Sports
LeBron James Could Transform the Warriors or Cavaliers in 2027
Move aside, World Cup. LeBron James is about to shake the sports world.
So far, NBA free agency has fizzled more than an Independence Day dud.
OK, nice move by the Bulls snatching the leader of the B-Listers, Norman Powell. But when Mitchell Robinson, Moe Wagner, John Collins, Dean Wade and Quentin Grimes are the other headliners, you have to ask:
Is this Team Nigeria tryouts, or what?
Alas, the greatest winner in NBA history – you read that right – is about to change things. He’s reportedly making himself available for $15 million for the 2027 season.
Thirty teams should be lining up.
Some aren’t because they believe they don’t need LeBron to win next season. Others think he’d be a bad fit. And then there are the ones who, frankly, aren’t interested in winning right now.
The latter makes sense. The others are just plain idiots.
Even at maybe 80 percent capacity, LeBron James still does a lot of great things. Two stand out even above his winning and double-doubles.
First off, LeBron fits in.
It takes a unique personality to do what Kevin Durant accomplished when he joined Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green with the Warriors in 2017. Criticize him for moving around, but it’s helped LeBron demonstrate he’s fully capable of being a good teammate, never more so than not rocking Luka Doncic’s boat with the Lakers.
You need a rugged rebounder? Few are ruggeder than him. A big man to run the court? Even at 41 (42 by New Year’s Eve), he can still motor. A 3-point shooter, difference-making defender, unselfish ball distributor, guy you want taking the last shot?
He’s built the NBA’s greatest all-time resume doing all that.
And secondly, he’s a leader.
The real-time legend is equal parts mentor for young talent and inspirational voice for guys who think they’ve been there and done that. That’s why he’d be the perfect addition to the Spurs. Or the Pistons. Or the Rockets. Or about a half-dozen other championship dreamers who might be one real good player away from preventing the Thunder from a successful revenge tour next season.
It sounds like “The Decision II” is coming down to the Warriors and Cavaliers. Lucky them.
The Warriors are the most desperate and, at the same time, the most intriguing. Imagine showing up for your first playoff game, a higher seed inspired by a raucous home crowd, and a Fantastic Five reunion rolls out of the visitors’ tunnel with LeBron, Curry, Green, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford.
Guessing the music would stop.
Golden State, which didn’t even make the playoffs last season, still might not be good enough to beat a handful of teams in the top-heavy West. But that’s another great thing about LeBron.
He’s a magnet.
The Warriors not only need LeBron, they also need a buddy or two. It’s no coincidence that the initial report of Golden State’s interest included Anthony Davis’ name. That’s the kind of clout LeBron has.
That might be wishful thinking, but frankly, the Warriors might be better off if LeBron brought one of his little pals. This team is seriously lacking in defensive-capable guards, so maybe Russell Westbrook agrees to come along.
Without question, the Warriors’ twice-prematurely-ended dynasty would be a serious candidate to extend a year or two.
Cleveland is a different animal. He’d be a great story there, where he’s won with far less talent than Bill Russell ever had, then returned to do it again like Michael Jordan did with a vastly superior supporting cast.
Nobody has put more teams in championship contention with lottery-laden histories than LeBron, and Cleveland is where most of it happened. Consider: The Cavaliers have been in existence 56 years. They made at least the Eastern finals six times in 11 years with LeBron. In the other 45 seasons … three times.
(Want to make a similar comparison in Heat history? In 38 seasons: Four trips to the NBA Finals in four years with LeBron, three in 34 years without LeBron.)
But could he do it again in today’s Cleveland, where the Cavaliers were last heard saying they were content to move forward with the same star-studded cast that was eight wins from last year’s title?
Signing LeBron on the cheap could mean not hesitating to deal out-of-place Evan Mobley and his bloated contract for guard help. Hello, Kyrie Irving?
No doubt, the Cavaliers are more ready to win – and win again – than the Warriors. But here’s where Golden State has the advantage: It doesn’t employ James Harden.
No disrespect to the future Hall of Famer, but Harden is an offensive play-through. A ball-stopper who keeps the leather from reaching LeBron. He’s a poor man’s Doncic – and we see how that worked out in LA.
Even with all of LeBron’s greatness, he couldn’t put team and Harden in the same sentence. The Cavaliers would be left praying Harden would agree to move on as a free agent.
And therein could lie the difference-maker: LeBron would be a talent adder with the Warriors, a talent subtractor with the Cavaliers.
