National League gets the meme treatment for getting embarrassed at MLB All-Star Game
The National League’s collection of All-Star bats got clowned Tuesday for their no-show at this year’s Midsummer Classic.
The National League All-Stars got shut out by their American League counterparts Tuesday in a 4-0 loss at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. Despite sending 21 of their best sluggers to the plate, the National League only managed to generate 3 total hits with a couple of walks drawn.
The 2026 National League All-Stars became the first All-Star squad to get shut out since 2013, and fans made sure to roast them for it.
The National League lineup tonight pic.twitter.com/pdREbsYKe3
— AT (@BaseballWRLD_) July 15, 2026
The National League tonight pic.twitter.com/J6oooWJlsd
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) July 15, 2026
National League pic.twitter.com/6F8ODLmiJJ
— bag (@mookiebag) July 15, 2026
National League in the All star game pic.twitter.com/VhBVC5C5LI
— Novig (@Novig) July 15, 2026
The National League All-Stars also struck out 15 times, setting a new record for most strikeouts from a single team in the history of the Midsummer Classic. One National League pitcher also injured Junior Caminero with a pitch that hit the Tampa Bay Rays star in the hand.
Phillies fans hoping their hometown players would show up were sorely disappointed. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh combined to go 0-for-5 at the plate. Phillies ace Christopher Sanchez, who started the game for the N.L., gave up three runs on three hits to open the contest.
Fans from the night before also had to endure watching Schwarber lose the Home Run Derby to Jordan Walker in the most dramatic fashion possible. That’s on top of arguably the Phillies’ best pitcher getting snubbed from the All-Star game entirely.
LeBron James’ former teammate has interesting take on where he should sign
One of LeBron James’ most trusted former teammates has weighed in on his ongoing free agency.
Retired NBA veteran Iman Shumpert broke down James’ best free agency options this week on an episode of his “Shump Street” podcast. The outspoken shooting guard chose three ideal teams for James, depending on what he ultimately prioritizes the most about his likely final landing spot.
“If this is about a ring, Philly,” Shumpert said. “If this is about selling tickets, Miami. If this is about ending your career the way it should go, go to Cleveland.”
Shumpert did not stop there. He claimed that the Cavaliers, despite offering James the most compelling narrative to finish his career, would not offer him any chance at riding off into the sunset as an NBA champion.
“Just don’t go to Cleveland trying to be happy about a win, because you not going to win there,” Shumpert continued. “You’re not going to be happy. This is about the return tour; this is not about winning. Don’t you dare go over there, think it’s rolling with the winners.
“I don’t know what’s up with them during the playoffs, don’t do it. I’ve been on a team when LeBron was frustrated, and he felt like he got too much going on. He’s going to start shipping s–t out of there, man. LeBron works for UPS, I’m telling y’all.”
Shumpert ironically developed his relationship with James in Cleveland during their four seasons together from 2014 to 2018. Shumpert came off the bench for the Cavaliers during their memorable 2016 NBA Finals run. Several members of that Cavaliers team even recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their title run.
But Shumpert clearly does not think the present-day Cavaliers are legitimate contenders, despite having former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and an All-Star backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Harden currently remains a free agent but is expected to re-sign with Cleveland. He is reportedly one of several free agents waiting on James’ decision, as teams keep their cap table flexible enough to fit LeBron’s salary.
NBA addresses Kawhi Leonard trade drama amid ongoing investigation
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has addressed concerns surrounding the Kawhi Leonard trade that has suddenly been put on ice.
The Los Angeles Clippers issued a statement last week indicating that the trade that was supposed to send Leonard to the Toronto Raptors will not be completed until the NBA wraps up its investigation into LAC’s alleged salary cap circumvention.
Many assumed the NBA forced the Raptors and Clippers to press pause on the deal. Silver clarified Tuesday that the decision was purely made by Toronto, without league intervention.
“I just want to clarify, so that everyone understands, the league did not pause the trade,” Silver said during his press conference. “The parties to the trade made a decision not to go forward, given that the investigation remained open. Any possible impact on Kawhi or his contract was yet to be known, and so they chose not to live with that uncertainty. … The investigation needs to run its course”
Silver added that there was no reason to believe trading Leonard would have altered the NBA’s final decision once the investigation finally concluded. He asserted that the Raptors and Clippers must have known that, but still opted to engage in a deal centered around Leonard.
