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Fox Sports
33 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Power Rankings: Christian Lundgaard, Will Power Charge Back In
INDYCAR Editor's Note: Power Rankings is a feature after every NTT INDYCAR SERIES race in which staff writer Eric Smith ranks the top-10 current drivers in the series based on objective recent and season-long performance statistics and the subjective 'eye test' of what he sees during race weekends. Alex Palou captured his series-leading eighth victory of the season July 27 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, defeating Christian Lundgaard by 3.7965 seconds. Lundgaard's runner-up finish burnished a strong season for Arrow McLaren. The team boasts 11 podium finishes this season between Lundgaard and fourth-place finisher Pato O'Ward, a team record. The previous high was 10 between O'Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Alexander Rossi in 2023. After 14 races, O'Ward trails Palou by 121 points heading into the next race, the Grand Prix of Portland, on Sunday, Aug. 10 at Portland International Raceway (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network). Here are the updated Power Rankings following the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey as the series heads into an off weekend: ↑10. Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet; Last Rank: NR) Power returns to the Power Rankings for the first time since mid-June, following the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. He earned his second consecutive Firestone Fast Six appearance and finished seventh at Laguna Seca, his second top-10 in the last four races. ↓9. David Malukas (No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet; Last Rank: 8) Though Malukas finished 13th at Laguna Seca, he holds on to a spot in the rankings with two top-10 finishes in his last three starts. He enters Portland 10th in the points standings. ↑8. Christian Rasmussen (No. 21 Liquid Science Chevrolet: Last Rank: NR) Rasmussen earned his third top-10 finish in the last four races by finishing ninth at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This marks the highest he has climbed in the Power Rankings. ↓7. Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 JM Bullion Honda; Last Rank: 4) Kirkwood's slide continues with his third finish of 16th or worse in the last four races. Despite five top-eight finishes in the last eight starts, including two wins, his recent inconsistency is concerning. ↓6. Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda; Last Rank: 5) Armstrong finished eighth Sunday, his seventh top-10 result in the past eight races. The lone outlier was a 14th-place finish in Toronto, where a pit lane penalty disrupted a promising run that began with a third-place start. ↑5. Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet; Last Rank: NR) Lundgaard storms back into the rankings after his runner-up finish at Laguna Seca, his second podium in five races and fifth of the season. In comparison, he had just three podiums in 52 starts with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. The No. 7 Arrow McLaren car had four podiums in 81 starts before his arrival. ↑4. Colton Herta (No. 26 Gainbridge Honda; Last Rank: 7) Herta moves into the top five for the first time since the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. His third-place finish at Laguna Seca marked his third top-four result in the last five races. He had only two in the nine races before that. ↔3. Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda; Last Rank: 3) Dixon surged from 19th to fifth at Laguna Seca, earning his seventh consecutive top-10 finish. The streak includes a win at Mid-Ohio and a runner-up at Iowa Speedway. ↔2. Pato O'Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet; Last Rank: 2) O'Ward qualified second and finished fourth at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for his seventh top-five finish in the last eight races, six consecutively. ↔1. Alex Palou (No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda; Last Rank: 1) Palou rebounded from a 13th-place finish in the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto to lead 84 of 95 laps after claiming the NTT P1 Award in qualifying to take his third victory at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Palou has two wins in the last three races. recommended Item 1 of 2
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Power Rankings: Brewers cruise to the top, Dodgers scuffling
Featured in this week's MLB Power Rankings, the Brewers climb to the top of our rankings, the Yankees can't figure out the Blue Jays, another injury for the Astros, Rich Hill is on the brink of history, and we're taking stock of the upcoming MLB trade deadline. (Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook) Let's get started! Fantasy baseball second-half breakouts and bouncebacks: Oneil Cruz, Zebby Matthews, more Eric Samulski breaks down hitters and pitchers he thinks will generate fantasy value in the second half. Eric Samulski , Note: Rankings are from the morning of Tuesday, July 22. 1) Milwaukee Brewers ⬆️ Last week: 5 Your eyes are not fooling you. Winners of 11 straight games, the Brewers have catapulted to the top of our rankings. Similar to Rays teams of the past, they just keep finding ways to defy preseason expectations and win baseball games. Even if they don't stay atop our rankings, they have established themselves as a serious threat to win the NL Central. 2) Detroit Tigers ⬇️ Last week: 1 The Tigers have stumbled a bit over the past two weeks, but they still possess the best record in the American League and a dominant lead in the AL Central. It will be interesting to see how they upgrade at the trade deadline, with the bullpen looking like an obvious area of need. 3) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️ Last week: 6 The Blue Jays have won a franchise record 11 straight games at home as well as five straight games against the Yankees, powering them to a four-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. 4) Chicago Cubs ⬇️ Last week: 3 The Cubs put Seiya Suzuki in center field on Monday with Pete Crow-Armstrong sidelined due to a bruised right knee. That's not ideal. Even if Crow-Armstrong's issue is a minor one, look for the Cubs to pursue a skilled defender for depth across their outfield. 5) Houston Astros ⬇️ Last week: 4 Do you know what the Astros really needed? Another injury. Isaac Paredes went down on Saturday with a right hamstring strain. While it's unclear how much time he'll miss, it really didn't look good. Mauricio Dubon, Zack Short, Brice Matthews (who hit his first two MLB homers on Monday), and Shay Witcomb are all options to fill in, but the trade deadline presents more opportunities. 6) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️ Last week: 2 The Dodgers have lost 10 out of their last 13 games, including a sweep at the hands of the Brewers over the weekend. Mookie Betts can't shake his funk at the plate, Clayton Kershaw is showing his frustration, and closer Tanner Scott is likely headed to the injured list with a forearm issue, so the vibes are shaky at the moment. 7) Philadelphia Phillies Last week: 7 Behold one of the weirdest endings to a baseball game in recent memory. Per Sarah Langs of this was just the second walk-off catcher's interference since the divisional era and the first since 1971. 