Three-peating in his ability to lead the Cavaliers to unforeseen greatness would be a wonderful final chapter in LeBron’s best-seller. But the path to another ring or two – even if it began with scattered boos for a lifetime nemesis – appears smoother in San Francisco.
Sports
Marlins attempt to recapture June success in series finale vs. Rockies
Jun 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) delivers a pitch to Minnesota Twins third baseman Brooks Lee (22) in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Mickey Moniak is beginning to perform like a No. 1 overall draft pick again.
Moniak will try to keep his latest hot streak going for the Colorado Rockies when they oppose the Miami Marlins in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon in Denver.
Moniak came within a single of hitting for the cycle in the Rockies’ 6-3 win against the Marlins on Wednesday. The first pick in the 2016 draft also homered in Colorado’s 14-3 loss to Miami on Tuesday.
“He was a first overall (pick) for a reason, so it’s never been a thing of talent,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said of Moniak following the Wednesday game. “Guys take a circuitous route to find a place that they settle into in a part of their career. It seems like he’s found a place here in Denver that he’s comfortable in, and certainly swings the bat very well in this ballpark, and he was a big factor for them (Wednesday) evening.”
The Marlins fell on the first day of July after finishing June with a 20-6 record, the best mark in the majors and the best month in their history (.769). It was only the second time in franchise annals that Miami won at least 20 games in a month, following a 21-8 ledger in May 2012.
Miami starter Max Meyer came into the Wednesday game with a shiny 9-0 record, but with one out in the first, Moniak hit the second pitch he saw from Meyer over the fence for a 1-0 lead.
“Staying on a fastball, drove it out to left-center,” Moniak said. “When I’m doing that, things are usually feeling pretty good.”
McCullough would like to see a better approach at the plate from his hitters in the series finale. Miami struck out 11 times on Wednesday, with Esteury Ruiz (four), Kyle Stowers (three) and Owen Caissie (two) accounting for nine.
McCullough did witness something he’d never seen before: a pinch-hit inside-the-park homer. Joe Mack circled the bases after his long fly ball took an odd bounce off the center field wall in the seventh inning.
“I didn’t have Joe Mack doing that on my bingo card,” McCullough said. “This ballpark’s crazy.”
Colorado plans to send veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen to the mound in hopes of splitting the series after dropping the first two.
Lorenzen (3-9, 6.83 ERA) showed signs of rebounding from a difficult stretch in which he went 10 straight starts without a victory and lost seven times. He ended the skid on Saturday when he allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings during an 8-5 victory against the Minnesota Twins. It was his first win since April 24.
“He pounded the zone. He got ahead. He didn’t try to do too much,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He was efficient with his pitches. He threw his sinker a ton and got some quick outs. Didn’t hunt the punchout, which was great. I thought Mike was very, very good.”
Lorenzen faced the Marlins in the second game of the season and went 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Miami. He allowed three runs and seven hits.
Lorenzen has had decent success against the Marlins in his career overall, going 4-2 with a 2.62 ERA in 18 appearances, including seven starts.
Following the Wednesday game, McCullough named Ryan Gusto as his starting pitcher for Thursday.
Gusto (0-2, 5.06 ERA) tossed 3 1/3 shutout innings in his latest outing, on Saturday in a no-decision against the host St. Louis Cardinals. That came after a similar performance on June 21, when the right-hander limited the San Francisco Giants to one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings. Miami won both games.
Gusto has never faced the Rockies in his two-year major league career.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Guardians' Chase DeLauter brings hot streak into White Sox series
Jul 1, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) hits a double during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Chase DeLauter is swinging a hot bat since returning from the injured list.
The Cleveland rookie will look to extend his torrid stretch on Thursday night when the Guardians open a four-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox.
DeLauter had an RBI single among his three hits in Cleveland’s 9-4 home victory over Texas on Wednesday. The victory salvaged the series finale vs. the Rangers and allowed the Guardians to move within one game of the American League Central-leading White Sox, who fell 6-1 to the host Baltimore Orioles earlier in the afternoon.
“Bummed about today, but we’ll regroup and be ready for a big series against (Cleveland), which obviously we’re very excited about,” Chicago manager Will Venable said.
The White Sox will need to pitch carefully to DeLauter, 24, who is 8-for-18 (.444) with four RBIs in four games since returning from a rib injury. He also is 16-for-40 (.400) during a 10-game hitting streak.
“I think Chase looks the same as he’s looked all year,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s just fun to have him back.”
Unfortunately for the Guardians, DeLauter was not in the lineup when the team dropped two of three road games against the White Sox from June 22-24.
