Cooper Flagg is officially a Dallas Maverick. 

The Mavericks selected Flagg with the No. 1 pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, formalizing the transaction that was virtually guaranteed the moment the Mavericks won the NBA Draft lottery against long odds in May.

Flagg joins a Mavericks franchise in the midst of dramatic transition in the aftermath of last season’s stunning trade of franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. The ouster of Dončić in exchange for a package featuring Anthony Davis sparked a revolt among a fan base furious over the loss of the beloved 26-year-old All-NBA guard to a rival. 

“It’s really amazing,” Flagg told ESPN after being drafted. “It’s a dream come true, to be honest. I wouldn’t want to share it with anybody else.”

Can Flagg turn the page on post-Dončić turmoil?

Flagg now takes over as the face of the franchise as Mavericks brass seeks to turn the page on the most tumultuous chapter in team history. Whether Mavericks fans are ready to move on or ever will be, there’s real reason for excitement in Dallas.

Flagg is one of the most coveted prospects in the history of the draft and has the upside to lead the Mavericks into a new era. The Mavericks are banking on his ability to do so immediately as a starring member of a veteran roster, featuring Davis and Kyrie Irving, that’s built not for the future, but for right now. 

Whether he’s ready to do so at 18 years old remains to be seen. But his single season at Duke suggests he can develop into a franchise cornerstone.

What Flagg brings to Dallas

Flagg has been lauded as a future No. 1 draft pick since his prep days and managed to exceed his hype at Duke.

A 6-foot-9 forward who can play inside and out, Flagg led Duke as a freshman in points (19.2 ppg), rebounds (7.5), assists (4.2), blocks (1.4) and steals (1.4) while shooting 48.1% from the floor and 38.5% from 3-point distance. The result of his impact was an overwhelming Duke team that advanced to the Final Four.

Flagg paced the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record as Duke led the nation with an average margin of victory of 20.4 points per game. Duke dominated the ACC with a 19-1 regular-season record and tournament championship before entering the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed.

Duke’s season fell short of the ultimate goal in a Final Four loss to Houston. But the loss did little to dim Flagg’s NBA prospects. He looks every bit like a generational talent.

Flagg was a unanimous first-team All-America selection and finished the season as the consensus National Player of the Year while earning the Wooden Award, Naismith Award and AP National Player of the Year honors.

With Flagg, Davis and the projected midseason return of Irving from an ACL tear, expectations for the Mavericks will be considerably higher than the results of last season, when they finished short of the playoffs with a play-in loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in April.

The Mavericks are also banking on Flagg’s arrival to reinvigorate a spurned fan base. It adds up to a significant test for a player who would be fresh out of high school had he not reclassified to join Duke at 17 years old. 

It’s no secret that the most precious commodity at this year‘s trade deadline will be starting pitching. When it comes to midseason additions, as is the case in the offseason, reliable starters are extremely valuable. But there are a few factors that could make acquiring starting pitching ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline a little more challenging than in other years.

The most important caveat for this year’s deadline is that there is no true ace considered to be available. Unlike last season, when the White Sox were actively shopping Garrett Crochet, this time around, there is no frontline, All-Star-level arm on the market. Across the league, that caliber of pitcher is either not available or not healthy. Some might argue that Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom meets this criteria, but he comes with a price that would turn many teams off.

This season, there are more middle-to-back of the rotation arms available. Pitchers such as Pirates left-hander Andrew Heaney, Orioles righty Zach Eflin, D-backs right-hander Merrill Kelly and Rangers righty Tyler Mahle are the type of arms expected to be available and highly sought after. If moved, those four would all be rentals before they become free agents at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Several other notable pitchers who are set to become free agents and therefore could be candidates to be traded, such as Astros left-hander Framber Valdez, Phillies southpaw Ranger Suárez and Padres right-hander Michael King, are on contending teams and are important pieces of their teams’ playoff hopes. That trend across the league further shrinks this summer’s pitching market.

And of the starters who are expected to be available this summer, many come with questions or risks. There aren’t many arms you can point to that have been particularly dominant, and there are even fewer that a contender would want starting a playoff game. 

Even Sandy Alcántara and Zac Gallen, who were supposed to be among the biggest names available at this year’s deadline, have not delivered Cy Young-caliber performances in the first half. While it’s entirely possible either of them could return to All-Star form with a new club and give that team an ace for the stretch run, it seems just as likely that they continue to struggle through the second half.

Competition for starting pitching inevitably drives up the price for the best players available at the deadline. That will be particularly true this season, when most of the contenders could use pitching. Recent June swoons for the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets have emphasized their pitching needs. The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite many moves in the offseason, have once again seen their rotation decimated by injuries, and the San Diego Padres could also use additional pitching depth.

What’s more, the competition for pitching isn’t exclusive to the teams at the top of the standings. There are currently nine teams within four games of a playoff spot, in addition to the six teams holding wild cards. Add the six division leaders, and that’s two-thirds of the teams in baseball with reason to believe in their chances to reach the postseason.

