, even if he’s not able to create his own shot. There might be a bit of redundancy considering the team already has a pure catch-and-shoot offensive weapon in Deuce McBride, but Karaban can be a solid 10-15-minute per game guy for the regular season if needed.
His big-game experience is a big plus for me. There are already four Big East alums on the roster, three of whom have won a combined five national championships. Three of them (all but Mikal Bridges) were underdrafted based on their college production. Karaban would fit in nicely with a group of guys who entered the league as older underdogs who came from flat-out winners.
NBA Comparison
Best-Case Comparison: Late career Peja Stojaković
Median Outcome: Sam Hauser
Low-End Outcome: Garrison Matthews
The Verdict
Do not consider at No. 24 or in any first-round trade back: The Knicks will have their fair share of options in the first round and should go for someone with better upside than Karaban with their first pick. Considering they might need to replace Mitchell Robinson, the earlier they draft a center, the better.
Consider at No. 31, make him a Knick in a trade back past No. 35: The right range for Karaban appears to be at the top of the second round. Depending on where the board is, he could be an option at No. 31, but we could also see Leon Rose utilize his famous trade back to get an additional pick. If the Knicks select in the 35-40 range, he’s a slam dunk.
Jun 20, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) collides with Cincinnati Reds second baseman Edwin Arroyo (2) after stealing second in the third inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Yankees have won a few blowouts this week, and quite a few this year, so perhaps they were due to be on the receiving end of a rout. A close game early morphed into a laugher yesterday, with some shaky defense leading to a crushing three-run homer off the bat of Spencer Steer. It’s not what you want to see, but thanks to a dominant win on Friday night, the Yankees are still in position to win another series today. We had a doozy of a matchup lined up, but the Yankees pushed back Gerrit Cole, meaning we’ll see Elmer Rodríguez against Reds ace Chase Burns. That one will go off at 1:35 p.m. EST.
On the site today, Maximo will look at the Yankees schedule, and highlight how a soft stretch on it has given the Yankees a good opportunity to whether their recent rash of injuries, while Andrew looks back on last night’s American League action, and Matt celebrates “Steady Eddie” Lopat for today’s Yankees Birthday post. And after the game, John provides a very hectic Yankees social media roundup.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees vs. Cincinnati Reds
Time: 1:35 p.m. EST
TV: YES Network, Reds.tv
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. What do you expect from Elmer Rodríguez today?
2. Looking across town, do you think the Mets are fried after last night’s embarrassing loss to the Phillies? Or, much like 2024, do they have a run in them yet?
Draymond Green has won four NBA championships with the Warriors during his NBA career.
So what is it like for him when he doesn’t end the season with a parade and instead has to watch another team celebrate — that team this year being the New York Knicks, who celebrated their historic win on Thursday.
In an interview this week on “The Draymond Green Show,” actor and singer Taye Diggs asked Green about if he can be truly happy seeing the Knicks win a title, or if any perceived happiness for another team is simply an “act.”
“I’ll tell you what’s a little bit of an act,” Green explained. “When you put on an act is when you don’t want to see people like kind of wipe out your stuff for instance, right? Like you’re going to put on an act and be like, ‘Uh-huh. You know, I don’t really care if OKC win again or not.’ Deep down inside, you don’t want to see another team go back-to-back, like, we did that, we were the last team to do that, right?
“You want to hold on to some of that, so some of that becomes like the act in it. However, I think for me personally, when you initially lose and you’re done, you’re feeling just the competitive fire in you, it’s like, ‘God damn it, we’re done.’
“For me personally, and it could be different for me just because of the trajectory of my career, right? I’m so fortunate and blessed that I don’t have to spend every playoff season with the pressure or feeling of, ‘I have to get a championship,’ because I’ve experienced it, you know, I’ve done it four times.
“So I don’t deal with the pressure that most athletes that [have] not won deal with when it comes playoff time, which is like, ‘I need to win. I need to experience that. I need to feel it.’ Because of that, I think is why I’m able to separate and be like, all right, it’s cool. I got mine.”
In other words, once the initial disappointment of the Warriors’ season ending fades, it seems as though Green is rooting for a group to win their first title — both to protect the legacy of his Golden State teams, but also so that other players can experience that feeling.
“Like I said, being fortunate enough to win a second and a third and a fourth [title], and even when I watch today, and it’s not my teammates … you get the most joy then out of watching the guys who’s now doing it for their first time, because it takes you back to your first time. …
“‘I know that feeling. I love that feeling for you.’ And so like literally, we win our second or third or fourth, and I literally stand off to the side and watch our guys who’s winning it for the first time and just watch their emotion.”
And while Green clearly still has the desire to win an improbable fifth ring, he also has been open about the hurdles the Warriors face in that quest.
So in the meantime, he can be happy for those getting their first taste at that championship feeling.
England captain Stokes stood down from Durham game
Decision hints at third Test recall for both players
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been withdrawn from the remainder of Durham and Surrey’s ongoing County Championship matches at the request of the England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB].
“Ben Stokes has been withdrawn from the remainder of Durham’s County Championship match against Northamptonshire at the request of the ECB,” a club statement on X said. “Colin Ackermann will replace Stokes in the Durham 11.”