Silver remained noncommittal about a final date to expect a resolution, only indicating that he’s “hopeful” that the league will decide before the end of summer.
According to reports, the NBA has since expanded its investigation to include a different Leonard endorsement deal apart from the one with Aspiration.
Clippers fans are already starting to turn on Keaton Wagler
Several Los Angeles Clippers fans were not exactly encouraged by what they’ve seen so far from Keaton Wagler in NBA Summer League.
Wagler had a middling performance Tuesday in a 99-85 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev. The Clippers’ No. 5 overall pick struggled with his shot, going 3/12 from the field before a late flurry improved his final clip with the game already out of reach.
The Illinois product still finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, but had a team-worst -17 during his time on the floor. A handful of fans also gave him failing marks when it came to the eye test, with some expressing serious concern about his athleticism at the next level.
Wagler literally cannot get by a single defender. Those spin moves are too slow to work in the NBA. He needs a massive overhaul to his handle like SGA made.
— Clipper Revival (@Clipper_Revival) July 15, 2026
I can't believe I bought into the Keaton Wagler hype. I'm watching him right now and he doesn't even feel close to a lottery draft type player atm. Hoping I'm wrong…
— Primewire (@Primewire4) July 15, 2026
I’m sorry I’m a die hard clippers fan and will ride for every single one of our players but if you don’t see major concerns with Keaton Wagler you’re in denial
— AMB🫀 (@AMBGotAura) July 15, 2026
Guys I genuinely don’t know if I’m being overly negative or just real but Wagler has been extremely disappointing man
— HoodieBev (@HoodieBev) July 15, 2026
It didn’t help that Wagler got outplayed by Lakers rookie Cameron Carr, who was taken 19 spots below him in last month’s draft. Carr poured in a game-high 23 points on 8/18 shooting, including several flashes of brilliance in the second half when matched up with Wagler.
Of course, all the criticism of Wagler comes with the caveat that it’s based on a few Summer League outings. The Clippers youngster just scored 39 points across his last two games, and fans are already calling him a bust.
At 19 years old, Wagler is far from a finished product. But he’ll already have his fair share of doubters coming into his first NBA season.
Kyle Schwarber caught cursing on a hot mic during MLB All-Star Game
Kyle Schwarber slid one past the sensors at the Midsummer Classic.
The Philadelphia Phillies star slugger Schwarber was mic’d up during Tuesday’s 2026 MLB All-Star Game. In the bottom of the third inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., Schwarber stepped up to the plate for the NL against AL pitcher Michael Wacha of the Kansas City Royals and produced an unfortunate moment (for all of the suits at FOX).
Schwarber was speaking to the FOX broadcasters in the middle of his at-bat but encountered some trouble with his earpiece. A frustrated Schwarber eventually said, “Whatever, f–k it,” … for all the viewers on television to hear.
Eventually, Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, who was behind the plate at the time, helped Schwarber get his dangling earpiece back where it belonged. You can see the funny video at the link here.
Schwarber would go on to ground out in the at-bat and finished 0/2 on the night overall. The NL did not exactly fare too well as a team either as the AL rode a three-run first inning off Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez to an eventual 4-0 victory.
In fairness to the two-time NL home runs leader Schwarber, that may not have been the best decision by FOX to conduct an interview with him right in the middle of an at-bat. Ultimately though, that was reminiscent of the time that Clayton Kershaw also got caught on a hot mic during last year’s MLB All-Star Game.
DeMar DeRozan has mutual interest with 1 notable team
Kawhi Leonard might not be the only player having a reunion up north this summer.
Free agent forward DeMar DeRozan would “welcome” a return to the Toronto Raptors under the right circumstances, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star reported on Tuesday. Smith adds that the Raptors front office has also been thinking about the possibility of reuniting with DeRozan “for some time.”
DeRozan, who turns 37 next month, is a free agent after being released by the Sacramento Kings earlier this month. Meanwhile, DeRozan’s history with the Raptors speaks for itself.
The veteran DeRozan was originally a Toronto draft pick back in 2009 (No. 9 overall). He spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career with the Raptors and also earned four All-Star selections and two All-NBA nods while with Toronto.
But DeRozan’s time with the Raptors did end unceremoniously after he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for Leonard in 2018. Toronto then went on to win their first and only championship in franchise history in 2019, much to the chagrin of DeRozan, who said publicly that he was unhappy about the way he was treated by the Raptors.
