Tyrese Haliburton limping after Game 5 loss
Tyrese Haliburton tried to play through an injury during Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but his status for the rest of the series isn’t looking so great.
Haliburton had to have his right calf muscle treated during the first half of his Indiana Pacers’ 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was dealing with soreness in his calf, which developed after he had hurt his ankle earlier in the series. In fact, Haiburton was seen limping after Game 2 of the series.
Haliburton went 0/6 from the field in the Game 5 loss, though he made four free throws. After the game, Haliburton was seen limping as he exited the podium following a visit with the media. He did say he would be playing in Game 6.
Tyrese Haliburton says he’s going to play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, saying he’s waited his whole life for this.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 17, 2025
Here he is walking off with a limp. pic.twitter.com/yLIbz5oNw2
Haliburton is getting injured at the worst time for Indiana. They are down 3-2 in the series and need to win two in a row to avoid losing and seeing their season come to an end. It’s going to be hard to make that happen without their best player healthy.
“I was not great tonight by any means, but… if I can walk then I wanna play,” Haliburton said after Game 5.
The only good news for Haliburton and Indiana is that Game 6 will not be until Thursday.
Pacers fans crucify Rick Carlisle over his controversial move in Game 5
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was heavily criticized on Monday over one of his late-game decisions in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
The Pacers trailed the Oklahoma City Thunder 71-59 with 6:40 left in the third quarter at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. That was the moment Carlisle inserted backup point guard TJ McConnell into the contest.
With Tyrese Haliburton hobbled by a calf injury, McConnell served as the Pacers’ primary ball-handler for the rest of the quarter. McConnell scored 13 of his 18 points on 6/7 shooting to close out the third. The Arizona alum also tallied two assists, a rebound, and a steal to help cut the lead to as little as five.
McConnell capped off his incredible run with an and-1 after eluding both Alex Caruso and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
T.J. McConnell takeover 🔥
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 17, 2025
he had 13 points in the third quarter 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vlW6kFYCnn
Carlisle replaced McConnell with Haliburton a minute into the fourth quarter. Indiana stayed close for most of the fourth quarter, even getting to within two points. But fans felt like the Pacers closed the margin despite Haliburton, and not because of him.
Several fans slammed Carlisle for riding an injured Haliburton instead of going back to McConnell.
if Rick Carlisle was the elite top 5 coach yall say he is TJ McConnell woulda been in this whole quarter n Hali woulda been on a flight back to Indy rn
— 🤺 (@philfanacc) June 17, 2025
TJ McConnell dragged the Pacers back into the game in the 3rd.
— Ashley Nevel (@AshleyNevel) June 17, 2025
Then Carlisle benched him for Halliburton, who’s out here turning it over like he’s sponsored by OKC. Now they’re down 14. Make it make sense.
Rick Carlisle should’ve kept TJ McConnell in the game. He had 13 points on 6/7 FG and 2 assists in the 3rd quarter just to play only one minute in the 4th
— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) June 17, 2025
Rick Carlisle benching TJ McConnell for Hali in the 4th is coaching malpractice.
— Agent 0 (@FT_Merchant05) June 17, 2025
Carlisle only reinserted McConnell once the game was virtually over. The Thunder won the contest 120-109 to take a 3-2 series lead in the NBA Finals.
Carlisle has reminded fans this postseason that he’s one of NBA history’s most underrated coaches. But not even an NBA champion coach like Carlisle is immune to criticism.
Haliburton had arguably the worst game of his young playoff career, leading to fans questioning his status as an NBA superstar. If Haliburton’s calf continues to render him ineffective in Game 6, Carlisle would need to rely heavily on McConnell once again.
Everyone said the same thing about Tyrese Haliburton after his Game 5 no-show
Tyrese Haliburton failed to silence his critics on Monday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Haliburton did not convert on a single field goal attempt in the Indiana Pacers’ 120-109 loss at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. He shot 0/6 from the field and 0/4 from three-point range, scoring all four of his points from the free throw line. Haliburton was a -13 during his 34 minutes on the floor.
While Haliburton did tally seven rebounds and six assists, several fans criticized him for not stepping up when Indiana needed him most. Many claimed that Game 5 was clear evidence that Tyrese is not a superstar despite his postseason heroics.