8) New York Mets Last week: 8 Francisco Alvarez made his return to the Mets on Monday after mashing the ball during his promotion in Triple-A and you couldn't have asked for a better homecoming. The 23-year-old looked strong behind the plate while also drawing two walks and delivering a key double as part of a comeback victory over the Angels. The potential has always been there, so getting Alvarez right would be a game-changer for the Mets down the stretch. 9) San Diego Padres ⬆️ Last week: 11 The Padres have won six out of their last eight and find themselves just 3.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Look for the club to address their top-heavy lineup as the trade deadline approaches. 10) New York Yankees ⬇️ Last week: 9 The Yankees can't seem to figure out the first-place Blue Jays right now and they have all sorts of needs (third base, starting pitcher, bullpen, etc.) in advance of the trade deadline. While Anthony Volpe's two-homer game against the Braves on Saturday was encouraging, his all-around regression continues to be a daily focus. 11) Boston Red Sox ⬇️ Last week: 10 Many expect the Red Sox to draw from their position player depth to upgrade in other areas, but Wilyer Abreu is showing that he's a keeper. The 26-year-old had his fourth multi-homer game of the season on Sunday to help salvage the series finale against the Cubs. He also leads the team with 20 home runs. 12) Seattle Mariners ⬆️ Last week: 13 In many ways, the Mariners have been the opposite of what we expected: Sixth in homers, tied for seventh in MLB in OPS, but in the middle of the pack in terms of ERA. Improved health should help the rotation, but bullpen appears to be a need going into next week. 13) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️ Last week: 14 The Cardinals are 5-10 this month — including a sweep by the Diamondbacks coming out of the break — so they don't exactly look like a playoff contender. This puts John Mozeliak in an interesting position going into his final trade deadline in the big chair. Does he wield a heavy hand on his way out or focus on players who are set to become free agents? 14) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️ Last week: 15 Oh, to be a fly on the wall (or, in this case, the mound) in conversations between Terry Francona and Elly De La Cruz. 15) San Francisco Giants ⬇️ Last week: 12 On paper, it made all the sense in the world for the Giants to trade for Rafael Devers. It might still work out in the end, but the early returns are decidedly negative. Devers has hit just .219 with two homers and a .667 OPS with the club and the Giants are 11-18 since the trade. 16) Tampa Bay Rays Last week: 16 The Rays are on the fence as a potential contender, but with Brandon Lowe on the injured list again, Ha-Seong Kim dealing with yet another injury, and Shane McClanahan hitting a speed bump in his rehab, things aren't looking promising. 17) Texas Rangers Last week: 17 The Rangers have won six out of their last eight as they sit on the bubble among playoff contenders. It was nice to see Josh Jung homer in his return to the majors on Monday against the Athletics, even if his production after his demotion to Triple-A didn't exactly jump off the page. 18) Arizona Diamondbacks Last week: 18 As we've said in previous weeks, the Diamondbacks might have the most high-impact options available via trade. Of course, there's the prodigious power of Eugenio Suárez, but also Josh Naylor, Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen. It should be a fascinating few days in Arizona. 19) Los Angeles Angels ⬆️ Last week: 21 The progress of Jo Adell continues to be a nice story. With a couple of homers over the weekend against the Phillies, the 26-year-old former top prospect is slashing .287/.355/.565 with eight home runs and 24 RBI over his last 28 games. 20) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️ Last week: 23 Even with some better play since their 10-game losing streak, the Guardians are way out in the AL Central and have a few teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race. The big question is if they'd actually consider dealing either Steven Kwan or Emmanuel Clase. 21) Kansas City Royals ⬇️ Last week: 20 That the Royals are turning to 45-year-old Rich Hill to make a start on Tuesday is perhaps emblematic of where the Royals find themselves in late-July, but it's historic nonetheless. The southpaw will tie Edwin Jackson's MLB record by suiting up for his 14th MLB team. And to make it truly full circle, he'll pitch at Wrigley Field, which is where it all began for him in 2005. 22) Minnesota Twins ⬇️ Last week: 19 Not only do the Twins look like logical sellers at the deadline, but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said during the All-Star break that he's confident the team will be sold soon. 23) Miami Marlins ⬆️ Last week: 24 Even with back-to-back losses as of this writing, the Marlins have won 21 out of their last 31 games. Eury Pérez has been worth the wait while youngsters Kyle Stowers and Agustín Ramírez look like long-term building blocks. It will be interesting to see if the Marlins can turn some of their pitching into more help for the future. 24) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️ Last week: 22 Losers of five out of six, the Orioles are likely going to be forced to embrace reality as a seller. We'll surely hear about names like Cedric Mullins, Ryan O'Hearn, and Ramon Laureano, but the Orioles might be able to get their biggest haul should they decide to trade Félix Bautista. 25) Atlanta Braves Last week: 25 450-feet homers, scoring from first base on a single, amazing throws. Even in a frustrating season for the Braves, Ronald Acuña Jr. is a must-watch every time he's on the field. 26) Athletics Last week: 26 It feels weird to say this, but teams looking for starting pitching will likely be calling the A's over the next week. Luis Severino would surely welcome a deal, but pitchers like Jeffrey Springs and J.P. Sears could also draw interest. 27) Washington Nationals ⬆️ Last week: 28 While the Nationals could fetch a haul of a return for left-hander MacKenzie Gore, interim GM Mike DeBartolo has no intention of dealing from the core of the next contending iteration of the franchise. 28) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️ Last week: 27 There's no shortage of ways to express the excellence of Paul Skenes, but this stat was mind-blowing to me: Skenes hasn't allowed a single run in the first inning all season across 21 starts. Kudos to SNY and Gary Cohen for mentioning this on Monday's Mets broadcast. 29) Chicago White Sox Last week: 29 The White Sox became the final team to sweep a series this season by taking three games against the Pirates over the weekend. With a win over the Rays on Monday, the White Sox are 4-0 coming out of the break. That's their best mark in a season since the All-Star break since the World Series-winning club in 2005. History probably won't repeat itself, but it's still fun. 30) Colorado Rockies Last week: 30 It has been a frustrating and injury-filled year for Ezequiel Tovar, but he has a chance to finish strong after returning from an oblique injury at the start of the second half. He went 3-for-4 with a homer in Saturday's victory over the Twins.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Week 7 WNBA power rankings: Surging Storm surpass reigning champs
