LeBron James reportedly had a $20 million offer from 1 NBA team
LeBron James ended the long decision-making process and wound up choosing the Philadelphia 76ers as his next team.
The other rumored finalists were the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. But plenty of teams had at least a discussion regarding James.
On Wednesday, ESPN insider Dave McMenamin even revealed the Los Angeles Clippers offered James $20 million on a one-year deal.
“The LA Clippers even discussed a lucrative one-season contract north of $20 million that would allow him to stay at his Brentwood, California, home, sources said,” McMenamin wrote.
He also added that the Boston Celtics “expressed interest,” although it wasn’t mentioned how far those conversations went.
The Clippers teaming up LeBron James with Kawhi Leonard would’ve been a fun sight. On the other hand, the Clippers and Toronto Raptors agreed to a deal sending Leonard back to Toronto, although it was canceled due to the ongoing Aspiration investigation.
In the end, James wasn’t worried about the money. He signed a two-year deal worth $8 million and a player option to go play with the 76ers. Rich Paul, James’ agent, also explained how the relationship with Tyrese Maxey played a factor in the decision as well.
James going to play for the other Los Angeles team would’ve been quite a story, especially after spending eight seasons with the Lakers.
Orioles considering unconventional deadline approach
The Baltimore Orioles came into Wednesday with a 52-56 record, which means their hopes of an American League Wild Card spot are shrinking.
However, it seems the Orioles are considering buying and selling at the MLB trade deadline on August 3, according to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi. The Detroit Tigers are also considering taking a similar approach.
“The Orioles are open-minded; they may have a hybrid type of Trade Deadline, buy and sell, because of the complexity of where they’re at.”
"The Orioles may have a hybrid type of Trade Deadline, buy and sell… simply because of the complexity of where they're at."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 29, 2026
– @jonmorosi on #MLBCentral pic.twitter.com/obJlgZBqDM
Despite the sub-.500 record, Baltimore came into Wednesday just 2.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot, which makes them an interesting team to watch ahead of the deadline.
Reports swirled recently that catcher Adley Rutschman, the top pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, could be moved. However, Rutschman was placed on the IL recently due to left wrist inflammation, making it difficult for him to be traded in the next few days.
Jackson Holliday’s name has also surfaced in trade rumors, so there are several ways the Orioles could go at this year’s deadline. Jeff Passan also mentioned Colton Cowser as a player who could be moved, so only time will tell what the Orioles decide to do going into the trade deadline.
Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal interest gets new update amid Shohei Ohtani concerns
The Los Angeles Dodgers might really be landing Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal at this year’s trade deadline.
On Tuesday night, Shohei Ohtani and manager Dave Roberts said the two-way star is dealing with a biceps issue as well as a sore knee. He hasn’t pitched since July 3, and there is now no timetable for Ohtani’s return to the mound.
Ohtani threw a bullpen recently in Philadelphia, although they admitted his body didn’t respond well after that.
As such, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the Dodgers’ interest in Skubal has “increased” due to the Ohtani update.
The Dodgers’ interest in Tarik Skubal has increased due to questions surrounding Shohei Ohtani’s availability to pitch, as I reported on @MLBNetwork earlier.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 29, 2026
Yet it is unlikely the Tigers could obtain OF prospect Josue De Paula as the headliner in a multi-player package.
Earlier in the week, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan said that his “guess” was that the Dodgers would win the Skubal sweepstakes, and things might get more hectic given Ohtani’s uncertainty.
The Tigers’ reported asking price for Skubal is a “controllable starting pitcher plus quality prospects,” according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, and Morosi mentioned that it is “unlikely” that Josue De Paula is part of any deal.
Nonetheless, the Dodgers have not been shy to make major moves in the summer or the offseason, and landing Skubal could expedite contract discussions with the reigning American League Cy Young winner as LA eyes a third straight World Series title.
Biff Poggi lands new job after Michigan stint
Biff Poggi just keeps on finding new jobs in college football, although this time he is moving to television.
Poggi is set to join the Big Ten Network as an analyst for a series of shows, including B1G Countdown to Kickoff.