Jun 14, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a ninth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Gerry Angus-Imagn Images | Gerry Angus-Imagn Images
New York Post | Dan Martin: After missing the past couple of weeks with cervical headaches, Austin Wells is expected to be recalled for Sunday’s game. Manager Aaron Boone said he would “likely” be in the starting lineup his first game back. It’s been a lost season so far for the Yankees backstop, whose .533 OPS ranked fourth-worst among all regulars before he landed on the shelf.
In a corresponding move, the Yankees sent down J.C. Escarra, another catcher who’s struggled to get it going offensively, including while given an expanded role during Wells’ absence. That leaves the right-handed Ali Sánchez, a journeyman who has appeared in eight games since the left-handed Wells went down, to serve as his backup. Even with their catching corps at full health, the Yankees are expected to seek help at the position in advance of next month’s trade deadline.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: ($) After Saturday’s loss, the Yankees announced that Elmer Rodríguez would be called up to start Sunday’s series closer against Cincinnati. Gerrit Cole, who was slated to start that game, will be bumped back along with the rest of the regular rotation. The move was made to build in some extra rest during a stretch that will see the Yankees play 16 games in 16 days.
“It’s something we’ve been kicking around the last few days,” said Boone, who emphasized that the move was not due to any issue with the 35-year-old Cole. “(We) want to be pretty mindful of this as we go through the summer with a long stretch here.” Reliever Jake Bird was the odd man out, getting demoted to Triple-A to clear room on the active roster for Rodríguez.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees took their largest loss of the year Saturday, a 10-2 drubbing at the hands of the Reds. Will Warren, who’s been as reliable as they come all year in the rotation, allowed six runs in 5.2 innings, though four were unearned. Those runs came courtesy of an error at first by Ben Rice, who failed to secure a low but catchable throw from Anthony Volpe to help kick off a big inning. A man who’s evolved from role player to veteran leader was circumspect in his analysis. “Let’s move on and be ready to go tomorrow,” said Paul Goldschmidt. “They played better than us. They beat us today. We’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Cam Schlittler tossed six scoreless innings Friday while punching out a career-high 13, dropping his ERA to 1.71 while strengthening his case as a All-Star hopeful. “I think he should actually start the All-Star Game,” said his teammate, Jazz Chisholm Jr. While Chisholm is prone to bombast, he may be on the money here, with Boone agreeing that the phenom may be “the best pitcher in the American League right now.”
Schlittler got some love from one of the current kings of New York, a member of the champion Knicks squad. “Schlitty is the Cy Young winner hands down,” posted Josh Hart during Friday’s game. For his part, Schlittler is not putting the cart before the horse. “It’s early. I’ve got a lot to work on,” he said. “The most I can do is go out there, stay healthy and consistent, and try to win this team some games.”
PHILADELPHIA — Christian Scott took a positive step Saturday toward potentially returning to the Mets as soon as his required 15 days on the injured list pass.
“Full bullpen, high intensity, so we have just got to wait,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.
The next step for Scott could be facing hitters in live batting practice. Mendoza didn’t rule out the possibility that Scott could avoid a minor league rehab stint before rejoining the club.
Christian Scott pitches in the first inning of the Mets’ win over the Cardinals on June 11, 2026 at Citi Field. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Scott has pitched to a 3.10 ERA in nine starts for the Mets this season.
Francisco Lindor will play Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse before a decision is reached on whether the shortstop needs further at-bats on his minor league rehab assignment or will rejoin the Mets.
Lindor was off Saturday after playing for Double-A Binghamton a day earlier. Tyrone Taylor and Ronny Mauricio will join Lindor in playing Sunday for Syracuse on rehab stints.
David Peterson is the scheduled starter for Sunday night’s series finale.
Tobias Myers received the start as an opener in this rotation spot last Monday and struggled.
But the lefty Peterson has disappointed, pitching to a 5.91 ERA this season, bouncing between the rotation and bullpen. Peterson allowed three earned runs over three innings Monday in relief.
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“We have been going with a lot of bullpen games, openers,” Mendoza said. “The lineup we’re facing here with a lot of lefties, a lineup that is familiar, he’s had success before. We’re going to need these guys, whether it’s Peterson or Sean Manaea or Kodai Senga. And [Sunday] Peterson is going to get another opportunity and we’re counting on him.”
Mendoza said he had an “unbelievable” experience Friday night watching Brazil play Haiti in a World Cup match across the street at Lincoln Financial Field.
“Growing up in Venezuela, I always cheer for Brazil,” Mendoza said, noting that his native country doesn’t participate in the event. “It’s fun that for the first time I got to watch a World Cup [match] and it’s Brazil playing. The atmosphere is unreal. It was unbelievable.”
The Dodgers nearly produced their second miracle in as many nights, their 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night ending with the tying run on third base.
In their series-opening walk-off win the previous night, the Dodgers scored three runs in the ninth inning to reverse a two-run deficit.
The two-run surge on Saturday night was started by Shohei Ohtani, who returned to the lineup after a one-day absence for the birth of his second child.