The post Week 7 WNBA power rankings: Surging Storm surpass reigning champs appeared first on ClutchPoints. 1. Minnesota Lynx (17-2) The Lynx's offense suddenly went into the deep freeze during their 74-59 loss to Indiana in the Commissioner's Cup final on July 1. But that game doesn't count in the standings, and Minnesota bounced back well. The Lynx finished out the week at home with victories over Washington, Golden State and Chicago. 2. Phoenix Mercury (13-6) Phoenix had back-to-back losses, including 98-89 on Thursday in Dallas. But the Mercury looked like themselves again Monday, beating the Wings 102-72 behind 36 points from Sami Whitcomb and a triple-double by Alyssa Thomas (15 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds). Phoenix won easily even though Satou Sabally (ankle) and Kahleah Copper (hamstring) were out injured. That shows the Mercury's depth, which is improving. Longtime Mercury player DeWanna Bonner, who was waived last month by Indiana, is about to sign with Phoenix, sources told ESPN on Monday. 3. Atlanta Dream (12-7) The Dream lost 80-79 in the closing seconds to Seattle on Thursday, and it appeared they might be headed to another home loss on Monday. But a 15-2 fourth-quarter run gave them a 90-81 victory over Golden State. Allisha Gray, who will be an All-Star along with Rhyne Howard, had 24 points against the Valkyries, while Naz Hillmen put up 16. 4. Seattle Storm (12-7) Maybe we've been bouncing the Storm around in the Power Rankings a little too much. But we react to their results. Seattle is on the rise again after road victories last week versus Atlanta (with Skylar Diggins getting the winning layup) and New York. Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams are all headed to the All-Star Game. 5. New York Liberty (12-6) Brondello said the Liberty are being pragmatic about the frustrating times they have faced, especially with Jones sidelined. 'We're not panicking,' she said. 'We've just got to get JJ back and build some continuity and chemistry from there.' It should help that New York is continuing a long homestand, with the next six games in Brooklyn. 6. Golden State Valkyries (9-9) After having won four of its previous five, Golden State dropped back to a .500 record with losses at Minnesota and Atlanta. But considering the inconsistency of so many other WNBA teams, the Valkyries still have to feel pretty good about how they're playing and about Kayla Thornton's selection as an All-Star reserve. 7. Indiana Fever (9-9) The Fever keep grabbing momentum before letting it slip away again. Caitlin Clark (groin injury) is still out. But the Fever won the Commissioner's Cup final at Minnesota then throttled Las Vegas in Indianapolis, holding both opponents below 60 points. However, they then lost at home to Los Angeles for the second time. So, Indiana is still trying to establish it is better than a .500 team. 8. Las Vegas Aces (9-9) The Aces have been in a similar situation as that of the Fever, except more extreme. Las Vegas seems to go from really good wins to really bad losses. After the Aces' 81-54 defeat at Indiana on Thursday, coach Becky Hammon called out their 'lack of professionalism' in such a poor performance. But the Aces were on the right track again Sunday, winning 86-68 at Connecticut. We'll see if they can keep that going. 9. Washington Mystics (8-10) The Mystics dropped their only game last week, having the misfortune of playing Minnesota two days after the Lynx had lost in the Commissioner's Cup final. There was no stopping the Lynx in that outing. Now, Washington, which will send rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron to the All-Star Game, looks to get back on track. 10. Dallas Wings (6-14) The Wings split with Phoenix, winning 98-89 at home on Thursday before falling 102-72 in Phoenix on Monday. Arike Ogunbowale (thumb) and DiJonai Carrington (rib) were out Monday, but rookie guards Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, and JJ Quinerly combined for 44 points. That's a perimeter trio to watch. 11. Chicago Sky (5-12) In their only game last week, the Sky lost 80-75 at Minnesota, a team Chicago will face two more times in the next week. The Sky's Angel Reese had 17 rebounds against the Lynx, her fifth consecutive game with at least 16 boards. She will be an All-Star for the second consecutive season. 12. Los Angeles Sparks (6-13) For whatever reason, the Sparks seem to have the Fever's number. Los Angeles' only victories in its past eight games have been at Indiana, including 89-87 on Saturday after losing earlier in the week at New York. Forward Azura Stevens' career-best season continues; she had 21 points and 12 rebounds against the Fever. 13. Connecticut Sun (2-16) The Sun would prefer not to be the team that others bounce back against after losing. But the truth is, Connecticut is the foe everyone else is looking forward to playing, as the Sun have dropped 10 in a row. Related: Ryan Clark calls out RG3's 'strange fascination' with Angel Reese Related: Wings' Paige Bueckers rocked Devin Booker's sneakers in Phoenix
New York Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
NBA Power Rankings, summer edition: Knicks, Nuggets are contenders; Celtics, Pacers slide
The exodus from Las Vegas is behind us, and now that we are almost at the point where all of the needle-moving free agents are accounted for (any day now, restricted free agents…), we're going to offer up some post-free agency Power Rankings! Only a real fiend is going to use summer league to truly assess the offseason or the draft or anything else. (That may be a spoiler alert, you'll have to stay tuned!) Advertisement We're just here to give you completely agreeable standings updates that will absolutely determine how the 2025-26 NBA season will go down. All we have for three months is paper, so we're going to evaluate the league while all of these teams are in a kumbaya state that comes with not losing any games. These rankings will also break down the most relevant offseason moves. I'll retain the tiers as we break down each team's outlook: Here are The Athletic's last NBA Power Rankings until October! Previous rankings are from last month, following the end of the NBA Finals. Last ranking: 1 Free agency: C Jaylin Williams (re-signed), PG Ajay Mitchell (re-signed) Additions: C Thomas Sorber (draft) Departures: SF Dillon Jones (trade) Midsummer summary: This is as strong a 'run it back' as you can ask for. The entire rotation returns for the reigning champions. They paid the stars, with MVP/Finals MVP point guard Shai Gilgeous Alexander, All-NBA/All-Defense small forward Jalen Williams and center Chet Holmgren getting massive extensions. Jaylin Williams and Mitchell were retained, and to make room for first-round pick Thomas Sorber, Oklahoma City traded last year's first-round pick Dillon Jones to Washington. The Thunder even have last year's lottery pick Nikola Topić healthy after a redshirt year. The only concerns are Jalen Williams' recovery from wrist surgery and Sorber's readiness after he rested for summer league while he recovers from the injury that ended his season in February. Last ranking: 3 Free agency: PF Precious Achiuwa (unrestricted), SF Landry Shamet (unrestricted), PG Cameron Payne (unrestricted), PF P.J. Tucker (unrestricted), SG Delon Wright (unrestricted), C Ariel Hukporti (option exercised) Additions: SG Jordan Clarkson, PF Guerschon Yabusele Departures: TBD Advertisement Midsummer summary: It's all about new coach Mike Brown and how he may reimagine what is largely the same team that went to the Eastern Conference finals. Clarkson should be an upgrade on Payne, while Yabusele should be an upgrade on Achiuwa. The offense could be even better, though the question of how well this team can defend with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will persist. New York should still add a couple more players, especially in the frontcourt and on the wing. Last ranking: 