If most teams consider themselves buyers, that puts the sellers in an extremely advantageous position and raises the prices even higher, particularly when it comes to starting pitching. But in the era of the third wild card, some will wait longer than ever to decide which lane to take. Some, like the Detroit Tigers last season, might even try to thread the needle and think short- and long-term by selling and buying at the same time.

As we get closer to the trade deadline, a few of the nine teams currently within reach of a wild card will likely fall back to Earth and join the ranks of the sellers. One that could get there sooner rather than later is Arizona. The D-backs have dealt with numerous injuries this season, and with them competing in the NL West and hovering around .500 as we reach the end of June, it doesn’t appear as if a postseason berth is in their future. Kelly, Gallen and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez are likely going to be available and discussed by teams.

As disappointing as it will be to give up on the team’s chances in 2024, the D-backs, with their three movable starting pitchers, would be wise to take advantage of a very lucrative trade market for the sellers.

It’s no secret that the most precious commodity at this year‘s trade deadline will be starting pitching. When it comes to midseason additions, as is the case in the offseason, reliable starters are extremely valuable. But there are a few factors that could make acquiring starting pitching ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline a little more challenging than in other years.

The most important caveat for this year’s deadline is that there is no true ace considered to be available. Unlike last season, when the White Sox were actively shopping Garrett Crochet, this time around, there is no frontline, All-Star-level arm on the market. Across the league, that caliber of pitcher is either not available or not healthy. Some might argue that Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom meets this criteria, but he comes with a price that would turn many teams off.

This season, there are more middle-to-back of the rotation arms available. Pitchers such as Pirates left-hander Andrew Heaney, Orioles righty Zach Eflin, D-backs right-hander Merrill Kelly and Rangers righty Tyler Mahle are the type of arms expected to be available and highly sought after. If moved, those four would all be rentals before they become free agents at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Several other notable pitchers who are set to become free agents and therefore could be candidates to be traded, such as Astros left-hander Framber Valdez, Phillies southpaw Ranger Suárez and Padres right-hander Michael King, are on contending teams and are important pieces of their teams’ playoff hopes. That trend across the league further shrinks this summer’s pitching market.

And of the starters who are expected to be available this summer, many come with questions or risks. There aren’t many arms you can point to that have been particularly dominant, and there are even fewer that a contender would want starting a playoff game. 

Even Sandy Alcántara and Zac Gallen, who were supposed to be among the biggest names available at this year’s deadline, have not delivered Cy Young-caliber performances in the first half. While it’s entirely possible either of them could return to All-Star form with a new club and give that team an ace for the stretch run, it seems just as likely that they continue to struggle through the second half.

Competition for starting pitching inevitably drives up the price for the best players available at the deadline. That will be particularly true this season, when most of the contenders could use pitching. Recent June swoons for the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets have emphasized their pitching needs. The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite many moves in the offseason, have once again seen their rotation decimated by injuries, and the San Diego Padres could also use additional pitching depth.

What’s more, the competition for pitching isn’t exclusive to the teams at the top of the standings. There are currently nine teams within four games of a playoff spot, in addition to the six teams holding wild cards. Add the six division leaders, and that’s two-thirds of the teams in baseball with reason to believe in their chances to reach the postseason.

If most teams consider themselves buyers, that puts the sellers in an extremely advantageous position and raises the prices even higher, particularly when it comes to starting pitching. But in the era of the third wild card, some will wait longer than ever to decide which lane to take. Some, like the Detroit Tigers last season, might even try to thread the needle and think short- and long-term by selling and buying at the same time.

As we get closer to the trade deadline, a few of the nine teams currently within reach of a wild card will likely fall back to Earth and join the ranks of the sellers. One that could get there sooner rather than later is Arizona. The D-backs have dealt with numerous injuries this season, and with them competing in the NL West and hovering around .500 as we reach the end of June, it doesn’t appear as if a postseason berth is in their future. Kelly, Gallen and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez are likely going to be available and discussed by teams.

As disappointing as it will be to give up on the team’s chances in 2024, the D-backs, with their three movable starting pitchers, would be wise to take advantage of a very lucrative trade market for the sellers.

Max Aarons has completed a move to Scottish Premiership side Rangers on a season-long loan.

Aarons joins the Ibrox outfit for the 2025/26 campaign, having spent the second half of last term at Valencia.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Aarons said: “I am delighted to be here, as you can see it’s a huge club and you realise that when you walk through the doors, I can’t wait to get going.

“I’ve got a lot of experience now in different leagues and I have played a lot of games. I think I can bring that experience, I can bring a new energy, and I think Rangers fans can be excited – I am really looking forward to it.”

Aarons arrival could well usher in the end of James Tavernier’s 10-year association with Rangers.

📸 Alex Livesey – 2023 Getty Images

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby in Atlanta will have its hometown hero.

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. became the first announced participant for the Derby on Wednesday, with seven spots remaining open for the rest of MLB’s sluggers. Acuña credited the Atlanta fans for being a major reason he’s participating, via an interpreter on ESPN:

“I’m even more excited to be doing it at home in Atlanta in front of our fans. They’re a big reason why I’m doing this. I think I’m Ronald Acuña Jr. because of their continued support, so I’m just excited to be able to go back home and do this for them.”