Ohtani led off the ninth inning by running into a down-the-middle fastball by Andrew Kittredge and sending it over the center field wall to reduce his team’s deficit to 3-1.
Freddie Freeman drew a one-out walk, leading the Orioles to replace Kittredge with Yannier Cano.
But Mookie Betts reached base on an infield single and Freeman scored on right fielder Leony Tavares’ error on a line drive by Tommy Edman. Betts advanced to third base on the play, only for Kyle Tucker to end the game with a strikeout.
The Dodgers spent most of the game frustrated by Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers, who held them to one hit over the first seven innings of the game.
The runner-up for the National League rookie of the year award in 2021 with the Miami Marlins, Rogers has endured several injuries over his up-and-down seven-year career.
Rogers was spectacular last season, posting a 9-3 record and 1.81 earned-run average in 18 starts. His ERA established a new single-season Orioles record for pitchers with 100 or more innings.
The performance led to Rogers being named the Orioles’ opening-day starter this year, but the former first-round draft pick entered his start against the Dodgers with a 5.86 ERA.
He’d also lost seven of his previous eight decisions.
But the Dodgers couldn’t figure him out.
The Dodgers got their first and only hit against Rogers with two outs in the fifth inning, a bloop single to center field by Tommy Edman.
Shohei Ohtani belts a solo home run in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss to the Orioles on June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles. AP
Only two others reached base against Rogers, and they both did so on walks.
Ohtani homered in the ninth inning but didn’t have much luck against Rogers. He popped up in his first at-bat, struck out in his second and grounded out in his third.
With Ohtani throwing in the outfield before the game, manager Dave Roberts said he expected the two-way player to make his scheduled start as a pitcher on Wednesday in Minnesota.
When Ohtani’s first child was born last year, Roberts gifted the family a miniature pink Porsche for the girl.
Reminded of that, Roberts said, “I gotta give a baby gift. Good point. I gotta figure something out.”
Who’s hot
Spending nearly the entire season up to this point rehabilitating his surgically-repaired right ankle, Edman was activated this week from the 60-day injured list.
This game counted as his third start since his return.
The early indications are that his ankle is holding up well. A day after collecting three hits in the series opener on Friday night, Edman had another multi-hit game. He followed up his single against Rogers in the fifth inning with another single in the eighth, this one off right-hander Rico Garcia.
Who’s not
In his start since his almost-perfect game against the Chicago White Sox, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was considerably more human.
Blaze Alexander rips a two-run double in the fourth inning of the Orioles’ 3-2 win over the Dodgers on June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles. AP
He gave up hits to the first two batters of the second inning and repeated the mistake in the fourth.
That cost him.
Leony Tavares scored the first run of the game in the second inning when Coby Mayo grounded into a fielder’s choice.
A double down the third-base line by Blaze Alexander drove in two runs in the fourth inning, at the end of which Yamamoto’s pitch count reached 70.
Yamamoto managed to complete six innings. He was charged with three runs, six hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Yamamoto’s record dropped to 7-5 and his ERA went up to 2.65.
Up next
The Dodgers and Orioles will conclude their three-game series on Sunday. Emmet Sheehan (3-4, 4.67 ERA) will start for the Dodgers, opposite right-hander Brandon Young (3-1, 3.67) of the Orioles.
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 13: Boston Celtics players Frank Ramsey, left, and Bill Sharman hold some of the Globe Santa gifts which funds contributed by Boston Globe readers will buy for children in need at Christmas on Dec. 13, 1957. (Photo by Paul J. Maguire/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
This week we’re going to take a break from the trade rumors and do something that’s our privilege as fans of the most successful franchise in NBA history.
We’re going to look back.
It’s May of 1971 and the ABA Finals are underway.
The league’s sprawling western division is represented by the Utah Stars, a team that finished second in the league with a 57-27 record. The best record in the league belonged to the Indiana Pacers, who finished 58-26.
The Eastern division was clearly the weaker of the two. The Virginia Squires took the top seed, 55-29, but second place belonged to the Kentucky Colonels who finished the season at 44-40.
The Colonels are on their third coach of the season.
The first 15 games were coached by Gene Rhodes, who led the team to a 10-5 record. This was not good enough for team owner John Y. Brown, who fired him, with Alex Groza coaching the team for the next two games (both wins), before being replaced by Celtic legend Frank Ramsey. Ramsey took the job on the condition that he be allowed to fly to games from his home in Madisonville, Kentucky, 150 miles away. Brown agreed to this and Ramsey took over the Colonels.
(Original Caption) Ballet at Boston Garden…Celtics' Frank Ramsey, left, fingertips ball in ballet movement as Philadelphia Warriors' York Larese, right, springs high in air during 3rd quarter action, Boston Garden (1/28). Celtics lost game, 133-129, their 4th straight loss.
His record as a regular season coach was nothing to write home about. The team went 32-35 with him on the bench. He was noted for being something of a micromanager, even insisting on taping players’ ankles himself.