Former Michigan associate head coach Biff Poggi is a new addition to Big Ten Network's on-air roster for this college football season.
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) July 29, 2026
Poggi will serve as an analyst on shows such as The B1G Show, B1G Today, B1G Countdown to Kickoff, B1G Live: Football Game Break, B1G Live:…
Poggi’s journey has been interesting. He was most recently the interim head coach for the Michigan Wolverines after Sherrone Moore was fired in December due to an inappropriate relationship with a staff member that led to his arrest.
Biff Poggi went 6-16 in two seasons as the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers before being fired prior to the end of the 2024 season.
Poggi was also an assistant at schools such as Brown, Temple and The Citadel before coaching prep and high school football. He had three separate stints at Michigan as an assistant, but now he will transition to being an analyst.
Brian Kelly, who was fired last season by the LSU Tigers, is also making his way to the booth as he will call Mountain West Conference games for CBS.
Tarik Skubal makes Tigers history as trade rumors swirl
There is a chance that Tarik Skubal made his final start as a member of the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
If so, he is going out with a bang. Skubal struck out Taylor Ward in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park, and the Tigers pitcher became the 17th player in franchise history to record 1,000 strikeouts.
On top of that, he became the fastest ever in Detroit history to do so, passing the mark previously held by future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer.
Tarik Skubal strikes out Taylor Ward to lead off the game.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 29, 2026
He is the 17th pitcher to reach 1,000 strikeouts with the @Tigers.
Fastest to reach the milestone in franchise history, surpassing Max Scherzer. @MLBNetwork
Here was the 1,000th strikeout of Skubal’s career.
Tarik Skubal records his 1,000th career strikeout! https://t.co/xiDurzeT8U pic.twitter.com/KirzyeCXHp
— MLB (@MLB) July 29, 2026
Skubal, who won the American League Cy Young Award last season, will be arguably the best player on the market, especially if the San Diego Padres decide not to trade Mason Miller.
The Tigers reportedly have a heavy asking price for Skubal, and one MLB insider even said the Los Angeles Dodgers could be in the driver’s seat to land Skubal.
Still, it remains to be seen if the Tigers trade Skubal, although they entered Wednesday’s game six games below .500 and 3.5 games behind in the AL Wild Card race, so it makes sense to open the phones for him.
The MLB trade deadline is on August 3, and if this is Skubal’s final time in a Tigers uniform, at least fans can remember him setting a career milestone at home.
Former No. 1 overall pick visiting Browns for possible reunion
The Cleveland Browns have some new faces in town, but they are considering a reunion with a former No. 1 overall draft pick.
On Wednesday, the Browns hosted Jadeveon Clowney, who was the top pick by the Houston Texans in 2014.
Possible reunion: DE Jadeveon Clowney is visiting the #Browns today, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 29, 2026
Following an 8.5-sack season with the #Cowboys, Clowney is exploring another stint in Cleveland, where he had 11 sacks in two seasons from 2021-22. pic.twitter.com/ikdNM2Ytve
Clowney spent five seasons with the Houston Texans, recording 9.5 sacks in 2017 and 9 in 2018 before going to the Seattle Seahawks.
Clowney spent one season with the Seahawks and one with the Tennessee Titans before playing two seasons with the Browns in 2021 and 2022.
After that, Clowney spent a season each with the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys in a busy career.
Clowney’s career includes three straight Pro Bowl trips in the final seasons of his run in Houston, but he was traded to the Seahawks with one year left on his deal.
The Seahawks then didn’t re-sign Clowney, which led to him going to the Titans.
In his NFL career, Clowney has played a total of 153 regular-season games with 66.5 sacks, and he had 8.5 sacks in 13 games for the Cowboys in 2025, so he can still produce even at the age of 33.
Luka Doncic reportedly making major gesture for Lakers teammates
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is set to go above and beyond in hopes of bonding with his new teammates.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Doncic is going to host his teammates on a four-day minicamp in his native country of Slovenia. This will take place in August and will feature various activities, including golf, workouts and Ljubljana tourism.