Haliburton goes ghost too often to be a superstar
— ً (@JahGoated) June 17, 2025
I’m sorry but never call Tyrese Haliburton a “superstar” ever again.
— Hana 🏀 (@HanaHoops) June 17, 2025
Nights like tonight is why i cant put Haliburton is superstar convos
— Bask (@baskgod) June 17, 2025
The Pacers star played through a calf injury that forced him to leave the game briefly during the second quarter. While he was able to return and play through the pain, the issue hampered his ability to get past defenders.
Game 5 injury aside, the debate regarding Haliburton’s superstar status is complex. A big part of what makes a player a superstar is consistency. While most NBA players can carry their team on a good night, superstars do it every game.
Despite experiencing the highest of highs this postseason, Haliburton has had several duds scattered throughout the playoffs. He scored eight points on seven shots in a Game 5 loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. He also finished with four points across 30 minutes in Game 3 of the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On the other hand, Haliburton’s impact goes beyond the scoring column. He’s a rare pass-first playmaker in a league that’s seen the pure point guard archetype nearly extinct. The breakneck pace he plays with sets the tone for a Pacers team that’s made the Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons. The calf issue took some of his burst away in Game 5.
No star in the 2025 NBA Playoffs has received more shine than Haliburton. But his place as a true superstar remains up for debate.
Astros 3B Luis Guillorme makes sick diving catch
Houston Astros infielder Luis Guillorme on Monday submitted his bid for this season’s Catch of the Year.
The Astros led the Athletics 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif. A’s slugger Tyler Soderstrom was at the plate to lead off the inning against Astros starter Ryan Gusto.
Soderstrom popped up a 1-2 changeup that looked destined to touch outfield grass in shallow left field. But it just so happened to enter Guillorme’s no-fly zone.
The hefty infielder went airborne himself to make the catch, preventing what could have been a leadoff double.
LUIS GUILLORME OH MY GOODNESS 🤯
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 17, 2025
(via @astros)pic.twitter.com/rvOzmChNU5
The contest against the A’s was just Guillorme’s third game in an Astros uniform. The fourth-inning play was a heck of a way to endear himself to Houston’s coaching staff early.
The Astros signed Guillorme to a minor league deal in February. He batted .248 with 2 home runs and 22 RBIs over 57 games with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate.
Guillorme has made a name for himself as a plus defender who can play at third base, second base, or shortstop. He proved Monday that he can make plays in the outfield as well.
Fans may also remember Guillorme for catching a flying bat in the dugout during his time with the New York Mets.
Tyrese Haliburton dealing with calf injury in NBA Finals
Tyrese Haliburton had a rough first half during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, and there is an injury explanation for it.
Haliburton is dealing with calf tightness in his right leg, which is the same leg where he had soreness in his ankle last week. Haliburton had missed all four shots he attempted in the first half of Game 5 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. At halftime, ESPN’s Shams Charania shared the report about Haliburton’s calf tightness. Haliburton was shown walking to the locker room with something wrapped around his right calf.
Haliburton failed to resemble his usual self by such a great extent that ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said he was glad to hear the injury explanation.
Stephen A: "Haliburton has looked awful and I'm glad he's injured" pic.twitter.com/CIdTcYbtU5
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 17, 2025
Haliburton entered Game 5 averaging 17.8 points per game during the series. His stats and performance took a real turn in Game 5 as he hardly attempted any shots and failed to make a field goal through the first three quarters.
Stephen A. Smith committed brutal slip-up during NBA Finals Game 5
Stephen A. Smith on Monday made a comment about Tyrese Haliburton that he surely wants back.
The Indiana Pacers star looked hobbled in the first half of NBA Finals Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. Haliburton went to the locker room in the second quarter due to a right calf injury but was able to return to the game before halftime.
Haliburton was a net negative on the floor for the Pacers in that first half. He went scoreless, missing all five of his field goal attempts, and had a -16 net rating at the break.
Smith commented about Haliburton’s performance (or lack thereof) during the ESPN halftime show. In his haste to get his point across, Smith accidentally dropped a quote that seemed to be in extremely poor taste.
“Listen, the bottom line is this. Haliburton has looked awful. I’m glad he’s injured,” Stephen A. said.