However, the Colonels caught a bit of lightning in the playoffs. In the first round, they faced off against the Floridians. The Colonels won the series 4-2, in part due to their reliance on the three point shot. During the regular season, the Colonels were mid-pack when it came to three point attempts per game, with the league’s second best success rate from beyond the arc, while the Floridians avoided the shot like the plague. The Colonels’ use of the shot reflected Ramsey’s own preference for outside shooting during his playing career with the Celtics.
In the second round, the Colonels faced off against the top seeded Virginia Squires.
The Colonels rallied from a 2-1 deficit, winning three straight games to close out the Squires 4-2. Game 3 of this series was an offensive extravaganza, with the two teams combining for 287 points in a 150-137 Squires victory; that total score remained a playoff record for both leagues until a double-overtime contest in 1992 between Portland and Phoenix.
This set up a Finals matchup with the Utah Stars. The Stars were spending their first season in Utah, having relocated from Los Angeles over the summer.
Utah had made quick work of the Texas Chaparrals, a team that would go on to become the San Antonio Spurs, sweeping them in the first round after the Chapparals won a play-in tiebreaker against the Denver Nuggets. The Stars won their four games by an average of 15.75 points.
The Stars’ opponents in the Western Division Finals were the Indiana Pacers, who had won the ABA title the year before.
This series went the full seven games, with Utah closing out the series at the Indiana State Fair Coliseum 108-101.
The Stars were coached by Bill Sharman, another Celtic legend, and one who had already tasted success as a basketball coach. He guided the Cleveland Pipers to a championship in the short-lived ABL in 1962, and had coached the San Francisco Warriors to the Finals in 1967, the year the Sixers broke through the Celtics’ dynasty and got Wilt his first championship.
Thus the 1971 ABA championship marked the first—and so far only—occasion when a pair of ex-Celtics found themselves on opposing benches jockeying for a league championship.
As was fitting for an era dominated by big men, the Stars were led by veteran center Zelmo Beaty, who was on his way to the Hall of Fame. The Colonels, on the other hand, had stayed local in the draft, picking their starting center, Dan Issel from the University of Kentucky before the season started. Issel would be the ABA’s Rookie of the Year, and would also end up in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
SALT LAKE CITY – 1970: Zelmo Beaty #31 of the Utah Stars drives to the basket against the Kentucky Colonels during an ABA game circa 1970 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges 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 1970 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Utah’s home court was the brand new Salt Palace, a drum-shaped venue which housed the Utah Jazz from 1979 to 1991. Although the arena could hold over 10,000 people, average attendance during the first Stars season was just 6,100. Despite filling barely half the seats in the arena, the Stars led the ABA in attendance that year. The arena, constructed as part of Utah’s bid to host the 1972 Winter Olympics, was demolished in 1994 to make room for an expanded convention center.
Kentucky played their home games at Freedom Hall, a cavernous arena on the Kentucky State Fairgrounds that was designed to house the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show, a confusingly named event that requires almost a hundred yards of clear floor space. Aside from seats located along the sides of the court, the arena was not well-suited to basketball, although it could host over 16,000 fans during the years the Colonels played there. The venue also hosted six NCAA Final Fours between 1958 and 1969. It’s still standing, and still hosting horse shows and basketball games.
The Finals went seven games, and featured, among other things, Frank Ramsey bringing a bottle of oxygen to Utah to help cope with the high elevation (Salt Lake City sits at 4225 feet above sea level, which is high enough to give you a nice bout of altitude sickness, as I can personally attest).
In the first game of the Finals, Utah stomped Kentucky, 136-117. The only highlight for Kentucky was a surprising 36-point performance by Darel Carrier, who made six of seven three-point attempts. Utah had six players score in double figures and three players with more than 20 points, including a pair of reserves.
The Stars had little difficulty winning Game 2, 138-125, and they looked to be well on their way to dominating the Colonels until the series went back to Kentucky. Here the Colonels won a pair of close contests to even the series.
The teams continued to swap home court victories over the next two games, with Kentucky squeaking out a three-point victory in a classic Game 6 that pushed the series to a deciding Game 7. Kentucky was clinging to a slim lead when Dan Issel was sent to the bench with five personal fouls in the third period. With him out, Cincy Powell stepped up and kept the Colonels in the game by scoring 20 of the team’s 31 points over a 21-minute span as Utah edged out to a slim lead.
Kentucky fought back late in the fourth and put the game away at the free throw line, nailing all four attempts over the final 33 seconds. A bid by Red Robbins to tie the game with seven seconds to go off a deliberately missed free throw and a three-point attempt went nowhere when Dick Nemelka’s shot bounced off the rim. The game also featured a small shower of beer cups and debris from the stands when the scorekeeper apparently failed to sound the buzzer at the end of the third period allowing a late Utah basket to count.
The series shifted back to Salt Lake where Utah won the deciding game by ten, despite 41 points from Dan Issel, playing his final game as a rookie.
The Finals MVP was Zelmo Beaty, who had been an NBA All-Star before jumping to the upstart ABA.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 8: Boston Celtics players Bill Sharman, left, and Frank Ramsey read a copy of teammate Bob Cousy's book "Basketball is My Life" following a practice during the 1958 NBA World Championship Series in Boston on April 8, 1958. (Photo by Gil Friedberg/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Frank Ramsey was fired by John Y. Brown at the conclusion of the series. Ramsey settled down to a quiet life in Madisonville, eventually becoming a bank president.