5 Free agency: SG Sam Merrill (re-signed), C Tristan Thompson (unrestricted), SF Javonte Green (unrestricted), PF Chuma Okeke (unrestricted) Additions: C Larry Nance Jr., PG Lonzo Ball (trade) Departures: PG Ty Jerome, SF Isaac Okoro Midsummer summary: The biggest move the Cavaliers made was to acquire Lonzo Ball in exchange for Isaac Okoro, a move that should help Cleveland account for the loss of key reserve Ty Jerome while giving Cleveland a player who can handle the ball, pass, shoot and make plays defensively. Ball might be needed a lot early in the season with All-Star point guard Darius Garland recovering from surgery on his toe. Like New York, Cleveland could stand to add another player or two to help protect against injury to the frontcourt and wing. Last ranking: 4 Free agency: PF Julius Randle (re-signed), C Naz Reid (re-signed), PG Joe Ingles (re-signed) Additions: C Joan Beringer (draft) Departures: SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker (trade), C Luka Garza, SF Josh Minott Midsummer summary: Two out of three isn't bad. Minnesota kept the frontcourt together by re-signing Randle and Reid. It wound up losing Alexander-Walker, but Minnesota has three players who could vie for Alexander-Walker's minutes in Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark and Rob Dillingham. Minnesota also used a first-round pick on center Joan Beringer to replace Garza. Minnesota lost combo forward Minott, so there's a spot for another forward that Minnesota should look to add. Overall, Minnesota is in a good position to attempt to win the West after losing back-to-back conference finals. Last ranking: 6 Free agency: PG Russell Westbrook (unrestricted), C DeAndre Jordan (unrestricted), PF Vlatko Cancar (unrestricted) Additions: SG Tim Hardaway Jr., SF Bruce Brown, C Jonas Valančiūnas (trade), SF Cameron Johnson (trade) Departures: PF Dario Šarić (trade), SF Michael Porter Jr. (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: The Nuggets have had a well-received offseason. Johnson is older, shorter and less athletic than Porter, and while Porter has durability concerns due to his back, he has only missed 26 total games the last three seasons. Johnson has missed an average of 30 games per season the last three years. But Johnson should be a better playmaker than Porter while being a more versatile defensive option, and he seems less likely to be a player whom head coach David Adelman needs to call out in the middle of a playoff series. It's all about the fit. Elsewhere, Denver is counting on Brown to rediscover the form that made him an integral part of the 2023 champion Nuggets, as his last two seasons spent on three other teams were underwhelming. Hardaway may be an upgrade over Julian Strawther, but he is 33 and has shot 35.7 percent from the field in the last two postseasons. Getting a year from Valančiūnas is certainly an upgrade on what Denver got out of Šarić last season. Denver is also getting 2024 first-round pick DaRon Holmes II back after Holmes had to redshirt last year due to an Achilles tendon rupture. Last ranking: 9 Free agency: PG Fred VanVleet (re-signed), PG Aaron Holiday (re-signed), C Steven Adams (re-signed), PF Jeff Green (re-signed), PF Jae'Sean Tate (re-signed) Additions: SF Dorian Finney-Smith, C Clint Capela (trade), PF Kevin Durant (trade), SF Josh Okogie Departures: C Jock Landale, SG Nate Williams (waived), SG Jalen Green (trade), SF Cam Whitmore (trade), SF Dillon Brooks (trade) Midsummer summary: The first big move that the Rockets made was getting Durant in exchange for Brooks and Green. The second big move was to backfill Brooks' defense by getting Finney-Smith from the conference rival Lakers. This defense should be at least as good as it was last season. And Houston tripled down on depth at center by getting Capela back to replace Landale. The Rockets are counting on a leap from 2024 lottery pick Reed Sheppard, as Houston is going to need some shooting and ballhandling even when Durant is available. And for all of Green's weaknesses, he only missed 21 games in four seasons, including none the last two years. Durant will be 37 in September and has missed an average of 22 games per season the last four years. Last ranking: 11 Free agency: PG James Harden (re-signed), PF Nicolas Batum (re-signed), C Ben Simmons (unrestricted), SG Amir Coffey (unrestricted), PG Patty Mills (unrestricted) Additions: C Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (draft), C Brook Lopez, PF John Collins (trade), SG Bradley Beal, PG Chris Paul Departures: C Drew Eubanks, SF Jordan Miller (waived), SG Norman Powell (trade) Midsummer summary: Beal becoming available via buyout gave the Clippers a major advantage. They were able to use Powell's expiring contract to upgrade the frontcourt, seizing Collins for their first athletic power forward with size since Blake Griffin was last with the team nearly a decade ago. Beal's addition backfills Powell's departure while actually upgrading the team's ballhandling options next to James Harden. LA also replaced Simmons with Lopez, giving it a relatively sure thing behind Ivica Zubac after trying to experiment with what Simmons could be on this roster. Paul may be 40 and 6-feet tall, but now LA has a much better option in case Harden needs to miss time. Most importantly, Kawhi Leonard is healthy. LA has certainly upgraded its postseason optionality. The question is how long it will take for the new pieces to find their way with the new look Clippers. Last ranking: 13 Free agency: C Moritz Wagner (re-signed), PF Caleb Houstan (unrestricted), PG Cory Joseph (unrestricted) Additions: PG Jase Richardson (draft), PG Tyus Jones, SG Desmond Bane (trade) Departures: SG Gary Harris, PG Cole Anthony (trade), SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: Orlando made one of the earliest moves of the offseason when it traded Caldwell-Pope to Memphis in exchange for Bane, going from a 34.2 percent 3-point shooter to a 39.2 percent 3-point shooter. Now, Caldwell-Pope made 38.3 percent of his 3s in the previous eight seasons before joining the Magic, so Bane will be a test case of whether Caldwell-Pope's off year was due simply to player decline or the annually atrocious shooting environment Orlando seems to be in. Time will tell, and it is a big swing factor in the East. Orlando got another strong shooter in Jones, who replaces Joseph, while first-round pick Richardson takes Anthony's combo guard spot on the roster. Ultimately, the Magic should feel good about their chances of making noise in the East as long as they're done tearing obliques. Last ranking: 7 Free agency: SF Jonathan Kuminga (restricted), C Quinten Post (option exercised), PG Gary Payton II (unrestricted), PG Pat Spencer (unrestricted), PF Braxton Key (unrestricted), PF Gui Santos (option exercised), SF Kevin Knox II (unrestricted) Additions: TBD Departures: C Kevon Looney Midsummer summary: Unlike the other teams mired in a restricted free agency holding pattern, the Warriors actually did something last spring, finishing the season with a winning record while winning a playoff series. Among the key restricted free agents, Kuminga may be the least ideal fit with his incumbent team, which naturally makes him the player who should want to leave the most. The Warriors haven't completed a single transaction in July while the Kuminga proceedings progress, and Looney left the franchise after 10 seasons. Once Kuminga is resolved, the Warriors should be at least as good as they were last season once they added Jimmy Butler III to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, especially