Juan Soto and the Mets gave up the most embarrassing Little League home run
The New York Mets continue to find new and exciting ways to embarrass themselves this season.
The Mets defense gave up a Little League home run to the first batter they faced on Monday at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. What looked like a harmless fly ball to left fielder Juan Soto turned into a four-bagger for leadoff hitter George Springer.
Soto let the ball bounce right past him and roll all the way to the fence in left. Mets center fielder AJ Ewing compounded the mistake with a fielding error as he tried to get the ball back to the infield quickly. The 36-year-old Springer never slowed down for a second and scored easily without even a throw from the Mets outfielders.
Another day, same Mets. Juan Soto and A.J. Ewing just turned this routine George Springer base hit into a Little League home run. pic.twitter.com/pOO7L0YvHl
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 29, 2026
The play was scored a triple for Springer and an error to Ewing. But one could argue Soto also deserved an error for badly misplaying a ball that could have very well been a bloop single, or even an out had he gotten the perfect jump on it.
As fate would have it, one run ended up deciding the victor of Monday’s Mets-Blue Jays contest. Toronto escaped with a 2-1 win over New York, which lost for the 9th time in 10 games.
Max Muncy reacts to playing against his doppelganger
Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers has officially played an MLB game against Max Muncy of the Athletics.
Muncy, the Dodgers third baseman, spoke out Monday after taking the field against the Athletics opposite another player named Max Muncy, who plays the exact same position. It was an odd experience for the broadcasters and the fans watching at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif.
But it was most especially bizarre for the Dodgers star himself.
“It’s a little weird,” Muncy of the Dodgers said of playing against his namesake in what turned out to be a 9-4 win for L.A.
“It’s a strange feeling standing at third base and they’re announcing that you’re hitting and it’s not you. Thankfully, it’s just a couple games, because I don’t know if I would ever get used to it.”
A good chunk of MLB fans have known about the Muncy coincidence for over a year now, with the younger Muncy breaking into the big leagues last season. The two share more things in common than their names and positions.
Both were drafted by the Athletics organization, and even more uncanny is how they were both born on August 25.
Max Muncy and Max Muncy are facing off tonight in Sacramento 👀 pic.twitter.com/PLnIv26him
— MLB (@MLB) June 30, 2026
The two Muncy batters also shared the same 7th spot in the lineup in Monday’s game. Both of them singled in their first at-bats in the second inning. The Athletics version fittingly directed his groundball hit right at his namesake.
Max Muncy was up to bat, and Max Muncy grounded one to Max Muncy, and the ball deflected off the bag in front of Max Muncy, and Max Muncy reached on a single pic.twitter.com/X81zUUtmLp
— DodgersLite (@dodgerslite) June 30, 2026
The older Muncy eventually got the better of his second-year counterpart. The Dodgers slugger tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the 4th inning with a towering home run — his 17th of the season and the first ever surrendered by Athletics starter Gage Jump.
Jaylen Brown’s social media activity fuels even more trade speculation
Jaylen Brown is no longer being subtle with how unhappy he is in Boston.
The Boston Celtics star has been at the center of trade talks since the offseason began — noise that was amplified in his inclusion in trade rumors involving Giannis Antetokounmpo. Several reports have indicated that Brown seems ready to move on from the team that drafted him.
The 5-time All-Star’s social media activity lends to that idea as well. Last week, Brown posted a video of himself explaining the concept of panopticism. Brown liked one of the comments on the post, which called for the Celtics to “do right” by Jaylen and trade him to city that would appreciate him more.
“Man as a person who can’t stand the Celtics I hope they do right by him by trading him to a city who [sic] respects him,” the comment read.
Jaylen Brown liked a comment on Instagram saying the Celtics should trade him to a city that respects him. 👀
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 30, 2026
(h/t @JaysGotNext ) pic.twitter.com/5a99EuHf77
The liked comment quickly became a trending topic on social media, but Brown has yet to undo it as of writing.
The Celtics star has been vocal about his frustration of late. He recently went on a tirade about an “analytics guy” who claimed Brown was the “seventh-best player on a team.”
Boston head honcho Brad Stevens has reportedly placed a sky-high price tag on Brown in the trade market. But with Brown clearly fed up with the Celtics, one has to wonder whether that price goes down as 2026-27 season draws closer.
The NBA has already seen several All-Stars get traded less than a month into the offseason, with Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, and Ja Morant all switching teams. Brown could very well be next.