Stephen A Smith:
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) June 17, 2025
“I’m glad Hali’s injured” 😳😳😳pic.twitter.com/su8MN8gwWz
Smith immediately clarified that he misspoke. He added that he was glad an injury served as the “rationale” behind Haliburton playing poorly, rather than the Pacers star simply faltering during a critical game. But that didn’t stop his quote from spreading on social media.
Injury or not, Haliburton has had a few duds throughout the playoffs in between some spectacular outings. But based on the Pacers guard’s growing list of postseason game-winners, the man has never looked afraid of the moment.
Red Sox fans not buying GM Craig Breslow’s take on Rafael Devers trade
Boston Red Sox fans are not buying what general manager Craig Breslow is trying to sell regarding the Rafael Devers trade.
The Red Sox sold low on their hard-hitting superstar on Sunday, trading him to the San Francisco Giants for a pitching boost and some prospects. The move drew widespread criticism amongst Red Sox fans, with many comparing it to the Mookie Betts deal.
On Monday, Breslow spoke to reporters and addressed some of the fans’ concerns. The 44-year-old claimed that the team could end up winning more games without Devers in the clubhouse.
“On paper, we’re not going to have the same lineup that we did,” said Breslow. “But this isn’t about the game that’s played on paper, this is about the game that’s played on the field … I do think there’s a real chance that at the end of the season, we’re looking back and we’ve won more games than we otherwise would have.”
The Red Sox executive added that shedding Devers makes the team more “functional” and “complete” while giving the team some added flexibility.
The fans did not see things that way.
How is this team better off of paper??
— Crochet Enjoyer (@crochet1enjoyer) June 17, 2025
This dude is such a liar. There is no chance he believes this team is better off without Devers. No chance.
— Brandon (@BoSoxBrando) June 17, 2025
He should be fired and banned from baseball for saying that.
— Matthew Leb (@Leb_Zeppelins) June 17, 2025
Craig Breslow on being unemployed in 2026: “I should have never traded Rafael Devers.”
— erica (@midgetbubz) June 17, 2025
It’s not hard to see why Red Sox fans are upset. It’s one thing to trade Devers, but it’s another to peddle the notion that the team got better by trading him.
Through 73 games before the trade, Devers led Boston in home runs (15) and RBIs (54). His 56 walks in that span led the American League by a wide margin. Devers shook off a historically bad start to the 2025 season to post a batting average of .272 and an OPS of .905.
While Devers’ production won’t be easily replaced, the move is believed to have eased tensions in the clubhouse. Red Sox players had reportedly been at odds with some of Devers’ comments before the trade.
JJ Spaun had to make a CVS run at 3 am before final round at US Open
JJ Spaun spent Father’s Day filling his role as a typical dad.
Spaun revealed after winning the US Open on Sunday that he spent time before the final round of the major at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa., doing family errands. He said that his daughter was vomiting all night, which resulted in his wife being up at 3:00 a.m. Spaun said that he made a run to a CVS in downtown to pick up some medication to help his sick daughter.
“It was kind of a rough start to the morning,” Spaun said after winning the major. “I’m not blaming that on my start, but it kind of fit the mold of what was going on, the chaos.”
Though having an early morning/rough night may have tired out Spaun, he says there were many benefits to having his family around. Spaun believes their presence kept his mind occupied and kept him focus on doing “dad” things.
“I don’t think I had any — I didn’t really — like when I go back home after the round, my kids are there, and it’s such a big distraction where I’m not even having to dwell on anything or think too much, which is a good thing,” Spaun said.
“Like THE PLAYERS was tough, I was alone that week, and I’m just kind of sitting there at night in my hotel room, like trying not go go on social media, trying not to go on Twitter or whatever, X. It’s nice to be able to have the kids to be around and be a dad. That kind of keeps your mind off golf and kind of gets me in a calm, cool, collective mindset going into today.”
The presence of his family seemed to help. Spaun putted extremely well to close out his final round, which allowed him to win his first career major, and cash in on a $4.3 million prize.
JJ Spaun's Sunday morning started extremely early after one of his daughters got hit with the stomach bug during the night.
— Mark Harris (@itismarkharris) June 16, 2025
Before his final round tee time, he made a CVS run for meds. Hours later, he's a U.S. Open winner.