Bill Sharman parlayed his ABA championship into a head coaching gig with the Los Angeles Lakers. He hired ex-Celtic KC Jones away from Harvard University, and these Celtic-tinged Lakers went on to record a then NBA record 69-13 record which featured an astonishing 33-game winning streak. When the Lakers won the title that season, it made Sharman the only coach to win a title in three different professional basketball leagues.
Sharman was also one of two coaches to win a title in the NBA and the ABA. The other, Alex Hannum, had been Sharman’s college teammate with the USC Trojans.
When Sharman retired from coaching in 1976, he took the Lakers’ general manager slot, a post he held until 1982.
The Colonels’ owner, John Y. Brown, would win an ABA title in 1975 and then sell Dan Issel’s contract to the Baltimore Claws. After the following season he took a three million dollar buyout from the NBA to extinguish the Colonels franchise. He said that he had no interest in being in the basketball business at the time, and then went on to buy a controlling stake in the Buffalo Braves later that same year.
In 1978, Brown finagled a franchise swap with Irv Levin, who owned the Celtics. The idea was that Irv Levin wanted to move a team to his home state of California, and there was no way on earth that this team would be the Celtics. The Braves, however, were teetering on the brink of disaster and were easily packed up and moved to San Diego, where they became the Clippers.
Thus, John Y. Brown ended up owning the Celtics, and one of the first things that he did was trade three first round picks for Bob McAdoo. Now, McAdoo was a great player, but he was in no way worth three first rounders. Brown did this without bothering to consult with Red Auerbach—in fact this was the second trade Brown executed without talking to Red first. Red was so incensed by this that he seriously entertained thoughts of leaving the Celtics and joining the Knicks
Brown’s tenure as owner of the Celtics was short-lived. After the 1978-79 season, Red delivered an ultimatum to Brown, having an offer to run the Knicks in his back pocket: “Either you go or I do.”
Brown, who had not yet dealt with anyone that had Red’s record and personality—folded. He sold his stake in the Celtics to co-owner Harry Mangurian in 1979.
Ramsey and Sharman, of course, had played together with the Celtics in the late 1950s. Ramsey was Sharman’s backup and the NBA’s first real sixth man.
Sharman was part of the Celtics’ title winning teams in 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1961. Ramsey was also part of those teams, as well as the teams that won in 1962, 1963, and 1964. He was replaced as the team’s sixth man by John Havlicek.
Sharman’s number 21 and Ramsey’s 23 both hang in the rafters above the Celtics’ home court.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Connor Joe #9 of the Seattle Mariners commits a fielding error during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s loss to the Red Sox left much to be desired, but it started out promisingly enough. Emerson Hancock was clean the first time through the order, picking up four strikeouts, three of which came because a Red Sox hitter left the bat on his shoulder.
The rearranged left side of the infield even made a couple very nice plays. J.P. Crawford, who some had left for dead, gets today’s Sun Hat Award for shoveling the ball from his glove up to Colt Emerson on a 5-6-3 double play and later snatching a hot shot out of the air.
The Mariners even grabbed an early 1-0 lead thanks to a Crawford walk and line drives into left-center from Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor.
But things quickly took a left turn. The Sox led off the fourth with their first hit when a ground ball split the left side. Despite Hancock striking out the next batter, he then left a cutter over the heart of the plate that Wilyer Abreu sent nearly to the batter’s eye to give Boston a 2-1 lead. The fifth inning saw another hit and an embarrassing error from tonight’s left fielder, Connor Joe, who got his glove to the ball pretty easily but then just refused to actually catch it.
By the sixth inning, Hancock was left holding the bag for an offense that couldn’t get anything going against Connelly Early. A single and a walk looked like it was setting off a retro Hancock spiral, of the type it seemed like he’d left in Arkansas. But another four-pitch walk loaded the bases, Dan came out, and Elvis left the building.
With leverage lefty Jose A. Ferrer and his 50% groundball rate coming out in relief, it seemed like the Mariners might get out of it. And indeed, Ferrer got not one, not two, but three easy groundballs, but for the second night in a row, the BABIP monster left a bad taste in my mouth. The score had bubbled up to 5-1 by the time the Mariners finally left the field.
It wouldn’t have mattered so much if the Mariners offense could hit a left-handed pitcher. And they had a bunch of chances against Early, who pitched the game with two left feet, hitting three batters and nearly a couple more. But the Mariners bats’ futility against south paws hardly comes out of left field at this point. They couldn’t get a single hit after the first inning, and left five runners on base.
Left to your imagination, this is a dominant roster, but they find themselves about halfway through the season back at .500 and leading the division only thanks to their rivals’ incompetence. It’ll probably be fine in the end, but if they don’t want to get left at the postseason altar, they’re going to have to get right.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 20: Blaze Alexander #23 and Jeremiah Jackson #82 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after the team's win against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There were some worrying moments at the end, but ultimately the Orioles were able to ride a terrific start from Trevor Rogers and a clutch double off Blaze Alexander’s bat to a 3-2 win on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
It is games like this where we must ask the question “Is Trevor Rogers all the way back?” The lefty put forth his best start since Opening Day, tossing seven scoreless innings and giving up just three baserunners (one hit, two walks) while striking out six. That dropped his season ERA for the fifth straight start from 6.96 on May 24 to just 5.30 on June 20.