Luka Doncic is hosting the entire Los Angeles Lakers roster in Slovenia for a four-day minicamp in August, a source close to the Lakers told ESPN. The itinerary will include workouts, golf and some Ljubljana tourism and bonding ahead of training camp.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 29, 2026
The Lakers have lots of new faces on the roster. For starters, LeBron James decided not to return to LA and instead chose the Philadelphia 76ers.
LA acquired Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler in a massive blockbuster trade, then signed Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton right after acquiring Kessler.
LA has also added Ziaire Williams, who last played for the Brooklyn Nets, as well as former Golden State Warriors big man Kevon Looney.
Austin Reaves is also back in the purple and gold with a four-year, $185 million deal, and there are still hopes of Jonathan Kuminga coming to town in what would solidify the new-look roster in the post-LeBron James era.
So, Luka Doncic is trying to step up as the leader and he is hoping the Slovenia trip can unite his new teammates before training camp begins.
Fans all said the same thing about the NCAA’s suspension of Tennessee star
The NCAA strikes again, and this time fans are in disbelief. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Arion Carter was suspended for two games.
The reason why is that his agent paid for his $427 flight during the pre-draft process, although Carter would later repay him for the flight ticket, via a report from Adam Sparks of the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Carter ended up withdrawing from the NFL Draft in January and decided to return to Tennessee as he dealt with an injury, so it’s an odd scenario and a hefty penalty for a minor infraction.
After the news came out, plenty of fans were laughing and questioning the NCAA for the punishment.
it’s almost laughable at this point. #FREEARION https://t.co/8QGgr6Fvny
— Barstool Rocky Top (@BarstoolTenn) July 29, 2026
Sue them.
— Will Boling (@will_boling) July 29, 2026
We've got players flaunting their Italian sports cars, private jet deals and apparel partnerships and we're suspending a guy over a $400 flight?
What are we doing here? https://t.co/krUv5OGqUD
Wild decision by the NCAA. https://t.co/1ZQIXLVQgA
— Ben McKee (@benmckee14) July 29, 2026
Guys, what are we doing?
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTuckerCBB) July 29, 2026
Your backup center can make a million bucks but we’ve sniffed out a $500 impermissible benefit! https://t.co/Xtojtfh8do
Adam Sparks, who broke the initial news, had some form of clarity on the situation.
“If Arion Carter got travel expenses provided as part of an approved NIL contract, there’d be no problem. Because he’d be an “amateur.” But by accepting a flight from an NFL agent, the NCAA sees him as getting perks as a professional,” he wrote on X.
Still, it’s a puzzling move by the NCAA, and the latest in what has been questionable handling ever since the NIL era began.
As of now, Carter is set to miss the first two games, which come against Furman and Georgia Tech.
Sharks make NHL history with record-breaking contract
The San Jose Sharks have missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons, but they are investing heavily in forward Macklin Celebrini.
On Wednesday, the Sharks and Celebrini agreed to a new five-year deal worth $18.8 million per season, making him the highest-paid player in NHL history. It will be a total of five years and $94 million for the 20-year-old Sharks sensation.
#sjsharks announce Macklin Celebrini contract extension: 5 years x $18.8 million.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 29, 2026
Anaheim Ducks star Leo Carlsson signed a five-year deal worth $90 million in July, putting him at $18 million per season, so Celebrini’s new contract is almost $1 million more per season.
The Sharks selected Celebrini first overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. In two seasons, he has played in 152 games with 70 goals and 108 assists, and he had a total of 115 points this past season for the Sharks. That marked a single-season record for the Sharks.
Celebrini added that he “couldn’t be happier” after signing the new deal.
“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said, via the official release from NHL.com. “ My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.”
The Sharks have plenty of work remaining to get back to the playoffs, but Celebrini will be in town for at least the next five seasons.
Ravens had the coolest training camp entrance with the help of a new face
The Baltimore Ravens enlisted the help of a new face to get their players hyped up as they arrived at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md., for training camp.
