Reds received trade offer for Elly De La Cruz
At least one team is aiming very high ahead of the MLB trade deadline by trying to pry Elly De La Cruz away from the Cincinnati Reds.
The Boston Red Sox made an offer to the Reds for De La Cruz, according to Sean McAdam of MassLive. The offer was composed of minor league prospects, and the Reds rejected it.
The Reds are not completely opposed to trading De La Cruz. However, they would need a very good package of young major leaguers to pull the trigger, and the Red Sox were unwilling to subtract from their current roster to land De La Cruz.
De La Cruz, 24, is one of the game’s most dynamic young players. He is hitting .276 on the season with 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases. The Reds clearly see him as a part of their future, and he is under team control through 2029, so it would unquestionably take an enormous haul to get him.
The Red Sox are looking for an upgrade at shortstop with Trevor Story dealing with a long-term injury. If they are asking about De La Cruz, they are certainly willing to go big.
Freddy Peralta has been traded by the Mets
Another major starting pitcher has been traded before Monday’s deadline.
The New York Mets are trading Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays, according to multiple reports. The Rays gave up three prospects in the deal, though none of them were in the organization’s top ten.
OF Aiden Smith is the Rays' No. 15 prospect per @MLBPipeline, RHP Gary Gill Hill is No. 26 and 2B Emilien Pitre is No. 27. https://t.co/e6sY9Amrzr
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) August 2, 2026
The Rays are not known for making splashy trade deadline moves, but they are going for it here. The Mets traded for Peralta last offseason to lead their rotation, but he has been a major disappointment by posting a 4.99 ERA through 22 starts. He is a free agent at the end of the season, and it became inevitable that he would be dealt so the Mets could get at least something in return.
The Rays likely believe they can get Peralta back to his best. As recently as 2025, he posted a 2.70 ERA for the Milwaukee Brewers, and is a two-time All-Star. This is a pretty low-risk move for them that could richly reward them if Peralta gets back to his best.
It is easy to see why the Rays are eager to go for it this year. They are 65-45 on the season entering play Sunday and hold a 3.5 game lead in the AL East. They have a legitimate chance to represent the American League in the World Series.
Giants manager Tony Vitello calls out ‘bulls—‘ report
San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello had some stark criticism of a claim that was made on a recent broadcast about shortstop Willy Adames.
Vitello was unhappy about a comment made by announcer Wayne Randazzo during AppleTV’s broadcast of the game against the San Diego Padres on Friday. Randazzo indicated that Giants infield coach Ron Washington said it had been “a little bit harder” for Adames to commit to infield work, which made it sound like there was an issue with Adames’ work ethic.
“Wash says it’s been a little bit harder for Adames to commit to the work day in and day out”. Unreal if true. https://t.co/zIPdwns8ae
— Giant Hot Takes (@GiantHotTakes) August 1, 2026
“Questioning work ethic there, first of all, is not anything close to what I put out there,” Vitello said Saturday. “I could give you my exact answer, but it’s bulls–t, is what it is.”
"It's bulls–t, is what it is."
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 1, 2026
Tony Vitello adamantly defended Willy Adames after a recent report criticizing his work ethic pic.twitter.com/dGAwBUVs6b
The initial comment seems to have been missing some vital context. It was reported last month that Adames has been playing through a back injury for much of the season, which has somewhat limited the work he has been able to do with Washington. If Adames has not been able to put in the work, it does not seem to have been by choice.
Adames has come under steady criticism for much of the season as both he and the Giants have underperformed. He entered play Sunday hitting just .224 on the season, and there have been reports that the Giants would like to get out from under his hefty contract. As long as he is with the Giants, however, his manager clearly has his back.
Tarik Skubal was very emotional after being traded
Tarik Skubal will have the chance to win a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that did not make Saturday night’s trade any easier on him.
Skubal fought off tears as he discussed the deal and how hard it would be to leave the Detroit Tigers when speaking with the media on Saturday night. Though he said he was “excited” for the opportunity to go to a legitimate World Series contender, he was clearly emotional at the prospect of leaving Detroit.