if they acquire a big who can credibly shoot. Last ranking: 12 Free agency: SG Malik Beasley (unrestricted), C Paul Reed (re-signed), SG Lindy Waters III (unrestricted) Additions: PG Caris LeVert, SG Duncan Robinson (trade) Departures: SG Tim Hardaway Jr., PG Dennis Schröder, PF Simone Fontecchio (trade) Midsummer summary: Detroit lost Hardaway in free agency, and Beasley's off-court concerns may have cost him a contract. The Pistons also lost Schröder, who was key in addressing the Pistons' shaky ballhandling last winter. LeVert's shooting fluctuates every year, but he's an on-ball option for Detroit, while Robinson should be a helpful shooter. When it comes to East swing factors, the return to health of Jaden Ivey is a major one, as he represents a secondary ballhandler next to All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham. Detroit could use another power forward, as Bobi Klintman is slated for that role behind starter Tobias Harris. Last ranking: 10 Free agency: PF LeBron James (option exercised), C Jaxson Hayes (re-signed), PF Markieff Morris (unrestricted), C Alex Len (unrestricted) Additions: C Deandre Ayton, PF Jake LaRavia, SG Marcus Smart Departures: PF Dorian Finney-Smith, PG Jordan Goodwin (waived), SG Shake Milton (waived) Midsummer summary: James opted in and doesn't have a contract beyond this season, so that's been loud. For now, he's on the team, which should be considered Luka Dončić's team going forward. And Dončić is now teammates with the top pick of his draft, Ayton, who can certainly do the baseline tasks of a Dončić center: screen, roll, catch lob. Ayton is a good rim protector and an elite rebounder. The concern with Ayton is his motor and availability; when he is out of the play, he stays out of the play. LaRavia is much younger than Finney-Smith, but also a much less renowned defender who is about to step into a 25-minute role for the first time in his career. Smart, LaRavia's former teammate in Memphis, will be looking to show that he can still contribute after playing in only 54 games in the last two seasons. Last ranking: 14 Free agency: SF Taurean Prince (re-signed), SG Gary Trent Jr. (re-signed), PF Bobby Portis (re-signed), C Jericho Sims (re-signed), PG Kevin Porter Jr. (re-signed), PG Ryan Rollins (re-signed), SF Chris Livingston (re-signed) Additions: C Myles Turner, SG Gary Harris, PG Cole Anthony Departures: C Brook Lopez, SF Pat Connaughton (trade), PG Damian Lillard Advertisement Midsummer summary: Where to begin? The obvious is that Giannis Antetokounmpo is still there. Lillard was shockingly waived and stretched, which is going to be an issue for years to come. But Lillard was already not going to contribute on the floor to the 2025-26 Bucks, and they swiped Turner from the team that ended their season the last two years. Turner replaces longtime starter Lopez, while Anthony replaces Lillard's roster spot. Harris replaces Connaughton, leaving Antetokounmpo and the re-signed Portis as the only members of the 2021 championship team on the roster. Milwaukee retained the remaining rotation pieces from a team that went 16-8 with Lillard out of the lineup last season. If nothing else, Antetokounmpo will be in MVP discussions if he can keep the Bucks out of the Play-In Tournament. Last ranking: 18 Free agency: SG Garrison Mathews (unrestricted) Additions: PF Asa Newell (draft), SF Nickeil Alexander-Walker (trade), C Kristaps Porziņģis (trade), SG Luke Kennard Departures: C Clint Capela (trade), SG Caris LeVert, C Larry Nance Jr., C Dominick Barlow, SF Terance Mann (trade), PF Georges Niang (trade) Midsummer summary: The Hawks are another team that has had a well-received offseason, and they'll certainly be an interesting playoff team. But Atlanta has to get there first. Porziņģis represents a range of possibilities: when he is physically able to be his best, the center is a difference-maker on both ends of the floor and a clear upgrade on the departed Capela due to his shooting and standing reach. But Porziņģis joins Jalen Johnson to form a talented but injury-prone front line. Porziņģis has missed an average of 28 games per season in the last four years, while Johnson has averaged 36 missed games per season in his four-year career. The big get for the Hawks was Alexander-Walker, who the team hopes is an upgrade on Mann, while first-round rookie Newell replaces the traded Niang. Kennard replaces LeVert, a possible downgrade on the ball but a major shooting upgrade. Now we wait to see if Trae Young, who still doesn't have a clear backup, gets paid. Last ranking: 15 Free agency: PF Santi Aldama (re-signed), SF Lamar Stevens (unrestricted), SG Cam Spencer (re-signed) Additions: SF Cedric Coward (draft), SG Ty Jerome, C Jock Landale, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade) Departures: SG Luke Kennard, C Marvin Bagley III, SG Desmond Bane (trade), C Jay Huff (trade) Midsummer summary: The biggest move the Grizzlies made is trading Bane to Orlando and hoping that Caldwell-Pope can bounce back after a down shooting year. The rest of Memphis' starting lineup is intact, though All-Star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (turf toe) and Zach Edey (ankle) both underwent surgery to address offseason injuries that threaten their availability for the start of next season. Jerome replaced Kennard, a sign that Memphis should run significantly more pick-and-rolls than last season; Cleveland led the league in pick-and-roll volume, while Memphis was dead last. The Grizzlies moved up in the lottery to select Coward, who missed summer league to protect his surgically repaired shoulder. Coward represents a major upgrade in wing talent (he replaces Lamar Stevens on the roster). Landale replaces Huff, and his importance is tied to Edey's recovery. Last ranking: 2 Free agency: C Thomas Bryant (unrestricted), C Tony Bradley (option exercised), C Isaiah Jackson (re-signed), PF James Johnson (unrestricted) Additions: C James Wiseman, C Jay Huff (trade) Departures: C Myles Turner Advertisement Midsummer summary: I hinted in the previous Power Rankings that I wanted to respect the Pacers' accomplishments while acknowledging that they likely won't contend with Tyrese Haliburton recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. Since then, the Pacers watched Turner leave after 10 seasons to go to the rival Bucks. Cold. The Pacers have plenty of ballhandling options in Haliburton's stead: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam in the starting lineup, with T.J. McConnell off the bench. There is still plenty of depth, except at Turner's vacated position. Huff is probably the best option to replace Turner as a 3-point shooting shot blocker. Bradley is back as a reserve center, as are two players (Wiseman, Jackson) who injured their Achilles tendons in the autumn. Rick Carlisle has enough talent to keep the Pacers afloat in the East, but this team doesn't have much of a ceiling. Last ranking: 8 Free agency: C Al Horford (unrestricted), SF Torrey Craig (unrestricted), PG JD Davison (option exercised) Additions: PG Anfernee Simons (trade), PF Georges Niang (trade), C Luka Garza, PF Josh Minott, SF Hugo Gonzalez (draft) Departures: PG Jrue Holiday (trade), C Kristaps Porziņģis (trade), C Luke Kornet Midsummer summary: Like the Pacers, the Celtics have a major Achilles tendon patient. Like the Pacers, the Celtics have lost their 3-point shooting, shot-blocking center to an Eastern Conference rival. Unlike the Pacers, the Celtics didn't stop there. Holiday was traded for Simons, a player who should fit Boston's 3-point heavy offense while taking on many of the touches that Tatum vacates, but who also projects to tank the Celtics' defense. Niang, acquired in the Porziņģis trade, may be the team's best option to start at power forward. Who starts at center? Neemias Queta? Who replaces Horford? Garza? Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard are still here. But Boston doesn't look like a team with enough reliable size, and this defense looks significantly less formidable. Last ranking: 25 Free agency: SG Quentin Grimes (restricted), SG Kelly Oubre Jr. (option exercised), SF Justin Edwards (re-signed), C Andre Drummond (option exercised), SG Eric Gordon (re-signed), PG Kyle Lowry (re-signed), PG Jared Butler (unrestricted), SG Lonnie Walker IV (unrestricted) Additions: SG VJ Edgecombe (draft), PF Trendon Watford Departures: PF Guerschon Yabusele Midsummer summary: The best version of this team is formidable. A recent MVP center. A recent All-Star forward. A recent Most Improved Player at point guard. A top-three pick in this year's draft. A solid group of sophomores. But we know the issue with this team is who will be available and whether the pieces fit. Joel Embiid is hoping to be able to start the season. Paul George just underwent knee surgery. Tyrese Maxey is arguably this team's most reliable player, and the Sixers are trying to determine who can play next to him among third pick VJ Edgecombe, last year's first-round pick Jared McCain and restricted free agent Grimes. Newcomer Watford is Yabusele's replacement at power forward. There's a lot of talent here if everyone can play. But last year showed how bad things can get, and no one should trust Embiid's or George's health right now. Last ranking: 16 Free agency: PG Davion Mitchell (re-signed), SG Alec Burks (unrestricted), PF Keshad Johnson (option exercised) Additions: SG Kasparas Jakučionis (draft), SG Norman Powell (trade), PF Simone Fontecchio (trade) Departures: SG Duncan Robinson (trade), PF Kyle Anderson (trade), C Kevin Love (trade) Midsummer summary: The Heat haven't had back-to-back losing seasons since 2003, when they drafted Dwyane Wade. Miami drafted Jakučionis this year. He's probably not going to be the difference between a winning and losing season, but Powell might be. The contract-year guard only cost Miami Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love, and he should more than replace the shot-making lost when Robinson departed for Detroit; Robinson's exit allowed Miami to acquire Simone Fontecchio. Miami was able to retain Davion Mitchell, who should continue to come off the bench unless Powell, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins prove to be incompatible together. There is a concern about Miami's ballhandling in the first unit, while the second unit lacks size (Nikola Jović and Jamie Jaquez Jr. would be the team's biggest rotation players off the bench). Advertisement Last ranking: 17 Free agency: PG Kyrie Irving (re-signed), SF Dante Exum (re-signed), C Dwight Powell (exercised option) Additions: SF Cooper Flagg (draft), PG D'Angelo Russell Departures: PG Spencer Dinwiddie Midsummer summary: Dallas has something of a crowded roster and needs to shed a standard contract. But whoever that player might be, No. 1 pick Flagg replaces them. Automatic upgrade! The only other roster change of note is that Russell is here to replace Dinwiddie, which should be another upgrade for the Mavericks, although Russell had a forgettable season that saw him drop below 40 percent from the field for the first time in his career. It will be up to Flagg and Russell to run Dallas' offense and find Anthony Davis, who is recovering from surgery to repair a detached retina. Elsewhere in the surgery department, center Dereck Lively II had foot surgery this month. While Davis and Lively should be ready for camp, it underscores the lack of availability both players have had. Availability, of course, is a major concern for Kyrie Irving as well, who re-signed about four months after tearing his ACL. There is more than enough size here, but Irving isn't saving the shaky guard play that this team projects to have. Last ranking: 21 Free agency: C Bismack Biyombo (unrestricted), C Charles Bassey (unrestricted), PG Jordan McLaughlin (unrestricted) Additions: SG Dylan Harper (draft), SF Carter Bryant (draft), C Luke Kornet, PF Kelly Olynyk Departures: PF Sandro Mamukelashvili, SG Blake Wesley (trade), SF Malaki Branham (trade), PG Chris Paul Midsummer summary: Wemby's revenge? Injuries to Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox allowed 2024 lottery pick Stephon Castle to secure Rookie of the Year honors, then the Spurs were gifted the second pick in 2025 and used it on Harper, who essentially replaced Paul. The young talent is exciting. The fit is not. Someone isn't going to start between Fox, Castle, Harper and Devin Vassell, a player the Spurs extended for five years and $146 million two years ago. San Antonio used its other lottery pick on Bryant, who should be a talent upgrade on Branham. Up front, Kornet and Olynyk replace Biyombo and Mamukelashvili, making the team taller and more skilled offensively. Wembanyama has been cleared to begin next season on time, and his individual possibilities are endless. But coach Mitch Johnson has to figure out how to make sure all of these pieces will elevate the whole team's performance. Last ranking: 20 Free agency: SG Keon Ellis (option exercised), PF Trey Lyles (unrestricted), C Isaac Jones (option exercised), PG Markelle Fultz (unrestricted), SF Doug McDermott (re-signed), PF Jae Crowder (unrestricted) Additions: SF Nique Clifford (draft), PF Dario Šarić (trade), C Drew Eubanks, PG Dennis Schröder (trade) Departures: SF Jake LaRavia, C Jonas Valančiūnas (trade) Midsummer summary: This is the most top-heavy team in the league that has no business being top-heavy. Let's be kind first. I'm a big fan of Clifford, and he takes LaRavia's spot. Don't be surprised if he is contributing early. The rest? I have concerns. Schröder might be the new starting point guard. He takes Fultz's roster spot. But that creates a real logjam at guard with Ellis returning, and that means that Carter, last year's lottery pick, might be the odd man out. None of these guards are going to touch the ball much anyway with Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan continuing Chicago Bulls West. And then the backup big rotation is somehow even less inspiring than before, with Šarić and Eubanks replacing Lyles and Valančiūnas. If anything happens to Keegan Murray or Domantas Sabonis, the elevator plummets in the Capital City. Last ranking: 19 Free agency: PG Josh Giddey (restricted), PG Tre Jones (re-signed), SG Talen Horton-Tucker (unrestricted), PG Jevon Carter (option exercised) Additions: PF Noa Essengue (draft), SF Isaac Okoro (trade) Departures: SF Lonzo Ball (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: We return to restricted free agency hell, where Giddey is keeping the Bulls from doing anything except repeat their 2024 trade where they send a former Laker defender to a No. 1 seed in exchange for a lottery pick. Last year, it was Giddey from Oklahoma City in exchange for now two-time NBA champion Alex Caruso. This year, the Bulls sent Ball to the Cavaliers for Okoro. At least Okoro comes equipped with a multi-year contract this time. Horton-Tucker's contract expired before the Bulls could trade him to Oklahoma City, while Carter opted in to keep his money. Jones is back. And the Bulls drafted Essengue to be Matas Buzelis' twin; Essengue essentially replaces Horton-Tucker on a roster that otherwise hasn't