Just a regular dad who happens to be great at golf. pic.twitter.com/XmEKYzl95V
Angel Reese files to trademark term ‘mebounds’
Angel Reese is using her critics as a way to enrich herself.
Reese shared a video via TikTok on Saturday in which she discussed the negative nickname critics have given her over one part of her game. Critics believe Reese pads her statistics by rebounding her own misses and have labeled those “mebounds.”
“Whoever came up with the ‘mebounds’ thing. Y’all ate that up because rebounds, mebounds, crebounds, keybounds … anything that comes off that board, it’s mine. Whoever came up with that … the trolling, I love when y’all do that, because the ideas be good,” Reese said in the video.
Guess what? The Chicago Sky forward has since filed to trademark the term.
A company called Angel Reese LLC filed to trademark “mebounds,” with plans to use the term on clothing items such as hats, T-shirts and sweatshirts. Her trademark request was listed as “pending” as of Monday.
Angel Reese has filed a trademark for the rebound term "Mebounds" 💰
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 16, 2025
Reese says she ‘loves the trolling’ because it results in ‘good ideas’ from fans 👀 pic.twitter.com/iVo2ZIxJfA
Reese had said she was going to use the idea to make it a six-figure business. She’s taken the first step towards that goal.
As for the nickname, it’s rooted in reality. Of the 11.9 rebounds per game that she averages this season, 4.8 come on the offensive side of the ball. All you have to do is see some of the videos involving her to know the criticism is completely legitimate.
Russell Westbrook favored to land with Eastern Conference team
Russell Westbrook may soon be returning to the Southeast Division.
Bovada oddsmakers are listing an Eastern Conference team as the favorites this week to sign the former MVP guard Westbrook in free agency — the Miami Heat. Miami is currently listed at +260 to land Westbrook.
Rounding out the top five on Bovada’s odds list are the Dallas Mavericks (+325), the Sacramento Kings (+500), the Golden State Warriors (+750), and the Orlando Magic (+750). You can see the full list here.
Westbrook, who previously played in Miami’s division with the Washington Wizards from 2020-21, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The nine-time All-Star holds a $3.5 million player option with the Denver Nuggets for next season but recently decided that he will be turning that option down.
Now 36 years old, Westbrook is a strong floor-raiser, especially now that he is a full-time bench player. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game this season for the Nuggets.
As for the Heat, they don’t have a lot of point guard depth behind Tyler Herro, especially with Davion Mitchell set for restricted free agency this summer. Kyle Anderson, Nikola Jovic, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. all have ball-handling capabilities, but none of them are true point guards.
Miami might be enticing to Westbrook, particularly with the presence of Kevin Love, his former college teammate at UCLA, on the roster. At the very least, the Heat are a far superior option to the other one that just emerged for Westbrook earlier this month.
Red Sox fired scout over hot mic moment
The Boston Red Sox have been a big part of headlines lately, and it’s all due to their trade of Rafael Devers, which has been the subject of great debate.
The Red Sox on Sunday stunningly traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants. They were not only able to shed his contract, but they also got back some players in return. However, the move happened after Devers had homered to help his Red Sox sweep the rival New York Yankees. The timing of the trade did not sit well with fans for obvious reasons.
Since the trade occurred, Yahoo Sports published a report that was critical of the Red Sox’s organization. The report suggested that Alex Cora was at odds with chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. The report said that Breslow hired some consultants to streamline the organization last year. Some other people who had been part of the organization have reportedly been marginalized.
According to the report, the Red Sox even fired a scout over a hot-mic moment.
The Red Sox had an internal team meeting earlier this year via Zoom. Scouting supervisor Carl Moesche thought the call had ended and was caught saying, “Thanks, Bres, you f–king stiff,” on the call. Moesche was talking about Breslow, and was fired as a result. The firing was apparently taken as a signal that the Red Sox are not forgiving under Breslow.
Boston entered play on Monday 37-36, which had them 6.5 games behind the first-place Yankees. The Red Sox are hoping for their first winning season since 2021.
Report: Alex Cora at odds with Red Sox front office
The Boston Red Sox have traded Rafael Devers, but the problems and dysfunction may not be finished in the organization.