Welcoming the players was none other than the team’s new public address announcer, JP Stevenson, who brought an entire sound system to announce each player’s arrival. Stevenson clearly did his homework, highlighting notable accomplishments from each player’s football career.
Even superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson was impressed.
“Hey, this [is] crazy, Y’all funny,” the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player said as he walked past Stevenson.
Here is a video of Stevenson’s work.
Had a little extra juice for player arrivals 😂
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 28, 2026
Introducing our new PA announcer coming to the Bank, JP Stevenson! pic.twitter.com/c2NzZAUopy
Jackson and the Ravens will see (and hear) more of Stevenson once the 2026 season comes around.
Baltimore will kick off its campaign on Sept. 13 on the road against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., before traveling back home for a Week 2 showdown on Sept. 20 versus the New Orleans Saints at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md.
The Ravens are looking to bounce back after winning just eight games in 2025 and missing the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2021 before later parting ways with longtime head coach John Harbaugh.
Report: Jaylen Brown ready to check ego amid LeBron James’ arrival
It is NBA championship or bust for the Philadelphia 76ers, given the tremendous offseason they are having. But if they are to bring a title back to the City of Brotherly Love, they will have to find the right balance with a top-heavy roster that now features Jaylen Brown and LeBron James.
That’s something that the 76ers will have to figure out going into the 2026-27 season.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN, Brown has expressed his willingness to sacrifice for the greater good of his new team following the arrival of four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James.
“There’s gonna be so much sacrifice that’s gonna go into next season. And one person around Jaylen Brown told me today, he’s gonna approach this with no ego,” Charania said.
Shams on the Sixers:
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) July 28, 2026
"There's gonna be so much sacrifice that's gonna go into next season. And one person around Jaylen Brown told me today, he’s gonna approach this with no ego."pic.twitter.com/Cetk6jgzEp
It might take some time for Brown to get used to having the ball less in his hands, especially after leading the Boston Celtics with a 36.2% usage rate during the 2025-26 season. But at least he’s open to doing what it takes to ensure a smooth coexistence on the court with James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and rising star VJ Edgecombe.
It will likely come down to how efficient the 76ers will be with their possessions.
In the 2025-26 campaign, Philadelphia was 16th in the league overall with 114.3 points per 100 possessions and had the sixth-lowest turnover rate at 13.4%.
Falcons’ QB battle takes an unexpected turn after a notable Tua Tagovailoa update
The Atlanta Falcons will have to wait a little longer to see Tua Tagovailoa in action at training camp.
On Wednesday, new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that Tagovailoa is “dealing with an injury,” via Josh Kendall of The Athletic.
However, Tagovailoa’s injury does not seem serious, with Stefanski indicating the former Alabama Crimson Tide star will be “out there sooner than later” and that “he’ll be back shortly.”
With Michael Penix Jr. still not cleared medically after suffering an ACL injury in 2025, the Falcons will not have the quarterback battle between him and Tagovailoa just yet.
For now, it will be undrafted free agent quarterback Jack Strand’s time to shine as the Falcons’ QB1 on their first day of training camp, as noted by Kendall. Strand is a product of Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead.
Meanwhile, the Falcons are adding depth to their training camp QB room. Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that with Tagovailoa dealing with a back issue and Penix still out, the Falcons have decided to bring in former Dallas Cowboys QB Cooper Rush, who also played last season for the Baltimore Ravens.
Tagovailoa, who’s dealt with numerous injuries in his career in the NFL, is beginning a new chapter in his football journey with the Falcons after six seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Atlanta signed the former first-round pick to a 1-year, $1.215 million contract in March.
Aaron Rodgers reveals wife’s message before major career decision
Aaron Rodgers sang the same song about his wife’s role in his decision to return for one more year in the NFL.
The future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback had said in May that his wife helped him decide to give it another go in the league. On Tuesday, he shared the same sentiment, this time with a little more detail about what his spouse, named Brittani, told him.
“I thought last year might be it,” Rodgers said after the Steelers’ conditioning test, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “And then Mike [McCarthy] got hired, and I talked to the wife and she said, ‘You can do one more year.’ I said, ‘Well, we’ll see if it works out.’ And then it kind of all came together.”