At no point were the Dodgers particularly close to scoring on Rogers. The three base runners he did allow were scattered; one in the first inning, another in the fifth, and one more in the seventh. It was as low stress of a start as we are going to get around these parts.
Rogers had the best version of each of his offerings. His fastball was up nearly 1.5 mph on the gun, and he had a 27% whiff rate overall, which is a slight improvement over his season number. On top of that, he limited the free passes and the hard contact. It sounds simple, but that is when Rogers has success: pitch in the zone and keep the ball in the park.
On the other side of the game, Orioles lineup made Yoshinobu Yamamoto work in this one. He needed 102 pitches to get through six innings, and he allowed three runs in the process. That was the most runs he as allowed in a start since May 12. So while the final line is still one of a quality start, the O’s hitters do deserve credit for their patience and effort at the plate.
The Orioles got on the board in the top of the second inning. With runners on first and third, Coby Mayo grounded into a force out as the first baseman Freddie Freeman fielded the bouncer and fed to Mookie Betts covering second base. That allowed Leody Taveras, the runner at the third to begin the play, to score and make it 1-0.
Their other two runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Blaze Alexander yanked a pitch down the third base line, scoring Taveras and Colton Cowser, and giving the O’s a 3-0 advantage.
That hit from Alexander would be the team’s only knock with runners in scoring position. They went 1-for-5 in such situations in this game, as those key moments continue to be difficult for them. It would have been nice to see at least one of those eight runners stranded on base make it home.
The Orioles were unable to extend their lead against the Dodgers bullpen. But the Dodgers would cause plenty of stress for the O’s relief group in the ninth inning.
Andrew Kittredge came on for the save. It seemed Craig Albernaz was trying to avoid the recently activated Ryan Helsley in back-to-back nights, especially since the series opener did not go well for him. His replacements (plus some atrocious (Orioles defnese) almost let the same thing happen again.
Shohei Ohtani led off the inning with a solo home run to make it a 3-1 game. After getting Andy Pages to line out and then walking Freddie Freeman, Kittredge was lifted in favor of ground ball machine Yennier Cano.
The first batter Cano faced, Betts, hit a bouncer to third base, which could have been a game-ending double play. Instead, Mayo flubbed it, gathered it, and was late on his throw to try and get Betts at first. Cano retired the next batter before Tommy Edman hit a hard liner to right field that hit Taveras in the glove. He dropped it anyway, the second run of the inning scored, and it started to feel like a repeat of Friday. Kudos to Cano for taking matters into his own hands and just striking out Kyle Tucker after all of that to lock down the save.
The Orioles defense has been a problem all season, but it has really reared it’s head this weekend in Los Angeles. In part, it did cost them the game on Friday, and it nearly did the same on Saturday. Seems like something that needs to be fixed!
There is plenty of time to be negative about this team. Stick with the positives for now. Chief among them, Rogers was great. It was the sort of start the Orioles needed, and they got it. Alexander continues to swing a nice stick. Taveras and Basallo had two hits each. There are aspects of this squad that works as expected. They just rarely all click together.
Hopefully they can get it figured out in time for tomrrow’s series finale. Brandon Young (5-2, 3.18 ERA) will be on the bump to face Emmet Sheehan (3-4, 4.76 ERA), First pitch is set for 4:10 on the east coast.
Who was the Most Birdland Player for June 20, 2025?
Here are some nominees for your consideration, or tell us someone else entirely in the comments
Trevor Rogers (win, seven shutout innings)
Yennier Cano (cleaned up ninth inning mess, dealt with defensive chaos)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 20: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts near Blaze Alexander #23 of the Baltimore Orioles after being caught stealing during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One game after a magical walk-off against the Baltimore Orioles, the Dodgers couldn’t get the job done again on Saturday as they fell 3-2.
After both teams could muster just one walk in the first inning, Baltimore began the top of the second against Yoshinobu Yamamoto with a pair of singles from Leody Taveras and Colton Cowser to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Taveras came home on a fielder’s choice from Coby Mayo, but Yamamoto recovered with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
Yamamoto retired the side in order in the third inning, but once again allowed a pair of singles to lead off the fourth inning to Samuel Basallo and Taveras. A failed sacrifice bunt from Cowser got the lead runner at third, but Yamamoto walked Mayo to load the bases with just one out. Yamamoto got a crucial strikeouts of Jackson Holliday for the second out, but Blaze Alexander made Yamamoto pay with a two-out, two-run double to give Baltimore a three-run lead.
Yamamoto was able to allow just one baserunner over his final two innings, giving him another quality start. After five consecutive starts of allowing one run at most, Yamamoto allowed at least three runs for the first time since allowing five on May 12 against the San Francisco Giants.