Blazers are unlikely to bring back 1 notable player after Ja Morant trade
Ja Morant may have come at an additional cost for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Blazers are not expected to retain free agent center Robert Williams III, Jason Quick of The Athletic reported on Monday. Quick notes that Williams is hoping to land a contract in the range of $15 million per year.
Portland made a major splash earlier in the day on Monday by acquiring the two-time All-Star guard Morant in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, sending two notable players back in return. But taking on Morant’s contract now means that the Blazers have less space to work with if they want to stay under the luxury tax threshold (as they absorbed about $5 million more salary in the Morant trade than they sent out to the Grizzlies).
As for Williams, the 28-year-old former All-Defensive selection, he had spent the last three seasons with the Blazers. While he is often injured and is undersized for a center at 6-foot-9, Williams posted a respectable 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game over 59 total bench appearances for the Blazers last season.
Williams has probably played his way into his desired contract range of $15 million a year and thus out of the range where the Blazers would be able to keep him post-Morant trade. As such, Portland will likely be moving forward with 21-year-old Yang Hansen as the primary backup to 22-year-old starting center Donovan Clingan and possibly targeting a cheaper depth veteran in free agency.
That also opens up some possibilities for a center-needy team on the free agent market this summer. In particular, the former first-round pick Williams has drawn interest in recent months from at least one marquee NBA franchise.
Jazz Chisholm in concussion protocol after getting clotheslined by his own teammate
A scary scene unfolded for the New York Yankees on Monday that ended with Jazz Chisholm Jr. in concussion protocol.
The Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez accidentally clotheslined Chisholm as the two simultaneously tracked a fly ball in the top of the 4th inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. With a runner on third and one out, Tigers batter Hao-Yu Lee popped up the first pitch he saw to shallow right.
With Dominguez failing to call off Chisholm, the two collided just beyond the infield dirt. The Yankees second baseman took the brunt of the damage as he crashed into Dominguez’s arm.
Oh my good lord……
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) June 30, 2026
What a disaster for the Yankees. pic.twitter.com/FyeiZpbpOC
The Yankees announced after the game that Chisholm was examined by team physician Christopher Ahmad, who recommended that the Yankees infielder be placed in concussion protocol.
“It was really unfortunate,” Dominguez said of the incident after the game. “Double play, infield in. When they hit the ball, in my mine was just, ‘I’ve got to go catch the ball.’”
Dominguez added that he had tried to call off Chisholm, but did not do so loudly enough for the 2-time All-Star to hear.
Monday’s contest was the second in a row that Chisholm started but was unable to finish. Chisholm got ejected in the 6th inning of Sunday’s game against the Boston Red Sox for arguing a check swing call.
Chisholm has had a down
Update emerges on the Anthony Davis-Jimmy Butler trade possibility
Anthony Davis may end up getting traded by the Washington Wizards this offseason, but it will likely involve some further creativity.
Washington is open to trading their 10-time All-Star big man Davis, veteran NBA writer Sam Amico of Hoops Wire reported on Monday. However, the Wizards are not interested in acquiring injured Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler as part of the deal, Amico adds.
We learned over the weekend that the Warriors were pursuing a trade for the 33-year-old Davis in the hopes of then luring LeBron James in free agency. However, any such deal would have to include the 36-year-old Butler, who is five months into his recovery from a torn ACL, for salary-matching purposes.
The Wizards are looking to move along two different timelines next season, one based around newly-acquired in-his-prime star Trae Young (who just received a rich new extension from the team) and one based around No. 1 overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa and the rest of their young core. Butler, who is making $56.8 million next season but will likely miss the majority of the year as he continues his recovery, does not fit either of those timelines, so it makes perfect sense why Washington does not care to absorb him.
Still, that means that the Warriors would have to get a third team involved if they want to acquire Davis. Because of Butler’s injury and bloated salary, the only logical fits would be tanking cap-space teams such as the Chicago Bulls or the Brooklyn Nets.
The Wizards are not at all locked into the Warriors’ pathway either and could easily end up trading Davis elsewhere instead. In fact, we learned earlier this month that there was one other notable team in the West that was also hot on Davis’ trail.
1 surprising player could leave the Thunder this summer
The Oklahoma City Thunder might be taking an unexpected hit to their depth this offseason.
There is a belief around the league that Thunder guard Cason Wallace may be open to leaving the team, Brian Lewis of The New York Post reported on Monday. Lewis notes that Wallace is up for a contract extension that the Thunder might not necessarily be willing to pay.