That said, former Raptors president Masai Ujiri (the man responsible for trading DeRozan) is no longer with the team and now holds the same position with the Dallas Mavericks. Though DeRozan has interest from a couple of other interesting landing spots, the allure of a return to the 905 has to be pretty significant (provided that he is willing to accept a reduced role and/or a veteran’s minimum salary).
Rays get update on Junior Caminero following All-Star Game injury scare
Tampa Bay Rays fans can breathe a sigh of relief following the latest update on Junior Caminero.
The Rays’ standout third baseman’s hand got hit by a pitch during his second at-bat of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. The 1-0 pitch was a 98-mph sinker that St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Riley O’Brien threw well inside, instantly hushing the crowd at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.
Caminero was writhing in pain for several seconds before eventually jogging toward the dugout and taking himself out of the game.
Junior Caminero left the game after being hit by a pitch in the hand pic.twitter.com/gVuzV9XCbH
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 15, 2026
The Rays got positive news an inning later as Caminero’s X-rays came back negative.
“It looked bad. But the results, at least from the X-rays, are good,” said Tom Verducci on the broadcast.
Caminero himself eased Rays fans’ worries with a message via USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
“I’m fine. Thank God nothing is broken. Will play Friday,” Caminero said.
That’s welcome news for the Rays, who have leaned heavily on Caminero’s production this season.
The 23-year-old Dominican has batted .279 with 28 home runs, 59 RBIs, and an OPS of .927 across 94 games this season. He’s arguably been the biggest reason why the 56-38 Rays have the best record in the American League through the All-Star break.
Fan gets fired over alleged racist DM to WNBA’s Chelsea Gray
A fan is facing the consequences after allegedly directing racial abuse towards Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray.
Hilton Grand Vacations announced in a post to X on Tuesday that they have fired an employee accused of sending a racist DM to Gray over Instagram. In their post, Hilton Grand Vacations said that the person responsible violated multiple company policies with his alleged behavior.
“The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company,” the post by Hilton read. “His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company’s values in any way.”
Gray, a six-time WNBA All-Star and four-time WNBA champion, was involved in an incident with Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark during their game on Sunday. As Clark was defending her in the post, Gray gave Clark an elbow to the midsection in what many deemed to be a normal basketball play but that left Clark on the ground in pain (see the video here).
After the Fever went on to defeat the Aces by a final score of 109-75, Gray said on her Instagram Story on Monday that she had received a racist message from a fan. “You suck a– ugly a– n—-r,” the alleged DM read (profanity edited by LBS).
Gray did not blur out the name of the user who had sent her the message, and social media sleuths were then able to identify the man and contact his employer. Now Hilton Grand Vacations has terminated the employment of the man, only about some 24 hours after he was exposed publicly by Gray.
Aroldis Chapman clears air on his demand for an apology from Yankees
The statute of limitations has apparently expired on Aroldis Chapman’s apology request addressed to the New York Yankees.
Chapman spoke candidly last month about the possibility of being traded to the Yankees before the August 3 trade deadline. He stated that “someone from the organization” should issue him an apology before any reunion. He was referring specifically to longtime Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
The 38-year-old retracted his demand when he spoke to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman ahead of his 9th All-Star Game appearance Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.
“I turned the page a long time ago. They asked me a question and I answered,” Chapman told Heyman.
The Yankees left Chapman off the team’s playoff roster after he allegedly missed a mandatory team workout ahead of their divisional round series against the Cleveland Guardians. Cashman would later call out Chapman and question the pitcher’s motivation throughout the season.
After a couple of middling seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, and Pittsburgh Pirates, Chapman has found a home on the Yankees’ biggest rival.
Through 97 games with the Red Sox, Chapman has posted a stellar 1.50 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across two seasons. With the Red Sox surging heading into the All-Star break, Boston may be more enticed to keep the veteran closer for the rest of the season.
Pelicans defend themselves over apparent DeAndre Jordan contract blunder
The New Orleans Pelicans appear to be in damage control mode right now.
New Orleans felt like they had to outbid other teams in order to re-sign center DeAndre Jordan this offseason, veteran basketball writers Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported to Substack on Tuesday. The report notes that the Pelicans believed Jordan had interest elsewhere on a one-year deal and thus signed him to a two-year deal so that they would not lose Jordan’s valued locker room presence.
Jordan, the former NBA All-Star, already spent last season in New Orleans. Then earlier this offseason, Jordan signed a two-year, $7.9 million deal to return to the Pelicans as a free agent.