There is very little that the public knows about Brittani outside of her name, as Rodgers has kept her identity and their relationship extremely private. They will soon have more time with each other, though, once the 2026 season is over, as Rodgers doubled down on his decision that the upcoming campaign is his absolute last in the league.
“Zero debate. Zero,” Rodgers said when asked about the possibility of changing his mind and playing beyond the 2026 season.
Last season with the Steelers, Rodgers recorded 3,322 passing yards and 24 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions in 16 starts.
Allen Iverson responds to LeBron James choosing to play for the 76ers
“The Answer” offered a great response to what LeBron James’s decision to take his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers means for the City of Brotherly Love. In a recent appearance on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” former 76ers superstar point guard Allen Iverson shared with host Stephen A. Smith his positive thoughts on James choosing the team as his last stop in the league.
“Just ecstatic, man. You know, I’m just happy for the city of Philadelphia, man. For the team, you know what I mean?” the 11-time NBA All-Star told Smith.
“The type of player he is, the type of person he is. I’m just happy, man. He brings a lot, you know what I mean? He really is the answer.”
Allen Iverson on LeBron James joining the 76ers:
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) July 28, 2026
“Just ecstatic, man. You know I’m just happy for the city of Philadelphia, man. For the team, you know what I mean? The type of player he is, the type of person he is. I’m just happy, man. He brings a lot, you know what I mean? He… pic.twitter.com/s0dNzquov9
With James, the 76ers have someone who could finally lead them back to the NBA Finals, a stage they have not reached since Iverson took them there in 2001.
James will be turning 42 in December, but many believe he still has enough gas left in the tank to help Philadelphia win an NBA title. Iverson would love to see that happen, with the Sixers hoping to be the next team to end a long championship drought after their division rivals, the New York Knicks, snapped theirs in June.
For what it’s worth, the 76ers last won the NBA championship in 1983, a year before James was born.
Fans bring out jokes after seeing CJ Stroud’s appearance before training camp
NFL quarterbacks are rock stars, but Houston Texans star CJ Stroud didn’t have that kind of aura, at least if you asked the fans who ruthlessly roasted his appearance heading into the team’s training camp.
A day before the start of the Texans’ training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Texas, the team’s social media department shared a video of Stroud arriving at the site.
The former Ohio State Buckeyes star signal-caller may have looked unrecognizable to some fans, largely because of a significant change in his hairstyle. Gone are Stroud’s dreads, which he cut following the Texans’ playoff loss to the eventual AFC champions New England Patriots.
CJ7 reporting in 🫡 pic.twitter.com/q66dUdrOId
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) July 28, 2026
Meanwhile, fans didn’t miss the opportunity to roast Stroud’s look and his seemingly swaggerless gait.
Bro looks like he walking in senior year in 2007
— Drew 😈 (@Redrxk) July 28, 2026
He looks like a slightly overweight high school kid with below average athletic ability going to play pick-up hoops at the school gym with his buddies.
— DFreddwa (@DFreddwa) July 28, 2026
Bro looks like those kids who carried a speaker in their backpack
— Rich 🐍 (@MavsAndCowboys) July 29, 2026
Buddy walking like a toddler after swimming all day
— Lambeau Villain (@PackersRunNFC) July 28, 2026
Negative aura
— CantaLoupe (@CantALoupe_FF) July 28, 2026
There is one sure way for Stroud to get his aura points back, and it is by being great on the field, which he was not in 2025.
Last season, Houston won 12 games and made the NFL playoffs, but Stroud continued to regress after a stellar rookie campaign in 2023, when he passed for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions. In the two seasons since, Stroud has averaged only 3,384 passing yards, 19.5 touchdowns, and 10.0 interceptions per season.