“It’s tough. I love all those guys in there. They’re some of my best friends,” Skubal said. “That’ll be tough, for sure.”
Tarik Skubal got emotional speaking about being traded to the Dodgers 🥺 pic.twitter.com/ZsHLFWZtdK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 2, 2026
The Tigers are still on the fringes of the AL playoff race, but the Dodgers are obviously a much better bet to win it all. However, Skubal came up through the Detroit organization and has never played for another team. Leaving that behind will be difficult no matter what.
Presumably, Skubal will be in a much better mood by the time he gets to Los Angeles. The rest of the league will not be, though.
Jerry Jones is considering a change fans have begged for
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is at least giving some thought to a change that many fans have clamored for.
Jones admitted that he is giving some consideration to finally addressing the bright sunlight that comes through the windows at AT&T Stadium during afternoon home games. The sunlight has been known to impact his own players negatively.
In a new interview, Jones suggested that tinted windows could solve the problem without hindering the aesthetics too much.
“I’m thinking about it,” Jones said Saturday. “As we look at it, I like some of the effects of the tinting, so we’re giving that a thought.”
You know those curtains inside AT&T Stadium and how they were used for the World Cup?
— Sam Gannon (@SamGannon87) August 2, 2026
Well Jerry told @MikeDoocyFox4 and me that he’s considering tinting the windows because he likes the effects.
“We’re giving that a thought.”
So there’s that guys! He’s thinking about it.… pic.twitter.com/U3eglVG2He
The stadium is equipped with curtains that can limit how much sun gets through. Despite calls to use them during games, Jones has been resistant, suggesting he likes the aesthetics too much and that the Cowboys should be using it as a form of home-field advantage.
Cowboys fans wish it wasn’t this much of a process to get Jones to consider making a change that could be beneficial to the team. At this point, they should probably just be happy he is considering it at all.
Angels announcer calls out rest of MLB for letting Dodgers get Tarik Skubal
Los Angeles Angels announcer Wayne Randazzo was dumbfounded that the Los Angeles Dodgers somehow ended up with Tarik Skubal.
The Angels were in a pitchers’ duel in the 8th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers when news broke that the Dodgers landed Skubal just before the trade deadline. Upon hearing the news, Randazzo could no longer focus on the action on the field at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Before even hearing about what the Detroit Tigers got in return, Randazzo was already in disbelief that the Angels’ crosstown rivals grew even more formidable.
“Why couldn’t a team like the Brewers or the Braves, or whoever, step in and keep the Dodgers [from getting Skubal] … How could these other teams allow that to happen?” Randazzo said on the broadcast just as news broke.
The veteran announcer grew even more irate when he heard that all the Dodgers gave up were No. 5 prospect Zyhir Hope, No. 7 prospect River Ryan, and No. 17 prospect Brady Smith.
“They don’t even trade their best prospect, which is De Paula. How does this happen? Why would teams just allow the Dodgers to swoop in and do this? I don’t get it. … They traded the No. 25 prospect overall, No. 68, and a guy who isn’t even in the top 100 to land Skubal. It feels like that’s a deal other teams could have made.”
“The Dodgers aren’t the only team with prospects, and they aren’t the only team with top-100 prospects that are in the mix,” Randazzo continued after he learned of who the Dodgers traded to get Skubal.
Wayne Randazzo sounds off on the Angels broadcast about MLB contenders, including the Brewers, letting the Dodgers land Tarik Skubal in a trade with the Tigers.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 2, 2026
"How does this happen?… It feels like that's a deal other teams could have made." ⚾️🎙️ #MLB pic.twitter.com/UIAKdz7NLB
One possible reason no teams outbid the Dodgers was the growing belief that Skubal was planning to sign with the defending champs in the offseason, regardless of where he ended up after the deadline. Few teams would want to give up their top-end prospects for just a half-season rental of Skubal.