As for the Dodgers offense behind Yamamoto, they fell back into their old habits of failing to provide any run support, as left-hander Trevor Rogers’ only blemish over his first four innings was a walk to Andy Pages in the bottom of the first. He faced the minimum over his first 14 hitters until Tommy Edman broke up the no-hit bid in the bottom of the fifth inning. Saturday was Rogers’ first scoreless outing since his 2026 debut— where he also had seven scoreless innings— and it was the first time he struck out six since April 14.
Edman supplied the Dodgers’ second hit of the game against Rico Garcia to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Dodgers would go down quietly in order.
In his first game back from the paternity list, Shohei Ohtani displayed some new “dad strength” with a home run against Andrew Kittredge leading off the bottom of the ninth, thwarting the shutout and putting the Dodgers on the board.
Taylor Ward made a diving catch to rob Pages of extra bases, but Kittredge walked Freddie Freeman to bring up the potential tying run in Mookie Betts. Against Yennier Cano, Betts hit a ground ball to third that was knocked down by Mayo at third and was initially called safe at first, and an unsuccessful challenge from Baltimore officially put the tying run on base.
Alex Freeland came in to pinch hit for Miguel Rojas, but flew out to left for a crucial second out. Edman lined a ball to right that would’ve ended the game, but Taveras bobbled the catch, leading to Freeman scoring to make it a one-run game with the tying run at third base. The Dodgers couldn’t complete the comeback, as Cano struck out Kyle Tucker to end the night.
The Dodgers look to end their homestand with a 5-1 record as they wrap things up against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday (1:10 p.m. PT). Emmet Sheehan faces Brandon Young.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Manager Dan Wilson of the Seattle Mariners looks on before the game against the Boston Red Sox at T-Mobile Park on June 20, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies slides and scores after an inside-the-park solo home run in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With how Friday night shook out and with how the Colorado Rockies battled the Pittsburgh Pirates in their first meeting with Paul Skenes, tonight’s game had all the makings of another close one. Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) put together one of his best performances of 2026, if not the best. As expected, Skenes did Skenes things, too.
Maybe less expected were the inside-the-park home run to keep the Rockies in the game early, the consistent pressure from the Rockies offense, and a twist ending to a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth. While not your typical Coors Field game, the Rockies put together a fun win in front of a raucous crowd for win number 30.
Leadoff hitters shape the game early
The Pirates leadoff hitter, Spencer Horowitz, was almost the casualty of a one-pitch out. He popped up to third base, but Willi Castro lost track of the traveling ball in foul territory and couldn’t make the out. Horowitz made the most of his second chance and hammered a no-doubter to right field to give the Bucs an early 1-0 lead. Sugano has been susceptible to solo homers this season, but he also has a track record of bouncing right back. He did just that and worked out of the rest of the inning.
The Rockies responded in kind with some leadoff magic of their own. Jake McCarthy smacked a ball to deep center field that Jake Mangum tried to make a diving grab on. The ball got past Mangum and rolled to the wall, prompting McCarthy to turn on the jets. He ditched his batting helmet after rounding second for maximum speed and aerodynamics, then sped his way home for a thrilling inside-the-park home run to even the game at one all.
Cole Carrigg led off the bottom of the second and almost kept the momentum going, before running (literally) into a learning moment. He started the inning off with a speedy double — the first of his career. Edouard Julien flied out to deep center, but unfortunately Carrigg made a bad baserunning read and failed to tag up. Stuck at second, he then looked to make up for it with a steal but made things worse by getting picked off. Ezequiel Tovar struck out next to end the inning.
A classic Coors Field pitchers’ duel
The middle innings were a battle between two pitchers who refused to blink. Despite some occasional traffic, runs were hard to come by and the game remained tight.
In a refereshing change of pace from their last outing against him, the Rockies were able to chip away at Skenes and generate consistent pressure throughout the early innings. While they weren’t able to capitalize enough to do much damage, they made the ace work for it.
Following the inside-the-park homer in the first, the Rockies basepaths were active in the third and fourth. McCarthy struck again in the bottom of the third with a one out double. Two batters later, TJ Rumfield hit a line drive deep enough to bring McCarthy home and give the Rockies the 2-1 lead.
Colorado had another prime opportunity in the fourth, but it slipped away. After walking Troy Johnston to start the inning and hitting Carrigg with a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs, Skenes recovered. Julien lined out to left, too shallow to move Johnston up. Tovar’s rough night at the plate continued, grounding into a double play to end the inning.
Fortunately, Sugano did more than his fair share. After giving up a single to Horowitz to start the third, Sugano retired the next 12 batters straight and looked smooth doing it. He struck out three of those 12 hitters and tallied up a large handful of easy fly outs and grounders along the way.
Still neck-and-neck heading into the bullpen innings
Both teams got their bullpen up and working around the same time after the starters worked through six innings.
Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings, giving up just the one run on the early homer, allowing only four hits, and notching five strikeouts. He relied on a fairly balanced mix of four pitches: splitter (24%), slider (24%), four-seam fastball (19%), and cutter (16%). The slider and splitter were the most dominant, with 40% and 36% whiff rates, respectively. Sugano finished his day after 85 pitches, with Jimmy Herget entering in relief.