A new story by Joon Lee of Yahoo Sports shed light on the many issues that led to the Red Sox trading Devers to the San Francisco Giants in a shocking move on Sunday. In it, Lee notes that there are ongoing issues between manager Alex Cora and the front office, particularly chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
Cora and Breslow “have not seen eye-to-eye” on the team’s direction, according to Lee. Cora wants to win now, while Breslow is more focused on trying to position the organization for long-term success. Cora’s recent willingness to bench top prospects like Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony for platoon matchups is seen as an indication of his own mindset being at odds with Breslow’s.
Red Sox coaches also feel that player development at the lower levels of the organization is not what it should be, and that players are not being taught proper fundamentals in the minor leagues. The Red Sox lead the league with 64 errors as of Monday.
Breslow has even alienated some within his own front office. Former scouting supervisor Carl Moesche was fired after the 2024 season after referring to Breslow as a “f—ing stiff” on a Zoom meeting that he thought had ended.
There were some signals that Cora and Breslow were not on the same page even earlier this season. Cora publicly stated that there had been no discussions about asking Devers to play first base following Triston Casas’ season-ending injury. Days later, it emerged that the Red Sox front office had asked Devers to do just that, a request Devers balked at.
Cora has won a World Series as Red Sox manager and is clearly valued highly by ownership. One has to wonder if he and the team’s current front office ethos can coexist long-term.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s longtime teammate makes prediction about his future
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s longtime Milwaukee Bucks teammate thinks that he is going … absolutely nowhere.
Bucks forward Bobby Portis appeared Monday on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back.” During the episode, Portis made a definitive prediction about Antetokounmpo’s future. Portis predicted that Antetokounmpo will be “staying put” with the Bucks.
“When you’ve been on a team for a decade-plus, and when you’ve done so much for a city—lowkey, like, basketball in Milwaukee wasn’t really a thing until Giannis became who he is,” said Portis, per HoopsHype. “So when you put that much effort into a franchise, that much trust and belief, and you’ve been loyal for so long … I just feel like he bleeds green, man. No matter what’s reported, no matter what might come to the threshold.
“So me personally? Nah, man. I don’t really see any movement happening,” Portis added. “I think he’s staying put with the Bucks.”
Portis and Antetokounmpo have been teammates in Milwaukee since 2020. That stretch included winning the 2021 NBA championship together with the Bucks.
While the former NBA MVP Antetokounmpo still has two more guaranteed years left under contract, speculation over his future has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks. Some contributing factors to all the buzz have been the Bucks losing in the first round for a third straight year and Damian Lillard now looking doubtful for next season after suffering an Achilles tear.
That said, the tea leaves now seem to be leaning in favor of Antetokounmpo sticking around in Milwaukee (especially if you believe the reports from the last few days). Portis, who has a decision to make of his own with a $13.4 million player option for next year, is among those who believe that Antetokounmpo is simply standing pat.
Michigan lands former 4-star QB in transfer portal
The Michigan Wolverines were plagued by poor quarterback play for much of the 2024 season. They are clearly determined to avoid that problem in 2025.
The Wolverines confirmed Monday that former 4-star recruit Jake Garcia will transfer to Michigan for the 2025 season. Garcia is a graduate transfer, but is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining.
Welcome to Ann Arbor, @JakeGarcia14! 〽️ pic.twitter.com/J4fwBoo2Ze
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) June 16, 2025
Garcia was a highly-touted quarterback prospect in the class of 2021. He originally planned to sign with USC, but wound up decommitting and landed with Miami instead. In two seasons there, he completed 81 of 131 passes for 949 yards with 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He spent a year on the bench at Missouri before winding up at East Carolina, where he struggled to the tune of 8 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as the team’s starter in 2024.
Michigan worked very hard to successfully flip top recruit Bryce Underwood from LSU. He will probably get the chance to start, and Garcia profiles as a more experienced depth option in the event that Underwood proves unready.
The Wolverines are coming off an 8-5 season, but they did beat Ohio State for the fourth consecutive season. Expectations will be higher in 2025, though they will have to start the season without their head coach on the sideline.
Kristaps Porzingis linked with trade to Western Conference team
The Boston Celtics may move on from Kristaps Porzingis this offseason, and one Western Conference team may be at the front of the queue for him.