changed. Last ranking: 24 Free agency: PF Chris Boucher (unrestricted), SG Garrett Temple (re-signed) Additions: PF Collin Murray-Boyles (draft), C Sandro Mamukelashvili Departures: TBD Midsummer summary: The big story from the Raptors is the departure of Masai Ujiri, architect of the 2019 champions. The Raptors have had a quiet offseason, but it will be interesting to see how Ujiri's last big trade turns out, as Brandon Ingram will debut in the fall after being unable to suit up following his exit from New Orleans in February. Toronto drafted Murray-Boyles and signed Mamukelashvili from San Antonio, giving the Raptors two more reserve bigs while signaling that Boucher's run is up after seven seasons. Temple is also back, meaning someone else has to go between AJ Lawson, Colin Castleton and Jamison Battle. Given Battle's shooting and the logjam of bigs, it would be a surprise if Castleton is on the roster in November. Last ranking: 22 Free agency: SF Matisse Thybulle (option exercised), PG Dalano Banton (unrestricted), SG Rayan Rupert (option exercised) Additions: C Yang Hansen (draft), PG Damian Lillard, PG Jrue Holiday (trade), SG Blake Wesley Departures: PF Jabari Walker, C Deandre Ayton, PG Anfernee Simons Midsummer summary: I mentioned in last month's Power Rankings that the Trail Blazers were better without Simons and Ayton. And what do you know, both are off the team now. Ayton was waived, clearing room for Donovan Clingan to start. And for arguably the most shocking move of the draft, Portland traded down with Memphis to select Yang Hansen. Simons was traded for Holiday, who was a Blazer for about a weekend two years ago after Lillard was traded. Remember Lillard?! Remember how Portland was supposed to have drafted his replacement in Scoot Henderson? Well, now it's Dame Time again! Lillard has a no-trade clause and is back in Portland to rehab for a year, make a comeback, then have the choice to re-enter free agency in 2027. The Blazers are going to be a chore to play against with their defense, but offensively, this projects to be a team that struggles to create advantages consistently. Last ranking: 23 Free agency: PG Monte Morris (unrestricted), PF Bol Bol (unrestricted), SF Damion Lee (unrestricted), PG Collin Gillespie (re-signed) Additions: C Khaman Maluach (draft), SG Jalen Green (trade), C Mark Williams (trade), PF Dillon Brooks (trade), PF Nigel Hayes-Davis Departures: PG Tyus Jones, C Mason Plumlee, PG Vasilije Micić (traded), SF Cody Martin (waived), SG Bradley Beal, PF Kevin Durant (trade) Midsummer summary: This team was in the NBA Finals four years ago and was the top seed in the West three years ago. The Suns traded for Durant and Beal about four months apart two years ago. It's all over now. Durant's traded, and they ate Beal's contract because that's what happens when you acquire a no-trade clause and slaughter a player's value afterward. The assist-turnover merchants whom Phoenix brought in last year, Jones and Morris, were not retained. Phoenix replaced one former Hornets center (Mason Plumlee) with another (Mark Williams), and the Suns decided Khaman Maluach played at Duke like Plumlee and Williams, so they drafted him too. (For those wondering, yes, former Hornets center Nick Richards is still here.) Brooks (not MarShon Brooks) replaces Durant at power forward, while Green essentially backfills Beal, bumping Devin Booker to point guard yet again. As it stands now, the promoted Gillespie is the only traditional point guard on the roster. Advertisement Last ranking: 27 Free agency: SG Brandon Boston Jr. (unrestricted), PF Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (unrestricted), PG Elfrid Payton (unrestricted) Additions: PG Jeremiah Fears (draft), PF Derik Queen (draft), C Kevon Looney, PG Jordan Poole (trade), SF Saddiq Bey (trade) Departures: SF Bruce Brown, SG Antonio Reeves (waived), CJ McCollum (trade), PF Kelly Olynyk (trade) Midsummer summary: It's already rough when you give up a potential 2026 lottery pick for the right to draft Queen, a talented big whom New Orleans likely sees as a power forward more than a center. Then Queen suffered a wrist injury that may delay the start of his rookie season. Such is the torture that is the Pelicans. Dejounte Murray won't begin the season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, which should allow lottery pick Fears to get plenty of minutes. Poole was acquired in place of McCollum, and Poole should probably start at point guard in a lineup that includes Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones and Yves Missi. Looney left Golden State after a decade, and he should be the replacement for Robinson-Earl as a backup center. Queen replaces Olynyk, while Fears replaces Payton. Bey, who did not play last year in Washington while recovering from a torn ACL, replaces Brown. There is plenty of size here, but the defense will be a concern, and so will the offense when Williamson starts to miss time. Last ranking: 28 Free agency: SG Seth Curry (unrestricted), PF Taj Gibson (unrestricted), PG Tre Mann (re-signed) Additions: SF Kon Knueppel, SF Liam McNeeley, SG Pat Connaughton (trade), C Mason Plumlee, PG Spencer Dinwiddie, SG Collin Sexton (trade) Departures: C Mark Williams (trade), C Jusuf Nurkić (trade), SG Josh Okogie Midsummer summary: The summer league champions! The most important addition to the team is fourth pick Knueppel, who replaces Okogie and could have a pathway to starting considering Josh Green's shoulder surgery. It should be between Knueppel and Sexton, who was acquired in a trade that sent Nurkić to Utah. Sexton replaces Curry, while Plumlee replaces Nurkić. Charlotte acquired first-round rookie McNeeley in a draft-day deal that sent center Williams to Phoenix, while signing Dinwiddie, who takes Gibson's vacated roster spot. Charlotte also acquired Connaughton and re-signed Mann, so something has to give. There are way too many guards on this team, like Nick Smith Jr. It remains to be seen how DaQuan Jeffries and Moussa Diabaté remain with the Hornets considering their non-guaranteed contracts and the excess contracts on the team, even before they consider what to do with their second-round picks. Last ranking: 30 Free agency: TBD Additions: SF Ace Bailey (draft), PG Walter Clayton Jr. (draft), PF Kyle Anderson (trade), C Kevin Love (trade), C Jusuf Nurkić (trade) Departures: PF John Collins (trade), SG Johnny Juzang (waived), SG Jordan Clarkson, SG Collin Sexton (trade) Midsummer summary: The Jazz went with the high-ceiling player in the draft, selecting Bailey fifth. Bailey basically replaces Clarkson on the roster. Later in the first round, Utah went with national champion Clayton, who takes Sexton's vacated roster spot. Sexton was traded to Charlotte for Nurkić, the appetizer to a three-team trade that sent Collins to LA and Kyle Anderson to Utah. There must have been a UCLA quota on the roster, because Johnny Juzang has been waived and Kevin Love is not expected to play in Utah. Taylor Hendricks is still recovering from his gruesome leg injury suffered early last season. Utah is somehow even bigger than last season's team, but how much better the Jazz can expect to be will come down to the progression of their growing developmental corps. Nine of Utah's top 13 players were in the last four drafts. Last ranking: 29 Free agency: PF Khris Middleton (option exercised), PG Malcolm Brogdon (unrestricted) Additions: PG Tre Johnson (draft), SF Will Riley (draft), C Marvin Bagley III, SF Cam Whitmore (trade), SG CJ McCollum (trade), SF Dillon Jones (trade), SG Malaki Branham (trade) Departures: SG Colby