With nine homers entering Wednesday — he made his long-awaited return from an ACL tear last month — Acuña is likely to have the lowest long ball total of any player. The 2023 MVP went down with the injury on May 26 of last year and didn’t return until May 23 this season.

Naturally, he announced his return to MLB with a first-pitch homer.

This will be Acuña’s third career appearance in the Derby after competing in 2019 and 2022. In both events, he lost to division rival Pete Alonso, a two-time winner of the event.

Acuña would be the first Derby winner in Braves history.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández won the Derby last year, beating Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. in the finals. This year’s event will be held July 14, with a $1 million prize for the winner.

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby in Atlanta will have its hometown hero.

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. became the first announced participant for the Derby on Wednesday, with seven spots remaining open for the rest of MLB’s sluggers. Acuña credited the Atlanta fans for being a major reason he’s participating, via an interpreter on ESPN:

“I’m even more excited to be doing it at home in Atlanta in front of our fans. They’re a big reason why I’m doing this. I think I’m Ronald Acuña Jr. because of their continued support, so I’m just excited to be able to go back home and do this for them.”

With nine homers entering Wednesday — he made his long-awaited return from an ACL tear last month — Acuña is likely to have the lowest long ball total of any player. The 2023 MVP went down with the injury on May 26 of last year and didn’t return until May 23 this season.

Naturally, he announced his return to MLB with a first-pitch homer.

This will be Acuña’s third career appearance in the Derby after competing in 2019 and 2022. In both events, he lost to division rival Pete Alonso, a two-time winner of the event.

Acuña would be the first Derby winner in Braves history.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández won the Derby last year, beating Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. in the finals. This year’s event will be held July 14, with a $1 million prize for the winner.

The Hall of Fame isn’t calling anytime soon. But it sounds like Barry Bonds will be immortalized in San Francisco. 

Giants CEO Larry Baer said Wednesday that the team does intend to erect a statue of the slugger, who smashed baseball’s home run record as a Giant during the height of MLB’s steroids era. 

Baer broached the subject during an interview with San Francisco 95.7’s “The Morning Roast.”

“On the radar, I would say on the radar,” Baer said. “Barry is certainly deserving of a statue, and I would say should be next up. We don’t have the exact location and the exact date and the exact timing.”

Baer then mentioned the “great relationships” that Bonds has with the Giants and, more definitively, declared that a Bonds statue will be built.

“It’s coming,” he said. “All I can say is it’s coming.”

As for when and where? And what it will look like? Baer did not expound. It sounds like a firm plan isn’t in place. But the Giants boss is in support of it, so it sounds like a Bonds statue is coming.

If Bonds is, indeed, up next, his would be the sixth statue erected at Oracle Park. Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry and Orlando Cepeda all have statues around San Francisco’s home stadium. 

If Bonds gets a statue, his honor would bear one glaring distinction from the other five. Each of the other Giants honored with a statue is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bonds, notably, is not, and he doesn’t project to be inducted anytime soon.

Bonds played 15 of his 22 MLB seasons with the Giants, a span in which he hit 586 of his MLB-record 762 career home runs and launched a single-season-record 73 home runs in 2001. Whether one chooses to acknowledge those records is in the eye of the beholder. Because of Bonds’ association with the steroids era, many choose not to.

But Bonds hit them. And he made 12 of his 14 All-Star appearances and won five of his seven career MVPs with the Giants. Which is more than enough for the Giants to honor Bonds as they please. 

The Hall of Fame isn’t calling anytime soon. But it sounds like Barry Bonds will be immortalized in San Francisco. 

Giants CEO Larry Baer said Wednesday that the team does intend to erect a statue of the slugger, who smashed baseball’s home run record as a Giant during the height of MLB’s steroids era. 

Baer broached the subject during an interview with San Francisco 95.7’s “The Morning Roast.”

“On the radar, I would say on the radar,” Baer said. “Barry is certainly deserving of a statue, and I would say should be next up. We don’t have the exact location and the exact date and the exact timing.”

Baer then mentioned the “great relationships” that Bonds has with the Giants and, more definitively, declared that a Bonds statue will be built.

“It’s coming,” he said. “All I can say is it’s coming.”

As for when and where? And what it will look like? Baer did not expound. It sounds like a firm plan isn’t in place. But the Giants boss is in support of it, so it sounds like a Bonds statue is coming.

If Bonds is, indeed, up next, his would be the sixth statue erected at Oracle Park. Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry and Orlando Cepeda all have statues around San Francisco’s home stadium. 

If Bonds gets a statue, his honor would bear one glaring distinction from the other five. Each of the other Giants honored with a statue is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Bonds, notably, is not, and he doesn’t project to be inducted anytime soon.

Bonds played 15 of his 22 MLB seasons with the Giants, a span in which he hit 586 of his MLB-record 762 career home runs and launched a single-season-record 73 home runs in 2001. Whether one chooses to acknowledge those records is in the eye of the beholder. Because of Bonds’ association with the steroids era, many choose not to.

But Bonds hit them. And he made 12 of his 14 All-Star appearances and won five of his seven career MVPs with the Giants. Which is more than enough for the Giants to honor Bonds as they please.