Cleveland’s Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.18 ERA) did not pitch in that series either, but he will start on Thursday against fellow right-hander Davis Martin (9-3, 3.00).
Cecconi scattered three hits over six-plus scoreless innings in a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. The win was the first for Cecconi since May 18, though he posted a 1.88 ERA across 28 2/3 innings in five starts during June.
“It’s amazing,” Vogt said of Cecconi’s turnaround. “Slade’s such a competitor and he’s so dedicated to his craft. He kept telling us, ‘I’m going to get it. I’m going to get it. I’m going to get it.’ And he is getting better as the season goes on.”
Cecconi, 27, is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA in two career appearances (both starts) vs. the White Sox.
Like Cecconi, Martin also is coming in off a scoreless outing. He allowed four hits in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. The White Sox won 2-1.
Martin, 29, is 1-3 with a 6.63 ERA in four career appearances (all starts) against the Guardians.
The White Sox had won six of their eight previous games before falling flat on Wednesday.
Sam Antonacci deposited the second pitch of the game over the wall in right-center field. He added another hit, but Chicago mustered just two others in the setback.
“A nice way to start the game with (the home run by) Antonacci there, and then just really couldn’t get anything going,” Venable said. “A couple of pivotal plays, the play by (Baltimore’s Tyler O’Neill, who made a diving catch in right field with two on to end the fourth inning), really big play there by him, a great play. We’d score at least one there, and maybe things look a little different.”
Despite the result, the White Sox aren’t getting down.
“If people are doubting us or thinking this is a fluke, I think all of that should be out of the window since we’re in July now,” Colson Montgomery said, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals' Dustin May eager to regain form in finale vs. Braves
Jun 15, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (3) reacts after throwing a complete game one hitter against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images Dustin May will return to the mound for St. Louis after missing a start with an injury as the Cardinals visit the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night in the decisive contest of their three-game series.
The Cardinals recorded a 5-3 victory in the series opener on Tuesday before the Braves ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-1 win on Wednesday.
The Cardinals skipped May’s last start, against Miami, because of lower back tightness. The veteran right-hander (5-6, 4.30 ERA) will oppose Atlanta’s Hurston Waldrep (0-0, 0.00), who will make his first start of the season.
May will try to rebound from his worst game of the year when he was knocked out after giving up six runs in two innings against Kansas City on June 21. That was a shocking turn of events, as he was coming off a complete-game, one-hit shutout vs. San Diego and had thrown 15 consecutive scoreless frames.
“He’s feeling good,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “He was able to touch the mound again and throw his side a couple days ago. Came out of that feeling really good, so he’s a full go (on Thursday).”
May has not fared well in his career vs. the Braves, going 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against them.
Waldrep, a right-hander, has been recovering from right elbow surgery to remove loose bodies that shut him down early in spring training. He made 10 appearances (nine starts) last season and went 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA. He was expected to be in Atlanta’s rotation this season.
Waldrep did pitch two scoreless innings of relief against San Francisco in his 2026 debut on Friday and is not expected to go deep into his first career outing vs. St. Louis.
He could be paired with Grant Holmes, who could be moved to long relief. The right-hander threw four scoreless innings and allowed only one hit in his last outing against the Giants on Saturday. The Braves lost 5-0.
“We’re not sure yet,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said after Wednesday’s game. “We’ve gotta figure that out. All we know is it’ll be Waldrep tomorrow. I’m not sure after that.”
Holmes has struggled against the Cardinals, pitching to an 11.25 ERA without a decision in three career appearances (one start). That start came last year, and he gave up five runs in three innings.
St. Louis right fielder Jordan Walker, who played at Decatur High School in the Atlanta area, had one of the team’s two hits on Wednesday. He doubled in a run and also threw out the fleet-footed Michael Harris II at the plate.
“He stayed on that ball really well for an RBI, and that throw was on the money, a real strong throw,” Marmol said. “He continues to just take really good steps on both sides.”
The Atlanta offense had some minor victories. Drake Baldwin, who ended an 0-for-36 streak on Tuesday, had a hit and scored two runs in Wednesday’s win. Austin Riley ended an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single.
“It’s been kind of a Murphy’s Law here for a few weeks, but maybe it’s a sign of the tide turning a little bit,” Weiss said. “Things can snowball in this game one way or the other — and it’s certainly snowballed the wrong direction here recently — but some good signs tonight.”
–Field Level Media
Marlins attempt to recapture June success in series finale vs. Rockies
Guardians' Chase DeLauter brings hot streak into White Sox series