Still without a contract extension offer from the Texans, Stroud will be on a mission to prove himself to Houston in the coming season
Details emerge on secondary injury ‘compromising’ Shohei Ohtani
A secondary injury appears to be delaying Shohei Ohtani from getting back on the mound.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star has not pitched since a July 3 start against the San Diego Padres due to a lingering left knee issue. On Tuesday, Ohtani told reporters that his bicep is also “not 100 percent” as he works his way back into the Dodgers’ rotation.
Ohtani threw a 31-pitch bullpen session last Wednesday during the team’s road trip to Philadelphia. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said during his press conference Tuesday that neither Ohtani’s knee nor his bicep had responded well after the session, prompting the team to halt his ramp-up back to the mound.
Roberts also shared that one of Ohtani’s injuries may be partly worsening the other.
“There is an effect on the lower half to the compromising of the upper half, the arm,” Roberts said, via the New York Post’s Jack Harris. “So trying to mitigate that, we stopped the throwing, stopped the bullpens. Hopefully No. 1, take care of the knee, and then not try to have him create velocity with the arm that’s not 100%.”
Ohtani, who missed a game as a hitter earlier this month due to his bicep injury, clarified to reporters that the team is taking a cautious approach with the postseason still months away. He added the conversation would be “a little different if we’re in August or September.”
Despite all the injury talk, Ohtani was as effective as ever on the plate Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners. The Japanese slugger went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a walk in a 7-6 loss.
Josh Hart blasts Draymond Green for claiming he should have taken pay cut instead of Jalen Brunson
Josh Hart publicly called Draymond Green out Tuesday for “counting other people’s pockets.”
A video of Green recently resurfaced showing him discussing the New York Knicks on an episode of the “Club 520” podcast hosted by Jeff Teague. In the clip, Green criticized Brunson’s now-celebrated move of leaving money on the table to give the Knicks more cap flexibility.
The Knicks point guard famously agreed to an early extension in 2024 that was worth around $113 million less in guaranteed money than if he had waited one more season to negotiate it.
“It’s the New York Knicks, bro. They can afford it,” Green said in the clip. “You ain’t got to take no discount for them to get paid. My situation is different because Steph making $270 million, Klay making $180 million. All right, something got to give. Cool. I can take a less.”
“He the top guy. Let Josh Hart or somebody else take less. They in my role. Guess what, Steph Curry ain’t take a penny less. And neither did Klay Thompson ain’t take a penny less. I don’t know what he doing. That’s $100 million.”
Draymond Green says Jalen Brunson shouldn't have taken a $100,000,000 discount with the Knicks
— dank (@cptdankkk) July 27, 2026
“It's the New York Knicks, bro. They can afford it. You ain't got to take no discount for them to get paid. My situation is different because Steph making $270 million, Klay making… pic.twitter.com/nczygJVNOQ
Hart took exception to Green’s comments and told him to mind his own business, especially when it comes to other people’s finances.
“We got to normalize grown men not counting other peoples pockets,” Hart captioned a repost of the clip.
We got to normalize grown men not counting other peoples pockets https://t.co/o5pr8MWiz6
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 29, 2026
Brunson’s sacrifice was arguably the difference in the Knicks’ fantastic NBA Finals run last season, because it enabled the team to keep the championship core intact for multiple seasons. In taking the pay cut, the Knicks star ultimately paved the way for him to become one of the most beloved human beings in New York City history — something money cannot buy.
If anything, Green’s issues with franchise players like Brunson needing to take pay cuts for the sake of roster flexibility should be directed toward the NBA Players’ Association.
The current era of the second apron has made it difficult for teams to keep their core players together for longer stretches without incurring draconian penalties. It’s why players like Brunson and now Victor Wembanyama have started taking less money for a better chance at team success.
Until the league and its players negotiate a new CBA, it’s likely to keep happening.
Blue Jays share Vladimir Guerrero Jr. injury update after baserunning scare
The Toronto Blue Jays experienced a scare Tuesday involving star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The Blue Jays first baseman hurt his hamstring in the top of the 3rd inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. With a man on first and two outs, Guerrero tried to leg out a single after hitting a high chopper toward third base.