The lack of competition for the 2-time Cy Young winner has some believing that the rest of the owners colluded to get Skubal to the Dodgers. Should the Dodgers win a third straight World Series, fans might feel more inclined to support a salary cap being added to the next CBA. The current deal is set to expire at season’s end.
Fans are all peddling the same conspiracy theory after Dodgers land Tarik Skubal
Several fans and even some media members believe the Los Angeles Dodgers received a helping hand to land Tarik Skubal.
The Dodgers’ evil empire grew even more villainous on Saturday with news that the team had acquired Skubal from the Detroit Tigers ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The Dodgers traded a package of three prospects in exchange for Skubal.
The Tigers did not get a single one of the Dodgers’ top-4 prospects, instead receiving No. 5 outfielder Zyhir Hope, No. 7 right-handed pitcher River Ryan, and No. 17 right-handed pitcher Brady Smith.
Many felt virtually every other team in the league could have topped the Dodgers’ offer, but refused to do so. It prompted fans and even some reporters to suggest that the rest of the league could be colluding to gain leverage during the upcoming CBA negotiations.
I honestly think this is collusion these cheap owners want dodgers to 3 peat to justify a lockout and salary cap https://t.co/bbCK1Qlih3
— Earl Simmons (@YankeesFanEarl) August 2, 2026
This is coordinated; all the owners want this. They want the Dodgers to do this so they have public support when they lose the 2027 season. It's all been the game plan from Day 1. @KFCBarstool sees it too. https://t.co/ykbkR2cUSw
— Frank Fleming (@NjTank99) August 2, 2026
If you told me a majority of MLB owners were colluding so that they could use the Dodgers as the reason for a salary cap…
— Rich MacLeod (@richmacleod) August 2, 2026
I’d probably believe you at this point.
The Dodgers getting Skubal will make owners happy. If the Dodgers win another World Series, baseball will be back in 2028 with a salary cap.
— Judd Zulgad (@jzulgad) August 2, 2026
MLB owners are just letting the Dodgers get a free 3 peat so they get their salary cap https://t.co/T8fvseGwJv
— Griff (@Jram2TBJ) August 2, 2026
The Dodgers, who have had a top-3 payroll in each of the last three seasons, have won back-to-back World Series and look all the more poised for a third. More than a few online voices claimed that such a result would have neutral fans backing the owners at season’s end, with the current CBA set to expire in December.
MLB remains the only one of the four major U.S. sports leagues yet to implement some form of a salary cap, allowing big-market teams like the Dodgers, New York Mets, and New York Yankees to pile on massive payrolls year after year.
The team with the highest salary bill, however, is never guaranteed a World Series or even team success for that matter. Just ask the Mets, who seem set to miss the playoffs for a second straight year.
The Dodgers have simply played the money game better than anyone. The team’s use of deferrals in various contracts has allowed them to keep spending despite already fielding an All-Star at almost every position.
Should the Skubal deal lead to a third consecutive World Series victory, fans believe the league may soon take away the financial tools the Dodgers have gotten so good at using.
Tarik Skubal traded to Dodgers in blockbuster deal
The Los Angeles Dodgers have struck gold once again with a trade deadline deal for Tarik Skubal.
Several reporters confirmed Saturday night that the Dodgers and Detroit Tigers have agreed to a swap that will send Skubal to Los Angeles in exchange for a trio of prospects. The Tigers will receive outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring Tarik Skubal for outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-hander River Ryan and right-hander Brady Smith, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 2, 2026
An earlier report from Ken Rosenthal claimed that Dodgers starting pitcher Emmett Sheehan was included in the trade. The veteran reporter later clarified that was not the case. ESPN’s Jeff Passan had been adamant over the past week that the Dodgers were the favorites to win the Skubal trade sweepstakes.
With the Dodgers’ pitching staff decimated by injuries this season, the defending champs supplemented their rotation with arguably the best hurler in the game. The Dodgers’ interest in Skubal reportedly grew because of the uncertainty with Shohei Ohtani’s pitching prospects for the rest of the season. He has not pitched since early July due to lingering injuries to his knee and biceps.