But New Orleans appeared to make a notable blunder with Jordan’s new contract. Namely, they were eligible to get a subsidy from the NBA for Jordan through a one-year veteran’s minimum deal for players with 10 or more years of experience. But because the Pelicans inked Jordan to a two-year deal instead, they are now on the hook for Jordan’s full salary and Jordan’s full cap hit (read the complete details here).
With the report breaking earlier this week about the Pelicans’ apparent blunder, now this latest report is explaining the team’s supposed reasoning. That timing is probably not a coincidence as New Orleans (with their Joe Dumars-led front office) looks to defend themselves from fan backlash over the Jordan contract.
Jordan is about to turn 38 years old, has not averaged double digits in points or rebounding since 2019-20, and has only appeared in 68 total games over the last two seasons (including a mere 12 for the Pelicans last season). While Jordan did win the NBA’s Teammate of the Year Award with New Orleans last year, it is hard to imagine that teams were tripping over themselves to sign him, regardless of the Pelicans’ stated reasoning here.
Surprising report emerges about Bronny James’ future
Bronny James may be getting a chance to (hypothetically) carve out his own path.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny will not necessarily be following his father LeBron James to a new team, Dan Woike of The Athletic reported on Tuesday. Woike notes that Bronny is currently with the Lakers at their veteran minicamp that officially kicked off this week and adds that Bronny is, for the moment, expected to compete for minutes in the team’s backcourt next season.
Still only 21 years old, Bronny was drafted by the Lakers in 2024 back when his father LeBron was still on the team. Bronny has (understandably) had a hard time beating the nepotism allegations ever since then but may be getting his opportunity to prove himself now that LeBron officially will not be returning to the Lakers next season.
Last season for the Lakers, Bronny appeared in 42 total games for the Lakers, averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 assists per game on 41/39/86 shooting splits. He also made 14 regular season appearances for the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League, averaging 15.6 points and 3.7 assists per game on stellar 56/46/79 shooting splits.
Bronny’s defense is above average, his three-point shot has come around, and he even got a notable promotion from the Lakers at one point last season. But the jury is still out on whether or not Bronny (who is on a fully guaranteed $2.3 million contract with the Lakers for next season) belongs in the NBA on his own accord.
There was some talk earlier this month that one potential LeBron suitor was saving up a roster spot for Bronny just in case. But the best outcome for Bronny’s development at this point might indeed be if he stays on the Lakers away from the (admittedly enormous) shadow of his father.
Report: Warriors could reunite with 1 beloved former star
The Golden State Warriors could be having themselves a storybook moment this summer.
Golden State would have some “excitement” to potentially reunite with their former sharpshooter Klay Thompson this offseason, Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported on Tuesday. Fischer notes that Thompson has had interest in the past in teaming up with LeBron James, who remains a top free agent target for the Warriors.
Thompson, now with the Dallas Mavericks, spent the first 11 seasons of his NBA career with the Warriors from 2011-24 (with two full missed seasons due to injury). Teaming up with Steph Curry to form “The Splash Brothers,” Thompson became an immortal in the Bay Area as his 3-point shooting prowess helped Golden State make six NBA Finals appearances and win four NBA titles.
Also a five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection with the Warriors, Thompson ended up leaving the team in free agency in 2024 after his situation in Golden State reportedly became toxic. But the grass has not quite been greener for Thompson in Dallas as he has hovered at or near his career lows during his two seasons there and just endured an ugly 26-56 season with the Mavericks.
At 36 years old, Thompson is still under contract with Dallas for $17.5 million next season. There have also been some other contenders recently mentioned in connection with a Thompson pursuit, either via trade or via buyout.
Thompson’s best basketball days are very clearly behind him at this point. But not a lot would be more fitting than for The Prodigal Splash Brother to return home this summer (if he can successfully secure his exit from the Mavs).
Timberwolves president sends clear message to LeBron James
LeBron James is a free agent ahead of his 24th season in the NBA.
At this point, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers appear to be the favorites to land James. Other teams, such as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, are other options for the NBA superstar.
With James’ decision reportedly coming soon, Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly had a strong recruiting pitch for the former Los Angeles Lakers star.
“The recruitment is just this team,” Connelly said, via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “Obviously, he’s an unbelievable player. Whatever decision he makes is going to be the right one. There’s a lot going on. When you’re as great as he is, you should have optionality. When you look at our team, it’s hard not to be excited about what we have.”