The Phoenix Suns have been doing “background work” on a Porzingis trade, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. The Suns also have some interest in Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner in free agency, suggesting the organization is determined to get a big man this summer.
The Phoenix Suns have been doing their homework on Kristaps Porziņģis, per @JakeLFischer
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 16, 2025
“I’ve also heard that Phoenix has done some background work on Kristaps Porziņģis with Boston known to be exploring its trade options up and down the roster. Sources say you can likewise… pic.twitter.com/fFUxSIn8ms
The Suns are likely to look very different next season, with Kevin Durant likely on the way out. That will force the team to find a way to remain competitive while building around Devin Booker while also confronting the reality that Bradley Beal’s contract likely makes him immovable. The best way to do that is probably to get a player who can pose a threat on the interior.
The Celtics might not want to trade Porzingis, and have certainly been warned against it. However, they may have no realistic choice but to trim payroll for next season if they do not want to risk becoming extremely expensive.
Porzingis played in 42 games last season, averaging 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for Boston. The 29-year-old has one year remaining on his current contract.
Ippei Mizuhara reports to federal prison after delay
Ippei Mizuhara has officially begun his federal prison sentence.
Mizuhara, the disgraced former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, is now in federal prison in Pennsylvania, Tisha Thompson of ESPN reported Monday. The 40-year-old Mizuhara was ordered to surrender to federal authorities by Monday and is now in custody at Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood Low, a low-security prison in Allenwood, Pa.
Thompson notes that Mizuhara was initially supposed to report to prison in March but that a federal judge granted the delay. The exact reasons for the delay remain under seal.
In February of this year, Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months in prison on federal tax and bank fraud charges after pleading guilty to the charges last year. Mizuhara embezzled an estimated $17 million from Ohtani’s bank accounts and allegedly used the funds to pay off an illegal bookie. Earlier this year, an audio recording emerged of Mizuhara impersonating Ohtani during a phone call to a bank in an attempt to push through a sizable wire transfer from one of Ohtani’s accounts.
Mizuhara is also facing possible deportation to Japan upon the conclusion of his prison term. Meanwhile, Matthew Bowyer, a bookmaker tied to the Mizuhara case, has since pled guilty to federal charges as well.
The delay in Mizuhara’s report date to prison makes for some interesting timing. Namely, Mizuhara is beginning his federal prison sentence on the exact same day that Ohtani is slated to make his return as a pitcher after an absence of nearly two years.
Aroldis Chapman could play for strange country in World Baseball Classic
Cuban native Aroldis Chapman is considering taking part in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, potentially as a player for very surprising country.
The Boston Red Sox reliever told Alejandro Rodriguez of SwingCompleto that he has been approached by Great Britain to play for the country in the WBC. Chapman said he would consider the offer, though he wants to see how his free agency progresses this winter before fully committing.
“I did not give them 100% certainty about whether I will play,” Chapman said, via Mike Rosenstein of NESN. “Remember that I will be a free agent next season and I don’t know what will happen. But I told them that I am available to be on the roster and that before giving a definite yes about playing, I need to wait for my next season in free agency to unfold.”
Chapman added that he was also informally approached by the United States about playing for them, but never received an official invitation.
How is Chapman eligible to play for Great Britain? His paternal grandparents migrated to Cuba from Jamaica, which is a former British colony and remains part of the Commonwealth.
Chapman defected from Cuba in 2009 and is banned from playing internationally for the island nation. He has said in the past that he would not play for Cuba again even if he were reinstated.
The Great Britain team typically consists of players from the Bahamas, as well as Americans of British descent. Chapman would certainly be a high-profile recruit for a squad that, in past WBC appearances, gained more attention for their celebrations than for their on-field play.
Kevin Durant’s top choice reportedly does not want him
The Kevin Durant sweepstakes have reportedly been narrowed down to just a few teams, but it does not sound like the 15-time All-Star’s top choice is among them.
Durant is owed $54.7 million in the final year of his contract next season. A report over the weekend claimed Durant would only be willing to sign a long-term extension with three teams: the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. The Spurs may not be a legitimate suitor for Durant, however, as a separate report said the Heat, Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves are the finalists for him.
During a Monday appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Marc Spears said the team Durant most wants to play for is not interested in the 36-year-old. That team is the New York Knicks.