Skubal, who is coming off back-to-back Cy Young-winning seasons in Detroit, has looked a little closer to human this season — but not by much. Across 16 starts, Skubal has an ERA of 2.79 and a WHIP of 0.91. But the Tigers have only gone 9-7 this year with Skubal on the mound.
Andy Reid had a reassuring claim about Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes is back to being Patrick Mahomes on the field, according to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
Mahomes is getting down to work at the Chiefs’ ongoing training camp at Missouri Western State in St. Joseph, Mo., after being cleared several months following knee surgery.
Amid concerns about the three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player’s form after such a long layoff to recover from a torn ACL, Reid offered an encouraging assessment of Mahomes at training camp.
“He’s really doing everything that he normally does and doing it well. So, we’re happy with that,” Reid told Dan Graziano of ESPN on Saturday. “We know he’s still progressing through it. But he sure looks sharp out here.”
Still, Kansas City does not have to rush Mahomes back into top form, as he continues to shake off the rust and get his feet under him. As the single most important Chiefs player, Mahomes and his health will be under constant scrutiny heading into the 2026 NFL season, where Kansas City is looking to regain its former glory.
As it stands, it seems fair to expect the former Texas Tech Red Raiders star quarterback to be under center when the Chiefs open their 2026 campaign on Sept. 14 against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
White Sox bolster pitching staff after trade for 3-time All-Star
The Chicago White Sox mean business. A day before the 2026 MLB trade deadline, they pulled off a trade to bolster their pitching staff by trading for three-time All-Star and Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Based on Passan’s report, the deal is a three-for-one trade.
From Passan on X: “BREAKING: The Chicago White Sox are acquiring right-hander Luis Castillo in a trade with the Seattle Mariners for reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones and catching prospect Boston Smith, sources tell ESPN.”
It hasn’t been a great 2026 season for Castillo so far, but a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered for the 33-year-old pitcher. In what turned out to be his last start in Seattle uniform, Castillo got lit up for 5 earned runs on 11 hits with 2 walks and just 2 strikeouts through five innings, albeit in a 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.
Before the trade, Castillo went just 3-9 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.395 WHIP through 20 appearances (17 starts) this year for the White Sox. However, underlying numbers such as his 4.57 FIP and .304 BABIP suggest that he could pick things up on the mound.
According to ESPN’s Alden González, the White Sox will shoulder the rest of the money on the pitcher’s contract, which also includes a $25M vesting option for 2028 if he pitches for at least 180 innings.
The White Sox, who have not been to the playoffs since 2021, are atop the AL Central standings with a 58-52 record despite a 1-0 loss on Saturday to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Christian McCaffrey responds to his heated interaction with Dre Greenlaw
Fights are nothing new at NFL training camps, but they never fail to draw attention, especially when star players are involved. That was the case Friday for the San Francisco 49ers, as running back Christian McCaffrey and linebacker Dre Greenlaw reportedly had a heated interaction during the team’s first padded practice.
David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard reported that “Greenlaw shoved McCaffrey to the ground after a catch,” which the running back understandably did not like. Lombardi added that “CMC got up and shoved Greenlaw, who then restrained himself and backed off.”
For the 49ers, it’s great to see that the two stars are taking things seriously at training camp, to the point where they almost fought each other.
McCaffrey later addressed the skirmish, assuring 49ers fans that nothing personal fueled the aggression in practice.
“Real quick, Dre is my favorite football player in the NFL,” McCaffrey told KNBR’s Greg Silver and John Dickinson. “He has been for a long time, and it’s because of stuff like that. Camp is so fun man … We get to play a little kids game for a living. The same way you fight with your brothers as kids … Sometimes you get into scuffles with your teammates.”