Wallace, 22, is still on his rookie contract with OKC. While that means Wallace cannot even become a restricted free agent until 2027, he might potentially be looking to request a trade from the Thunder if he cannot get an extension done with the team this summer.
The former top-10 pick Wallace certainly seems to be have earned himself a big payday. He played a key role off the bench for the Thunder during their 2025 NBA championship victory and then proceeded to earn All-Defensive Second Team honors this past season.
Still, Wallace’s overall averages are underwhelming (8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 26.6 minutes per game last year), and Oklahoma City saw the emergence of fellow guard Ajay Mitchell in 2025-26. Combined with the presence of defensive stalwart Alex Caruso on the roster, the Thunder would foreseeably be able to survive if Wallace had to be traded.
OKC is locked into their Big Three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams through at least 2030, which means that they need to be thrifty with the rest of their roster. With big man Isaiah Hartenstein just landing a sizable new extension as well, Wallace and another notable player on the Thunder may no longer be in the mix for new contracts from the team.
Mets get tough injury news on Marcus Semien
The New York Mets are going to be without Marcus Semien through the All-Star break and beyond.
Semien has reportedly been diagnosed with a Grade 3 hip flexor strain. According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the All-Star second baseman is expected to spend “4 to 6 weeks minimum” on the injured list. The 35-year-old had been playing through the injury until last week, when he played in both ends of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs.
Marcus Semien’s hip flexor strain was judged a Grade 3. He tried to play until it severely limited his movement. It will be 4 to 6 weeks minimum. Tyrone Taylor’s was grade 1 1/2 to 2 and he missed 28 days. #mets
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 29, 2026
The Mets traded fan favorite Brandon Nimmo to acquire Semien from the Texas Rangers in November. The Rangers have seemingly won the trade so far, as Nimmo has outperformed Semien halfway through the season.
Semien, an AL MVP finalist for three different teams in his career, had seen his production decline in his final seasons in Texas. That trend has continued this far on the East Coast. Through 80 games in a Mets uniform, Semien has batted .214 with 9 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases.
Semien also had arguably the worst ABS challenge of the season last month, which may tell you how poorly he’s been seeing pitches at the plate. Perhaps a stint on could help him reset what has been a poor season thus far.
Raptors’ trade offer for Kawhi Leonard has been revealed
The LA Clippers apparently have an enticing offer on the table for Kawhi Leonard.
The Toronto Raptors are willing to offer forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, and a future first-round draft pick in exchange for the Clippers star Leonard, Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints reported Monday. Azarly does add though that the Clippers have rebuffed offers for Leonard up to this point and that they are seeking Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles in any potential deal with Toronto.
The Raptors, Leonard’s former team whom he led to an NBA championship in 2019 as the Finals MVP, have been linked to him in trade rumors for the last several days running. The expectation is that Leonard would be willing to sign an extension with Toronto, and an update from earlier in the week suggested that the Raptors were having real conversations with the Clippers about a trade.
As for the pieces that Toronto is putting on the table, Ingram (28) is coming off a 2026 All-Star season in which he averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Dick (22) was much worse on the year, averaging just 6.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. But Dick did post 14.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 2024-25 and still carries plenty of bounceback potential.
Combined with a future first-round draft pick, that seems to be pretty solid value for Leonard, who just turned 35 years old and has a very extensive history of injuries that can crop back up at any time. But Leonard did average a career-high 27.9 points per game last season over 72 total appearances, so it makes sense that the Clippers would also be pushing for Murray-Boyles, a high-upside two-way player who only recently turned 21 years old.
Leonard, who is entering the final year of his contract at $50.3 million, could still end up signing an extension with the Clippers this offseason or he could end up being traded to a completely different team (such as this interesting new suitor). But when it comes to both assets and history, the Raptors appear to be the Leonard trade destination that makes the most sense at this point.
Everyone made the same joke after Hawks cut Jonathan Kuminga loose
Fans believe a certain Western Conference coach may be feeling vindicated after hearing the latest news about Jonathan Kuminga.
Several reporters confirmed Monday that the Atlanta Hawks were declining the $24.3 million team option on Kuminga’s contract, making him a free agent. The move comes months after the Hawks traded Kristaps Porzingis to acquire Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors.
Several fans could not help but think of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr once the news on Kuminga went public. Many cracked jokes about Kerr being in “I told you so” mode, with another team not thinking he was worth the money.