“K.D. wanted the New York Knicks. He wanted to go there. The Knicks have no interest in bringing him in, which probably makes Knicks nation probably quite interested in why not,” Spears said. “I think these three choices (the Heat, Rockets and Timberwolves) are by default. He definitely doesn’t want to go to Minnesota.”
Spears added that Durant has some concern that the Suns are seeking too big of a return in trade talks.
“I think there is some fear from him and (agent) Rich Kleiman that they’re hoping there’s gonna be respect at Kevin’s age to give him what he wants, rather than try to trade him like he’s 31 years old, which he’s not anymore,” Spears said. “I think they’re trying to get a major haul, but they’re hoping that they work with him and get it done.”
Marc Spears:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 16, 2025
"KD wanted the New York Knicks. The Knicks have no interest in bringing him in"
"There is some fear from him and Rich Kleiman that they're hoping that there's going to be respect at Kevin's age to give him what he wants rather than try to trade him like he's 31" pic.twitter.com/bzWLWq1j4e
Durant is said to want nothing to do with the Timberwolves, even though they just went to the Western Conference Finals. That does not necessarily mean Minnesota will bow out of the sweepstakes, as they could make the best offer in hopes that they win a title next year and/or Durant changes his mind about signing an extension.
Durant has been linked to the Knicks for years. He claimed a while back that the thought of being the player who saves their tortured franchise does not appeal to him, but maybe this year’s Eastern Conference Finals run changed his mind.
Report: Knicks eyeing trade for ex-Defensive Player of the Year
Tom Thibodeau may be gone, but the New York Knicks are still apparently focused heavily on defense.
The Knicks view Memphis Grizzlies All-Star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. as a “dream pairing” in their frontcourt alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, Kris Pursiainen of ClutchPoints reported on Monday. Pursiainen further notes that at least one key member of the Knicks’ front office has long been interested in Jackson as a trade target.
A 25-year-old ex-lottery pick, Jackson is about to enter the final season of his contract with the Grizzlies at $23.4 million. Memphis also just traded away Desmond Bane to an Eastern Conference contender over the weekend, potentially signaling the beginning of a rebuild.
Jackson’s resume speaks for itself at this point. He is already a two-time All-Star as well as a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson has twice led the league in blocked shots and is fairly durable as well, appearing in 74 games this season.
The Knicks currently have Mitchell Robinson as their starting center. But Robinson’s health is always a question, and he is almost a complete non-factor outside the paint. By contrast, Jackson is a 35.1 percent career three-point shooter (hitting 37.5 percent of his threes this year) and also has the agility to switch onto guards on the defensive perimeter. That would indeed make Jackson an ideal fit next to the defensively-uneven five-time All-Star Towns.
There are some doubts as to whether the Grizzlies are actually entertaining the possibility of a Jackson trade. But it seems like the Knicks, who once employed Jackson’s father (Jaren Jackson Sr.) as an assistant coach for their G League affiliate, may at least be looking to try their luck on that front.
South Carolina QB claims he turned down $8 million transfer offer
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers should be pretty popular among the school’s fans for an impressive show of loyalty this offseason.
Sellers’ father Norris admitted that the South Carolina quarterback received a 2-year, $8 million NIL offer from an unidentified school to try to tempt the quarterback into transferring from the Gamecocks. Both Sellers and his father agreed, however, that the right thing to do was to stick with his current school.
“He was offered all kinds of crazy numbers,” Norris Sellers told Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. “I told him he could say, I’m gonna stay or I’m gonna go. By my two cents: It was to get into college on a scholarship, play ball, get our degree and go on about our business. This NIL deal came later. We didn’t come here to make money. We came here to get our education, play ball, and with schools calling, we’re not gonna jump ship because they’re offering more than what we’re getting. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The quarterback had a simpler explanation.
“I’ve been playing football all of my life for free,” LaNorris said. “I’ve built relationships here, my family’s here, my brother’s here. There’s no reason for me to go someplace else and start over.”
Sellers is viewed as a potential first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft if he goes pro. As a freshman, he threw for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns, and rushed for 674 yards and seven more scores.
The $8 million figure is a huge number considering what some other quarterbacks got when they transferred this past spring. Credit to Sellers for staying loyal and deciding that the best thing for his development is to continue it with his current coaches and teammates.