As for Greenlaw, this is probably the type of intensity he is just looking for in his return to San Francisco. After a one-year stint with the Denver Broncos, the veteran linebacker decided to take his talents back to the Bay Area, signing a 1-year $6 million contract with the team that selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Kevin Gausman had an amazing quote after his final start before the trade deadline
Kevin Gausman could be in a different uniform by Sunday, but on Saturday, he made sure to leave a positive impression on the mound during what could have been his final start for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Gausman pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just an earned run while surrendering a walk and striking out four hitters. He gave up nine hits, but his performance was enough to help the Blue Jays secure a 5-1 victory and earn his first win in more than two months.
Gausman is clearly aware that there’s a chance he’s thrown his last pitch as a Blue Jay. In his postgame interview, the 35-year-old right-hander shared a heartfelt message about the Blue Jays, Toronto and Canada.
“I’ve embraced not just the team but the country,” Gausman said, via Sportsnet. “I really love this city and everything that it stands for. This has been the best decision I’ve ever made to come here.”
Gausman arrived in Toronto on a five-year, $110 million contract ahead of the 2022 season. That deal is set to expire after this season, and without an extension to keep him with the Blue Jays, it’s widely expected he’ll finish the 2026 season elsewhere.
On the season, Gausman has a 5-10 record to go along with a 4.38 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 57 starts.
Ray Knight drops an F-bomb on live TV in an unhinged moment
Ray Knight might have just provided the most entertaining moment of the 2026 New York Mets season.
The retired Mets legend Knight was in attendance at Saturday’s game between the Mets and the Miami Marlins at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. Knight was there (among several of his other former teammates) as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Mets’ 1986 World Series championship.
In the sixth inning, Knight, who was the 1986 World Series MVP, got interviewed on live television by SportsNet New York. He was asked about what it meant to reunite with his ex-teammates and proceeded to drop an F-bomb as part of an unhinged answer.
“We hug,” said Knight of his former Mets teammates. “I had four or five guys that gave me a kiss on the cheek. I kissed a couple of guys on the cheek. People can think what they want to think. I don’t give a f–k. I do know one thing, I like going to war with those men.”
Here is the video (but obviously beware of the foul language).
Here is the Ray Knight Clip https://t.co/4mb40aUl3t pic.twitter.com/i2XqSNheqR
— Mets2026 (@Mets2026) August 1, 2026
Now 73 years old, Knight played in Major League Baseball for 13 seasons from 1974-88. He made two All-Star teams with the Cincinnati Reds in 1980 and 1982 and then played for the Mets from 1984-86. Knight was indeed a main character in New York’s 1986 championship victory over the Boston Red Sox, being named World Series MVP after scoring the winning run in extra innings on the infamous Bill Buckner play in Game 6 and then hitting the go-ahead home run off Boston’s Calvin Schiraldi in Game 7.
The Mets would go on to lose Saturday’s game to the Marlins by a final of 6-2. But Knight was at least able to make Mets fans smile and has clearly learned a thing or two about live TV from fellow ’86 Mets alum Keith Hernandez.
Surprising news emerges about Carlos Correa
Carlos Correa may unexpectedly be dropping back down from the rafters.
The injured Houston Astros shortstop Correa spoke with reporters on Saturday. During the interview, Correa made the surprise revelation that there is a “chance” he could still return in the 2026 MLB season.
“We’ll see,” Correa said, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. “I wouldn’t be doing all this work if I didn’t think there was a chance.
“As soon as I got hurt, I got on this protocol and I started looking for all the information I could into how to speed up the process,” added Correa. “The things I needed to eat, how I needed to sleep, the type of treatment I needed. We’ve been doing a great job of that. We’re in a good spot.”
Correa, the three-time MLB All-Star who returned to Houston last year in a trade with the Minnesota Twins, has been sidelined since early May due to a torn tendon in his left ankle. He underwent surgery that was fully expected to be season-ending, but now he appears to have a pathway to return some three months later.
The 31-year-old Correa was batting .279 with a .787 OPS over 32 games before getting hurt and had been playing some third base for the Astros in order to accommodate star shortstop Jeremy Peña. Houston is also now currently leading the AL West at 56-55, so there is incentive for Correa to return (though the Astros have done a bit of selling in recent weeks).