Steve Kerr seeing the Johnathan Kuminga news pic.twitter.com/KbLvQyjSXp
— Doom Coming (@Getthebagcoach) June 29, 2026
Steve Kerr: https://t.co/8kInKWN14u pic.twitter.com/qIGM8Z7GXT
— Van™ (@Orochymaru_) June 29, 2026
“Steve Kerr was holding Kuminga back” https://t.co/wlmnRTQD5g pic.twitter.com/hKNllTCwXc
— Eze chinenye (@Solite007Eze) June 29, 2026
His fans thought "Steve Kerr was holding him back"🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/W24WsPGpp0
— Ashwin (@Sudharsan_ak) June 29, 2026
Kerr and Kuminga reportedly did not have the best relationship. The athletic swingman felt like he deserved a bigger role in Golden State’s rotation, which Kerr never seemed to agree with. Things turned sour enough that even petty grievances were being used against Kuminga during his later days in the Bay Area.
While Kuminga had an outstanding debut for the Hawks in February, he still didn’t look the part of a franchise cornerstone that a $24.3 million annual salary would suggest. Though it’s still possible that the Hawks declined the option with the intention of re-signing Kuminga to a longer, more team-friendly deal.
Kuminga averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 16 games for Atlanta.
Ben Simmons eyeing 2 teams as he pursues an NBA comeback
Ben Simmons’ music appears to be playing once again.
The three-time NBA All-Star forward Simmons revealed in an interview this week that he is plotting an NBA comeback. In a feature for Men’s Health, Simmons shared that he is considering one of two teams to potentially make a return with — the Miami Heat and his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Maybe I’ll go back to Philly,” said Simmons. “Miami would be nice. And not because it’s Miami—I like [head coach] Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organization, I like the culture.”
Simmons added that he feels great physically and mentally, noting that he plans to ramp up his training over the summer as well as he looks to return to the NBA in time for the 2026-27 season. You can read his full feature in Men’s Health at the link here.
Still just 29 years old, the former No. 1 overall pick Simmons went unsigned for the entire 2025-26 NBA season. He has managed to keep busy during his time away however and actually was able to win a championship in a completely different sport.
That said, Simmons averaged just 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game during his last NBA season in 2024-25. There is no indication right now that the interest is mutual with either the Heat (who are a hot landing spot after just acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo) or with the 76ers (whom Simmons played for from 2017-21 before infamously forcing his way out of town). But money will not be an issue for Simmons, who has already made over $200 million in his NBA career, and he has seemingly buried the hatchet with Philly in recent years as well.
Bradley Beal reportedly has mutual interest with 1 contending team
Bradley Beal may finally end up with the team that missed out on him in 2023.
The LA Clippers guard Beal officially decided on Monday to decline his $5.6 million player option for the 2026-27 NBA season. As a result, Beal is now becoming an unrestricted free agent who will be free to sign with any team.
In the wake of the news, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints shared that Beal already has mutual interest with one notable team. That team is the Miami Heat.
Beal, a three-time All-Star and former 30-ppg scorer, turned 33 years old earlier this week. But he is a shell of his former self at this point, especially after appearing in just six games for the Clippers last season before having to undergo season-ending hip surgery.
Still, the Heat need to find some cheap depth after swinging a blockbuster trade for former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo this week. While the Antetokounmpo trade should bring them back into legitimate contention, Miami had to shred their rotation in order to pull off the move and could also have to let one other notable scoring piece walk in free agency this summer.
With his value at total rock-bottom right now, Beal would almost certainly have to settle for a veteran’s minimum contract (estimated at $3.9 million for him next season). But having attended college at the University of Florida, Beal could be enticed by such an arrangement with the Heat, who suddenly look like a real threat again with their new Antetokounmpo-Bam Adebayo core.
Warriors re-sign veteran center to $40 million extension
The Golden State Warriors are active already ahead of NBA free agency, and they just agreed to a massive $40 million extension on Monday.
Free agent center Kristaps Porzingis agreed to a two-year deal worth $40 million to return to Golden State, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Warriors were eligible to reach an extension with Porzingis ahead of the veteran center hitting the open market on Tuesday night. The deal, according to @BobbyMarks42, likely prohibits Golden State from using the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception. https://t.co/5KCyRL7nnE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026
Porzingis has bounced around quite a bit in recent years. He was selected at No. 4 overall in 2015 by the New York Knicks. He then spent three seasons in New York and three years in Dallas before spending time with the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics, where he was part of the NBA title team.