Connelly also said he is “proud” of the team the Timberwolves are.
“I like who we are and we’re pretty proud of who we are,” Connelly said on Tuesday. “Hopefully that’s appealing, not just to LeBron, but to any free agent.”
The decision is expected to come this week, although nobody knows what is happening regarding LeBron James.
At the Las Vegas Summer League on Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania named the 76ers, Cavs and Heat as the three teams James is reportedly “focused” on, although he said five teams remain “in the mix.”
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin added that Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown are all in contact with James to try to persuade him to go to Philadelphia.
The Timberwolves have never won an NBA title in their existence, so James bringing a Larry O’Brien trophy would be icing on the cake for his career. This appears to be the pitch for Minnesota.
Minnesota just acquired LaMelo Ball in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, and a trio of Ball, James and Anthony Edwards would be something tough to deal with for opposing teams.
Wizards make AJ Dybantsa decision after strong Summer League play
Washington Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa looked every bit like the No. 1 overall pick with his strong play at the Las Vegas Summer League.
In two games, AJ Dybantsa scored a total of 50 points with 14 rebounds. However, Washington is shutting down Dybantsa for the rest of the Summer League schedule, along with rookies Tre Johnson and Will Riley, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
Dybantsa had 27 points with 7 rebounds in the first game, a 92-88 win over the Utah Jazz on July 9. Dybantsa then had 23 points with 7 rebounds in the Wizards’ 104-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Johnson (sixth overall) and Riley (21st overall) were the Wizards’ first-round picks in 2025, and both youngsters played well in the Summer League.
Riley averaged 25 PPG with 4.5 rebounds, and Johnson played just one game, scoring 26 points against the Jazz.
STARS START HERE. ⭐
— NBA Summer League (@NBASummerLeague) July 14, 2026
AJ Dybantsa has wasted no time making an impact in Las Vegas, averaging 25.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game through the @WashWizards’ perfect 2-0 start at NBA Summer League. pic.twitter.com/TlvVkeXY1U
Dybantsa, who played his lone college season for the BYU Cougars, was long expected to be the first name called during the 2026 NBA Draft, and that was exactly the case.
Kansas Jayhawks star Darryn Peterson went No. 2 to the Jazz with Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson going Nos. 3 and 4, respectively.
Folarin Balogun addresses Donald Trump’s involvement with World Cup red card
Team USA star Folarin Balogun became a household name with strong play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, Balogun was involved in controversy. He received a red card and a one-game suspension, although FIFA decided to suspend the one-game ban, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium.
United States President Donald Trump called FIFA to ask for a review of the red card, and while it created a lot of controversy, Balogun revealed it was also like that around Team USA.
“I knew it was gonna cause a lot of controversy. I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves,” Balogun said on Tuesday. “I tried to just focus as best as I could, but it was difficult with a lot of outside noise.”
Folarin Balogun on Donald Trump’s intervention in getting his World Cup ban suspended on @CBSMornings: “I knew it was gonna cause a lot of controversy. I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves… I tried to just focus as best as I could, but it was difficult with a… pic.twitter.com/ZHzYD7Z6u4
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) July 14, 2026
FIFA insisted that Trump’s intervention was not a factor in the decision to suspend Balogun’s one-game ban, but it still raised plenty of eyebrows in a questionable turn of events.
In the end, Folarin Balogun and Team USA were blown out by Belgium, 4-1, as the Americans once again fell short of the quarterfinal round.
Cowboys defensive end suspended for three games
Defensive end Charles Snowden hasn’t played a single down yet for the Dallas Cowboys.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced that Snowden will be suspended for three games due to a DUI.
#Cowboys DE Charles Snowden has been suspended for the first three games of the season because of a DUI. The news of his personal conduct violation was on today’s wire. pic.twitter.com/CafBczLg7a
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 14, 2026
For now, Snowden is still eligible to participate in preseason games, and the suspension will not take effect until the Cowboys’ roster is set at 53 players.
Snowden went undrafted and spent time with the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders before signing with Dallas this offseason. Before coming to Las Vegas, Snowden was primarily a practice squad player.
In December 2024, Snowden was arrested for a DUI, and it was reported that he was found passed out behind the steering wheel with the vehicle running.
The 2025 season was a career-best campaign for Snowden. He had a career-high three sacks with 28 tackles and an interception while playing 15 games.