Report: Yankees linked to NL slugger having a career year
A National League slugger who is in the middle of his best season yet in the big leagues has appeared on the New York Yankees’ MLB trade deadline radar.
According to insider Joel Sherman of The New York Post, the Yankees have shown interest in Washington Nationals first baseman Luis Garcia Jr., as the team looks to give its offense a spark.
Garcia is now a bigger name to watch heading into Monday’s trade deadline. He has been a major reason why the Nationals are the most prolific scoring team in the big leagues. Entering Saturday, Washington is leading the majors with 602 runs on the season. No other club has more than 572. The Nats are also pacing MLB with a .775 OPS.
Conversely, the Yankees are 11th and 12th overall in those areas, respectively.
Run production wouldn’t have been such a big issue for New York without a banged-up roster. Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are all on the shelf with injuries. Given the year he is having, Garcia could bolster New York’s offense.
The 26-year-old Garcia enters Saturday batting .283/.314/.561 with 23 home runs and 76 RBIs, both already the most he’s had in a season since his MLB debut in 2020.
The Yankees, who made a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, started the day second in the American League East standings with a 62-48 record.
H/T MLB Trade Rumors
JR Smith hilariously lost his cool during celebrity golf event
JR Smith almost had a bit of a meltdown on Saturday while taking part in a celebrity golf event.
Smith was one of the players in the Polymarket Classic, which featured him competing in pairs against golf influencers including Paige Spiranac. At one point, Smith missed back-to-back putts, including one fairly simple one.
Smith looked ready to throw his club before he was able to calm himself down.
🚨NEW: JR Smith missed 2 putts and almost crashed out. pic.twitter.com/4R7BmVJ5Kc
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) August 1, 2026
Smith and partner Claire Hogle wound up losing 7-1, so in many ways, that sequence was emblematic of his afternoon.
We do know that Smith is fond of golfing. After his NBA career ended, he even sought to join a college golf team after going back to school. He let himself down on Saturday, though.
Red Sox could make controversial player available for trade
The Boston Red Sox may be ready to move on from one of their most controversial players.
Though the Red Sox are clear buyers at the trade deadline, they are willing to trade outfielder Jarren Duran, according to Julian McWilliams of CBS Sports. Duran still has a market, with the San Diego Padres listed as a potential fit.
The biggest problem for Duran is that he has been one of the most ineffective hitters in all of baseball this season. Entering play Saturday, he has hit just .198 with a .338 slugging percentage, and ranks as one of the worst hitters among statistical qualifiers.
Further complicating Duran’s situation is the fact that he has a long history of winding up at odds with fans and teammates. As recently as Thursday, Duran seemingly lost his cool at Red Sox third base coach Chad Epperson for not sending Willson Contreras home on a shallow flyout, despite the fact that Contreras would have undoubtedly been out.
Duran was a legitimate MVP candidate two years ago, and was a perfectly solid player last season as well, hitting .256 with 13 triples. There are certainly some teams who think he still has that in him, and that it could be unlocked with a change of scenery.
Shaq claims the Knicks got lucky in winning the NBA title
The New York Knicks are the latest ones that Shaquille O’Neal refuses to give credit to.
O’Neal, the legendary Basketball Hall of Famer, spoke this week on the latest episode of his “The Big Podcast with Shaq.” During the episode, O’Neal addressed the Knicks’ championship victory and said that he believes they got lucky in winning it all.
“If you don’t get that tip [by OG Anunoby in Game 4 of the NBA Finals] it’s over,” said O’Neal. “You don’t win that game. If dumba– [San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron] Fox don’t f–ing try to score with eight seconds left … That’s two instances right there.
“If [the Spurs] don’t let the 29-point lead go,” O’Neal added. “I’m just saying, a little bit of luck in that … Y’all won, but you had a lot of luck.”