Porzingis was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal, and the Warriors acquired him in a trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Hawks at the most recent trade deadline.
However, Kristaps Porzingis played just 15 games for the Warriors, averaging 16.1 points per game with 5.3 rebounds.
Draymond Green opted out of his deal on Monday, and reports surfaced that Golden State is trying to pair Anthony Davis and LeBron James together with Stephen Curry, so there is a lot of movement in the Bay Area.
Jalen Duren is exploring sign-and-trade out of Detroit
The Detroit Pistons might be losing young center Jalen Duren.
On Monday, insider Chris Haynes reported that Duren and the Pistons are a “sizable distance apart” in contract negotiations. Duren is now set to meet with the Sacramento Kings in the hope of working out a sign-and-trade agreement.
BREAKING: Due to sizable distance apart in negotiations, Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren will meet with the Sacramento Kings at the start of free agency with the intentions of structuring a sign-&-trade out of Detroit. pic.twitter.com/rzUZWy2iJF
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 29, 2026
Duren, 22, was the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft after playing with the Memphis Tigers. Duren was acquired on draft night as part of a three-team trade with the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks.
Reports surfaced recently that the Pistons and Duren were far apart in negotiations.
Jalen Duren is reportedly earning $40 million a year, and with the Pistons not wanting to pay that, it makes sense for both sides to move on. Duren averaged 19.5 points per game with 10.5 rebounds, but he averaged just 10.2 points per game with 8.5 rebounds in the playoff run.
The NBA free agency negotiation period begins on Tuesday, and the expectation is that any trade with the Kings would send Domantas Sabonis to the Pistons.
The Pistons also traded center Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies, so there could be a huge need for a big man in Detroit.
Bo Bichette has an emotional message in return to Toronto
When the New York Mets begin the three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre on Monday, all eyes will be on infielder Bo Bichette.
Bichette, who was drafted by the Blue Jays in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft, is returning to Toronto for the first time since leaving in MLB free agency.
Ahead of Monday’s game, Bichette was emotional while speaking about his time with the organization.
“I don’t know what to expect,” Bichette said before a long pause. “I gave it everything I had… so I just hope that’s appreciated”
Bo Bichette is emotional while reflecting on his time with the Blue Jays
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) June 29, 2026
"I gave it everything I had… so I just hope that's appreciated" pic.twitter.com/emg6B17MiQ
When the Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto in free agency, that certainly made it seem like Bichette’s time in Toronto was coming to an end.
Then, after a long free agency period, Bichette signed a massive three-year, $126 million deal with the New York Mets, and they moved him to play third base.
Bichette’s tenure with the Mets has been up and down, but he has found a bit of a rhythm at the plate recently. He is hitting .254 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs entering Monday, and he should receive a warm welcome in his return to Toronto.
1 Western Conference team showed interest in Ja Morant before Trail Blazers’ trade
The NBA landscape was shaken up on Monday when the Memphis Grizzlies traded Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Grizzlies acquired Jerami Grant and Kris Murray for Morant, and after months and months of trade rumors, Morant finally has a new home.
However, one other team in the Western Conference was previously “eyeing the possibility” of trading for Morant: The Sacramento Kings, according to insider Marc Spears.
The Sacramento Kings were eyeing the possibility of adding Ja Morant dating back to the last NBA trade deadline, but drafting Darius Acuff, Jr., recently cooled that talk.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) June 29, 2026
The trade rumors involving Morant picked up recently. The New Orleans Pelicans were at one time the frontrunner to land Morant, but the Blazers made the surprising move to pair him with Damian Lillard.
The Kings were also in there, but once they selected Arkansas Razorbacks star Darius Acuff Jr. at No. 7 in the NBA Draft, things changed.
The Blazers acquiring Morant is the latest in what has been a busy couple of weeks on the NBA trade front.
It began with the Milwaukee Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Shortly after, the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired LaMelo Ball in a deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
Now, Ja Morant is headed to Portland with new head coach Micah Nori.
Ja Morant has been traded by the Grizzlies
After months of rumors, the Memphis Grizzlies have finally pulled the trigger on a Ja Morant trade.
The Grizzlies are trading Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray will head to Memphis in return.