The ball’s tricky bounce allowed Guerrero to get on base safely and even led to a run-surrendering error that got Toronto on the board for its first run. But Guerrero was in visible discomfort as he made the turn to second base.
Look away, Jays fans 🫣
— BET99 Ontario (@BET99ON) July 29, 2026
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has exited the game against the Nationals with hamstring tightness 🤕pic.twitter.com/AyIRTCId0c
Guerrero remained on the field for the bottom half of the inning and even fielded the Nationals’ first out. But the Blue Jays pulled the Dominican-Canadian in the 4th inning due to what the team called hamstring tightness. Kazuma Okamoto, who initially had the day off, replaced Guerrero at first base.
UPDATE: 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was removed from tonight's game with right hamstring tightness.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 29, 2026
“His hamstring was a little tight, as he hit the base there,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after the game. “And then he turned into second; it was a little sore.”
Schneider told reporters that Guerrero himself wanted to stay in the game, but the skipper made the call as a precautionary move.
The 2026 season has been a campaign to forget for Vladdy, who entered Tuesday with just 6 home runs and a pedestrian OPS of .700 across 102 games.
Reporter had amazing way to get Commanders GM to indirectly comment on Brandon Aiyuk
One veteran reporter found a cheeky way to get the Washington Commanders to talk about Brandon Aiyuk.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn held a press conference Tuesday to mark the start of the team’s training camp. Arguably the most interesting question fielded to the duo was a supposed hypothetical tossed out by NBC Sports reporter JP Finlay.
Finlay asked a “general” question, but everyone in the room, including the Peters and Quinn, knew he was referring to Aiyuk.
Reporter: “Just in a general sense, as you’re always looking into improving the team, when you’re evaluating guys to maybe bring in for workouts, what role, if any, does a player’s social media have in that evaluation process?”
The inquiry got a chuckle out of both Peters and Quinn, who called Finlay a “straight bada–” for concocting it. The Commanders GM appeared to appreciate it so much that he actually gave Finlay a real answer.
This was a fun moment but I do appreciate AP giving a real answer pic.twitter.com/tGV9zVMR46
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 28, 2026
Peters: “That’s a good, roundabout question. We look at everything, JP. It’s a great question. We do look at everything. We want to make sure it’s the right player to be in our locker room, in our bloodstream, and in our culture.”
Peters admitted that social media has never been the first thing the team assesses when evaluating potential roster additions. While the Commanders do look into a player’s online activity, he noted that game tape and first-hand assessments from former teammates and coaches matter much more.
Commanders franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels was notably teammates with Aiyuk at Arizona State. While Aiyuk’s social media activity pointed to him teaming up with Daniels again in D.C., reports indicated that the Commanders eventually soured on the talented wideout.
The fact that Aiyuk was sending Daniels deranged messages on Instagram didn’t help his chances of landing a contract.
LaMelo Ball is being sued over alleged missed rent payments
LaMelo Ball still has some unfinished (legal) business to take care of in Charlotte.
The new Minnesota Timberwolves star point guard Ball is being sued by a North Carolina landlord for allegedly failing to pay rent, Edward Lewis of The California Post reported on Tuesday. The lawsuit, which was filed on Monday, claims that Ball jointly owes nearly $200,000 in missed rent checks.
Agape Property Management Group, which owns the uptown Charlotte condominium complex in question, alleges that Ball rented out two of their units, living in one and subleasing the other one out to his manager and mentor Jermaine Jackson. Interestingly enough, Jackson used to be an NBA player himself, playing five seasons from 1999-2006 with the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, and Milwaukee Bucks.
The lawsuit claims that Ball agreed to buy his own unit in 2024 but continued to sublease the second unit out to Jackson. The two then allegedly fell way behind on rent payments for the second unit and are now being sued for rent payments exceeding $181,500 and also for $90,000 in unpaid HOA compliance fees.
You can read Lewis’ full report on the situation here.
Ball, 24, spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Hornets, making one All-Star team in 2022 before getting traded to the Timberwolves in a blockbuster last month. But Ball has had some notable off-court troubles in recent months, including a scary car crash that he was at fault for earlier this year.