O’Neal was referencing the San Antonio star Fox’s last-second blunder in Game 4 of the Finals that opened the door for OG Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in to cap off a 29-point collapse by the Spurs to the Knicks. But of course, all three of those things that O’Neal mentioned happened in one single game. He did not account for the fact that New York beat San Antonio in five games and also had 12 double-digit wins overall in the 2026 playoffs.
Every NBA championship is rooted (to some degree) in luck, whether it be injury luck, matchup luck, or just a friendly bounce of the ball or two that ends up swinging a series. But the Knicks, in rallying from multiple late deficits to the Spurs in the Finals and in walloping every single Eastern Conference opponent prior to that, proved that they were far more good than lucky. Still, this is just par for the course for O’Neal, who has consistently proven to be one of the biggest haters in sports media today.
49ers have huge plans for Deebo Samuel
The San Francisco 49ers made the surprise decision to sign Deebo Samuel this week, but that does not mean the team does not have huge plans for him.
49ers president John Lynch said Saturday that the Niners had wanted to sign Samuel even before wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was ruled out for the season due to a knee injury. Lynch said the plan is to use Samuel as a running back, wide receiver, and even on return duty.
“You are going to see him in the return game, at receiver, and at running back,” Lynch said. “We are going to use him all over the field, and we are really excited to have Deebo back.”
John Lynch said Deebo Samuel is committed to returning kicks full-time for the 49ers, who wanted to bring Deebo in even before Ricky Pearsall’s knee swelling:
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 1, 2026
“You are going to see him in the return game, at receiver, and at running back. We are going to use him all over the…
Samuel had his best NFL season in 2021, when the Niners used him all over the offense. That season, he caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards with 14 total touchdowns. It is probably too much to expect those sorts of numbers again, but it certainly sounds like there is a big role in Samuel’s future if he can stay healthy and embrace it.
Samuel’s production has been nowhere close to that over the past few years. Evidently, however, the 49ers were targeting him, and they got him.
Ex-Heat champion says Rich Paul cost him over $70 million
Rich Paul has another angry former client.
Retired ex-Miami Heat champion Norris Cole appeared this week on the “OGs Podcast” with his old Heat teammates Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller. During the episode, Cole spoke about his former agent Paul of Klutch Sports and said that Paul cost him tens of millions through botched free agent negotiations.
“I had a powerful agent, and I let him do everything, all the negotiating,” said Cole. “I didn’t even think twice about it. But he did some bad negotiations. I caught wind of it late, and I ended up firing him.
“And when you fire a powerful agent, of course they’re going to save face,” Cole added. “That’s what happened. They tried to make it seem like I was the greedy one.”
Cole added that he believes that the situation cost him “probably” $70 million-$80 million.
Now 37 years old, Cole played in the NBA from 2011-17 and then went onto a lengthy career overseas. Cole, who is still currently playing professionally in Uruguay, won back-to-back championships with the Heat from 2012-13 and also later played for the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder.
While Cole never mentioned Paul by name, Paul did represent Cole from 2014-16. In 2015, Cole accepted a one-year, $3 million qualifying offer from the New Orleans Pelicans and then went unsigned as an unrestricted free agent in 2016. Cole ultimately fired Paul at that point and believes that Paul then started a smear campaign on him, resulting in Cole never making it back into the league (save for a brief 13-game stint with the Thunder in 2017).
Cole was obviously a role player at best and averaged just 7.0 points and 2.7 assists per game over his NBA career. But considering the absurd money that was handed out in free agency as a result of the one-year salary cap spike in 2016 (e.g. $75 million for Allen Crabbe, $72 million for Bismack Biyombo, $64 million for Timofey Mozgov, etc.), Cole might not be too far off with his estimate on how much Paul cost him.
Paul is the best-known agent in the NBA today and represents some big names, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, and Tyrese Maxey. But Paul has had plenty of misses over the years with lower-tier NBA clients and was once even sued a few years back by another former client who claimed that Paul cost him massive money through bad representation.