BREAKING: The Memphis Grizzlies are trading two-time NBA All-Star Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/FJOTzGe5Tr
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2026
The Grizzlies essentially give up on Morant for a pair of expiring contracts, though Grant does have a player option for 2027-28. It is still a remarkable drop in value for a player who was named to an All-NBA team as recently as 2022. Part of that is down to injuries, but he has faced off-court questions and was reportedly the cause of some tension within the organization last season.
Injuries limited Morant to just 20 games last season, and he averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists per game when he did play.
While Morant had popped up in plenty of trade rumors, he was never really linked to the Blazers, who were instead rumored to be targeting a bigger name. He joins a backcourt that already contains Scoot Henderson and a return for Damian Lillard, plus a scoring forward in Deni Avdija. Presumably, Portland will be asking him to be a facilitator as they try to take another step toward contention in the Western Conference next season.
Morant has two seasons remaining on his contract. The 26-year-old should have plenty of motivation to perform in Portland, and if he can approach anything close to his best, this would go down as a steal for the Blazers.
Marcus Smart heavily linked to 1 team after turning down Lakers option
Marcus Smart turned down his $5.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, a move that looks increasingly like a prelude to his departure.
Smart turned down the option amid growing interest from the Houston Rockets, according to multiple reports. Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that there is a “growing expectation” that the Rockets are eager to unite Smart with his former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka.
Marcus Smart is now officially declining his $5.4 million player option with the Lakers for next season amid a growing expectation Houston is eager to reunite Smart and Ime Udoka once free agency begins Tuesday at 6 PM ET.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 29, 2026
As covered last night: https://t.co/cm3hzA9JMT https://t.co/CJKNyBz1eI
Dan Woike of The Athletic also reported that the Rockets were emerging as a strong threat to lure Smart away from the Lakers. Speculation about Smart’s future ramped up earlier this week when it emerged that he was seriously considering declining his option.
The Rockets could certainly use the guard depth Smart would provide. The 32-year-old averaged 9.3 points and 1.4 steals per game for Los Angeles last season, and while he is no longer the elite perimeter defender he once was, he can more than hold his own in that role.
The Lakers had been hopeful of keeping Smart next season. With the likelihood of a raise growing and interest from elsewhere, that hope seems to be fading.
Lions make decision on Terrion Arnold
The Detroit Lions have made a decision on the future of cornerback Terrion Arnold following his recent arrest on felony charges.
The Lions announced Monday that Arnold has been released. The team made the decision on the same day the cornerback was granted a $1 million bond.
Lions announced today that they have released CB Terrion Arnold.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) June 29, 2026
The Lions evidently do not feel like they need to wait for the outcome of Arnold’s upcoming trial to decide on his future. The former first-round pick is facing a life sentence in prison on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery. Arnold was alleged to have planned out the robbery in an effort to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods that purportedly been stolen from an Airbnb that he was renting (full details here).
Arnold has maintained his innocence and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. A judge ruled on Monday that he would be able to practice and play for the Lions while free on bail, but the team’s decision has rendered that ruling moot.
The Lions selected Arnold 24th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was expected to be a big part of their secondary for years to come. He was limited to eight games last season and finished with 31 combined tackles, eight passes defended, and one interception.
Jannik Sinner dealt with bloody shoe during Wimbledon opener
Jannik Sinner played with a noticeable blood spot on his shoe during his first round match at Wimbledon on Monday.
Sinner suffered a nasty-looking fall during the third set of his match against Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday, doing the splits and then bending his leg awkwardly. The world No. 1 was in obvious pain and remained down for a few moments as he composed himself.
大丈夫かなぁぁぁ😓🙏#sinner pic.twitter.com/8GwXfatu0Y
— gami (@gami30104) June 29, 2026
The fall appeared to impact him for the rest of the match. At one point, cameras noted what appeared to be a spot of blood soaking through his right shoe.
ESPN commentators are speculating on whether or not this is blood coming from inside of Jannik Sinner's shoe at Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5JUBBF4HrW
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 29, 2026
Sinner downplayed the issue after the match, blaming it on an injured toenail. He said he was “fine” and even joked about his fear of getting disqualified because it ruined his all-white outfit.
“I’m good. It just seems much worse than it is,” Sinner said. “I’m actually very surprised they let me keep playing because… all white, it turned into a little red.”
Obviously, there are shades of Curt Schilling here, though Sinner obviously is not playing it up. He has had to battle through some physical issues lately, particularly during majors, so it would have been a blow for him to be knocked out for that reason here.
Sinner did need five sets to finally prevail after falling down 2-1. The reigning champion came back twice in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-3 win.