Snowden was invited to the Cowboys’ minicamp, and he was one of a few players who signed contracts in June after a successful run. The other players Dallas signed were WR Denzel Mims, CB Ameer Speed and OL Chris Glaser.
Tarik Skubal could be traded to a surprising team
Trade rumors continue to surround Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, and it is not just MLB’s traditional major market powers being linked to him.
The Tampa Bay Rays have shown interest in trading for Skubal, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. They have been aggressive on other leading names that could become available as well, including Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.
The Rays certainly have the prospects to get Skubal, though they would be taking a big risk by doing so. Skubal is set to be a free agent after the season, and they are highly unlikely to have the financial means to retain him whether they want to or not.
On the other hand, it certainly makes sense for the Rays to go for it. They sit at 56-38 at the All-Star break and lead the American League East by three games. They are nearly certain to make the playoffs and might just try to seize the opportunity to claim an elusive World Series title.
Skubal would be the biggest prize on the market if he is traded, but that is not a certainty. The Tigers have closed to within 3.5 games of the final AL Wild Card spot thanks to their recent hot streak. If they continue winning out of the All-Star break, they might keep Skubal and go for it themselves. Even if the Tigers do opt to move him, the Rays would face very stiff competition for his services.
Police make major decision on Geno Smith assault case
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is off the hook in relation to recent assault allegations.
The battery investigation into Smith has been closed and the quarterback will not face charges, the Davie, Fla. Police Department told ESPN on Tuesday. Neither Smith nor the woman accusing him of battery ever provided any follow-up statements to police.
“No further investigative steps can be reasonably taken with the information presently available. Any future investigative action is contingent on additional information or evidence being brought forward,” a case report read.
A woman made claims on social media last month that Smith had attacked her and was not caring for his six-year-old son. Those claims were accompanied by what appeared to be photos of Smith speaking with police officers. The mother of Smith’s child publicly disputed the claims about how Smith treated his son.
Smith was traded to the New York Jets earlier in the offseason in a somewhat surprising move, and is likely to be the team’s starter in 2026. He could still face further discipline from the NFL if the league conducts its own investigation. So far, the league has not offered any indication when or if that will happen.
LeBron James is reportedly focused on 3 teams in free agency
LeBron James has yet to make a final decision in free agency, but three teams appear to be the finalists for his services.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that five teams still have a realistic chance at signing James, including the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. However, James is particularly focused on the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers.
“My understanding is, right now, as we speak, LeBron James has the information that’s needed to make a decision. It’s decision time right now for LeBron James,” Charania said. “The feel is that (five) teams remain in the mix with a focus on Cleveland, Miami, and Philadelphia.”
@ShamsCharania latest update on LeBron James' free agency 👑
— ESPN (@espn) July 14, 2026
“There's a focus on Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia." pic.twitter.com/0P3Cv0F93O
Charania had previously reported that Cleveland, Miami, and Golden State were at the top of James’ list. That, however, was before the 76ers swung a trade for Jaylen Brown, which seems to have caught James’ attention.
There had been growing buzz linking James to the Warriors in recent days, in part because of a strong sales pitch from Draymond Green. This suggests, however, that they are not a top focus for James at the moment.
The Sixers are the only one of the three aforementioned teams James has not played for, and he might have some reservations about certain aspects of the team. He may opt for something more familiar by heading back to Cleveland or Miami.
NBA is investigating another Kawhi Leonard sponsorship deal
The NBA’s investigation into a potentially fraudulent Kawhi Leonard sponsorship deal has expanded to look into multiple suspicious issues.
The NBA has investigated whether Leonard had a second previously unreported endorsement deal with another company, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. There has also been an investigation into whether the Clippers improperly covered certain expenses for Leonard without being reimbursed for them.
Initially, the investigation was focused on whether the Clippers used a company called Aspiration to funnel money to Leonard while circumventing the salary cap. The other investigations are beyond the initial scope, suggesting the league found some things they found suspicious while looking into the Aspiration deal.
The Clippers have repeatedly denied the initial allegations relating to Aspiration.
The NBA seemed to be moving toward a conclusion in June and had interviewed many of the key figures in the allegations. Presumably, they were also looking into these additional issues by that point, though it is not clear when the scope of the investigation actually widened.
The Clippers could face stiff punishments if the league finds that the organization illegally circumvented the salary cap. In addition, the trade sending Leonard to the Toronto Raptors is on hold until the investigation concludes.