Carmen Mlodinzski started the bottom of the seventh with Skenes ending his day after climbing to 104 pitches, making it seven straight games without a victory. He finished with two runs on four hits, along with eight strikeouts and two walks. As has been the case for Skenes across this recent stretch, he minimized run damage despite allowing baserunners and hit his usual amount of K’s.
Herget and Mlodzinski made it through the seventh unscathed, with the former only giving up a walk and the latter giving up a single. Herget got the first out of the eighth before Warren Schaeffer turned to Brennan Bernardino. Bernardino got the next two outs, keeping the bullpen’s clean sheet going.
Another night of nerves in the ninth
It wouldn’t be a Rockies game if you weren’t just excruciatingly uncomfortable at some point. The Rockies bullpen ensured that box got checked tonight.
Brandon Lowe logged a double to start the top of the ninth. Bryan Reynolds followed that with a single to put runners on the corners. Bernardino responded with a clutch strikeout before being pulled for Jaden Hill.
Hill would ride a similar roller-coaster, starting with some downs before finding the ups. He hit the first batter faced, Nick Gonzales, to load the bases. But, in the theme of the night, the Rockies pitchers always responded. Hill went in his bag and put together a great showdown with Tyler Callihan, striking him out after six pitches with a 97 MPH fastball.
The game-deciding out was not without controversy. Mangum grounded to Kyle Karros who came up without making a force out throw. Karros threw up his hands in frustration, claiming that Billy Cook’s foot struck his glove. Both squad’s managers made their case as the umpires called runner’s interference for the out.
This felt like a fun, gritty win emblematic of these 2026 Rockies. They held their own against a dominant pitcher with an unreal starting performance of their own. The bullpen bent but didn’t break. While Tovar, Castro, and Hunter Goodman struggled at the plate, McCarthy and the offense did just enough to get the job done.
Schaeffer applauded a “vintage Tomo” performance from Sugano, noting the mix of pitches he used. “He competed like crazy and it was a professional outing from him.” On that mix of pitches, Sugano noted post-game that “the slider was the pitch” tonight. He felt like “they were waiting on the fastball in general, so I mixed in the off-speed stuff, while not forgetting the fastball too. It was a good mix.”
Schaeffer also celebrated how well the Rockies attacked Skenes. While acknowledging that they left some runs on the table, he highlighted that “we made him work. I thought we took good at bats and our plan was good.”
Up Next
The Rockies and Pirates will face off one last time in 2026 with a Father’s Day series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Jared Jones takes the mound for the visiting Pirates, bringing in a 1-1 record through four starts, with a 6.23 ERA. The Rockies are projected to send out Michael Lorenzen, who is 2-8 across 15 starts, with a 7.13 ERA. The ERAs suggest a different kind of game than the two low-scoring, tight matchups that started the series. That said, Lorenzen looked great in his last two starts, giving up just one run in each. Jones gave up five in his last start.
With the series in hand, the Rockies will try for a sweep. First pitch is set for 1:10 MDT.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shake hands after a 115-110 Oklahoma City Thunder win in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While free agency provides lots of uncertainty, there are two known facts heading into this upcoming summer.
The Lakers have a lot of cap space and the Thunder need to shed salary.
After years of building up a contender through the draft, Oklahoma City is now experiencing the hardships that come with the CBA. In order to avoid going above the second apron, a shedding of salaries will need to happen.
One of the prime candidates is Lu Dort, a talented wing with limitations and a contract set to pay him $17.7 million next season. With players around him fit to take his spot in the rotation, it’s easy to see him dealt this offseason.
It’s not a shock, then, to see that the Lakers have reportedly called about Dort. According to NBA beat writer Jake Fischer, LA has checked in on Dort ahead of the start of free agency.
I’m also told that the Lakers have called the Thunder about swingman Lu Dort’s availability.
Oklahoma City is facing a well-chronicled roster crunch, with 15 players currently under contract and two first-round picks to make at Nos. 12 and 17 barring draft-night trade activity, sparking a belief that the Thunder might be open to trading Dort after picking up his $17.2 million team option to make it easier to re-sign big man Isaiah Hartenstein. Oklahoma City holds a $28.5 million team option on Hartenstein and is generally seen as a lock to retain his services either by picking up the option or working out a longer-term deal with him at a lower annual salary.
Last season, Dort averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 34.4% from the 3-point line. Across the board, those were the worst averages and percentages of his career outside of his rookie season.
It was also the fewest minutes he’s played per game, a sign of his diminishing role with the Thunder. Across his career, he averages 11.6 points per game and shoots 40.5% from the field and 34.4% from range.
All that being said, offense has never been his calling card. Dort has been one of the premier perimeter defenders across recent seasons. In 2024-25, he was named to the All-Defense First Team.
However, in becoming one of the top defenders, he’s also gained a reputation as one of the dirtier defenders in the league. Things reached a boiling point last season, in particular, when Dort had a series of dirty plays that drew the attention of fans.
There are certainly pros and cons for acquiring Dort that the Lakers will weigh. He’d certainly improve the defensive talent and depth of the roster, but at a price.
The Lakers would be doing the Thunder a big favor, so he’d likely come at a discounted cost. Does that make him a gamble worth taking?