Jones (trade), PG Anthony Gill (waived), C Richaun Holmes (waived), SG Marcus Smart (waived), PG Jordan Poole (trade), SF Saddiq Bey (trade) Advertisement Midsummer summary: How's this for a youth movement: 10 of Washington's 15 standard contracts are occupied by first-round picks from the last four drafts. The exceptions are Middleton, who opted in to the final year of his contract; McCollum, who was traded by New Orleans to Washington for Poole; Corey Kispert, who finally has a shooting friend on this roster in the form of sixth pick Johnson; Justin Champagnie, who has a non-guaranteed contract; and Bagley, who replaces Holmes and is the only true big on a standard contract besides Alex Sarr. Johnson and Riley replace Brogdon and Smart, while 2023 Rockets first-round pick Whitmore and 2024 Thunder first-round pick Jones replace Gill and Jones. A top training camp battle will be determining who should start next to McCollum between Johnson and Carrington. Last ranking: 26 Free agency: SG Cam Thomas (restricted), SF Jalen Wilson (option exercised), SG Keon Johnson (option exercised), C Day'Ron Sharpe (re-signed), PG Tyrese Martin (option exercised), SF Maxwell Lewis (waived), C Drew Timme (option exercised), SG De'Anthony Melton (unrestricted) Additions: PG Egor Demin (draft), PG Nolan Traoré (draft), SG Drake Powell (draft), PG Ben Saraf (draft), PF Danny Wolf (draft), PF Michael Porter Jr. (trade), SF Terance Mann (trade) Departures: PG D'Angelo Russell, SF Cameron Johnson, PF Trendon Watford Midsummer summary: This team used five first-round picks in June, all on players who are highly unlikely to be efficient offensive players throughout most of the 2025-26 season. Denim, Traoré and Saraf are all point guards. Denim is tall, Traoré is fast and Saraf is left-handed. There will be a quiz in the afternoon. Wolf would be a point guard if he had never grown. Powell will never be a point guard; he is here because he has elite physical attributes for a perimeter defender. As far as the serious 'veteran' affairs: Thomas is a restricted free agent. I'm not going to comment on his passing ability, but I will point out that if he is back with the Nets, he is going to score a lot of points if he can stay on the floor; Thomas played in only 25 games last season. Brooklyn traded Johnson to Denver for Porter, who might be the only other player on the team who averages more than 10 shots per game. The Brooklyn-born Mann is also here now. This team is built to tank aggressively, especially if it finds minutes for all of the ballhandling rookies. (Top photo of Mike Brown: Ishika Samant / Getty Images)
New York Times
6 days ago
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- New York Times
You picked the most overrated and underrated NFL teams
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic's daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Pay homage to the Honey Badger today. Yesterday's Pulse Poll gave me exactly what I wanted: a natural enemy for Pulse readership and a team to bet on (metaphorically, of course). Let's start with the team you chose to antagonize: I don't know what I expected from this one, but it wasn't this. We gave you the top 10 teams in our latest Power Rankings and asked you to pick one as most overrated … and 34 percent of you chose the Packers, ranked No. 5. Two quick thoughts: I can see the outline of logic for the rest of our candidates above, but nothing came close to the Green Bay angst. Let's move on to our underrated teams: Hello, Denver. This was a closer vote, as you can see, but we anoint the Broncos as The Pulse's underrated dark horse. I'm sure they'll crater immediately. Allow me to cast doubt on your second-most underrated team, the Cincinnati Bengals, on vibes alone. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase can power any offense to three touchdowns a game, but ongoing feuds with both your star pass rusher and your first-round pick scream trouble to me. A final note: Many of you wrote in pleading with us to include the Buccaneers, who just missed our arbitrary cutoff of 15 teams from those Power Rankings (they're No. 16). We've already established The Pulse as in on the Bucs. Elsewhere: The Athletic Football Show picked the player arguably facing the most pressure. Watch. Thank you, as always, for voting. Onward: Venus' big day Venus Williams won her first-round match at the Citi Open yesterday over 23-year-old Peyton Stearns, the world No. 35, in straight sets. It is an incredible achievement for the 45-year-old Williams, who hadn't won a WTA match since 2023. She's looked good in both doubles and singles now, and she hopes to compete in the U.S. Open later this summer. Also on the old-athlete circuit: Rich Hill, also 45, started last night for the Royals, his 14th team (which ties a record). Advertisement Parsons baffled by Cowboys strategy Micah Parsons is at Cowboys training camp despite an ongoing contract dispute, but was direct about his communication (or lack thereof) with the team as he seeks a new deal. Parsons, the star rusher in the final year of his rookie contract, emphasized he wants to stay a Cowboy. I also don't understand how the Cowboys operate like this. Jon Machota tried to give us some answers. Marte loses $400K in burglary Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte said burglars stole approximately $400,000 worth of items from his home last week during All-Star festivities, just before Marte played in Tuesday's All-Star Game. No one was home during the break-in, thankfully, but Marte still (understandably) seems shaken by the incident. It's the latest in a string of burglaries at the homes of pro athletes. Read more here. More news 📫 Love The Pulse? Check out our other newsletters. 📺 Soccer: Germany vs. Spain 3 p.m. ET on Fox The winner of this one faces England (big win yesterday) in the Women's Euros final this weekend. I found the story of Spain's Salma Paraluello moving, as the 21-year-old is back contributing after taking four months off in the last year to pre-emptively avoid injury. She looks smart now. Germany's Sarai Linder was not so lucky and will miss today's match with an ankle injury. 📺 MLB: Yankees at Blue Jays 7:07 p.m. ET on Prime Video Toronto is solidly in the AL East lead and yet can't top the Yanks in our latest Power Rankings. What gives? The big question hovering over Toronto is whether the team is really this good. Tonight can help prove that in the short term. Get tickets to games like these here. Perfect offseason content: How much are college football programs worth? Matt Baker ran the numbers, which are startling. Hook 'em (for billions). Andrew Marchand has a timely report and column about ESPN and the NFL being 'on the 5-yard line' on a deal for ESPN to acquire NFL Media. Read it here — we'll have more on this tomorrow. Advertisement An early fantasy football cheat sheet: Michael Salfino breaks down the best QB options to stack in your upcoming draft. Which NHL broadcasts are the best? Here's what fans think. Sean McIndoe has a super interesting story on the minor playoff rule change that altered NHL history. Brody Miller and Hugh Kellenberger made predictions for both Ryder Cup teams. The picture is a little clearer now. Ichiro is a singular figure in sports history. You can still take these four lessons from his career and apply them to your life. Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story about the fan who fell into the outfield basket at Wrigley Field while trying to snag a home run ball. Most-read on the website yesterday: Our latest Transfer DealSheet. Soccer is busy.
