Louisville ended last year with one of the best kicking games in the country while also being one of the worst punting units in all of college football. At this point, one could argue that the goal this season is to just have a kicking game that can get the bare minimum done. The staff was tasked with replacing the starters at both kicking positions, and at this point in fall camp, I'm not sure they are satisfied with the choices they have in the kicking game.
The only returner on the team who kicked last year is Nick Keller, and he is the likely frontrunner to take over the positions. Keller hit on half of his kicks last season as the long field goal option as well as the kickoff specialist. Keller has a massive leg, which brings real value to the team, but his accuracy is a real issue as well. If he can be more consistent with his kicks, he should be fine.
Garth White appears to be the challenger for the kicker spot, with a real chance to win the job. White has been consistent with his short kicks when fans and media have been able to check out practice, but he didn't connect on the longer kicks in our limited time seeing him. White finished last season 14-for-18 on kicks, with a long of 54 yards as well as a 52-yarder. If there is a position where a step up in competition should be smooth, it's at kicker.
While field goals have a clear path to being a solid position, there is not a punter on the roster right now who has shown promise to be an ****** et to the team. Jeff Brohm's first press conference this fall was a clear message about his feelings about the kicking game. That same message continued to be repeated by media who attended practice, as well as by my own eyes.
The entire punting operation appeared to be broken a couple of weeks into fall practice. Snaps were bad; punters had trouble handling snaps; punts either didn't have enough hang time, or they didn't have enough distance. The only punt I saw that looked the part took so long to get off that I think the punter would have been tackled by the rush. The good thing is that the staff has time to address the issue. Personnel is what it is, but I was impressed by the improvised competitions the staff put on during camp. Putting these guys in tough spots each day should help to find the right guys for the job.

#keller #fall

The Philadelphia Phillies signed veteran left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes to a contract.
At the time, it was reported that Cortes was signing an MLB deal with the Phillies; however, that isn't the case. The ******* ociated Press reported on Thursday that it's a split deal with different salaries when Cortes is in the minors compared to the MLB.
"Former All-Star left-hander Nestor Cortes agreed to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a deal that will pay him $1.5 million while in the major leagues and $250,000 while in the minors," the article read. "Cortes agreed to be optioned to Class-A Clearwater as part of the deal announced Wednesday. Right-hander Brian Keller was designated for ******* ignment to open a 40-man roster spot."
With Cortes agreeing to a split contract, there is no rush for him to get to the MLB. Instead, he could be built up over a few outings before reaching the MLB in a month or so. He also agreed to be optioned to Class-A as part of the deal.
Cortes was an All-Star in 2022 and is entering his ninth MLB season. He made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Baltimore Orioles.

#cortes #deal #contract

The home side began the game in control, pinning the opposition deep in their half. Nunes had the first chance curling a shot just wide of the post.
The Bees continued to push for the opener and Michel Boni's clever cross caused pinball action in the box and the eventual deflection off Mohamed Keita almost found his own net.
Carvalho went close, beating his opponent and then striking firmly at goal but his effort went wide.
Balcombe was called into action with the final shot of the first period and the goalkeeper made a tremendous stop to keep the scores level.
It was more of the same dominance as the young Bees continued to put pressure on the Blues in the second period. Neat combination from Dasilva and Carvalho saw the latter fizz a shot goalwards which Samuel Keller saved well.

#carvalho #went

Dynamo Dresden and Darmstadt are looking for their wins of the season as they go head-to-head on Sunday. The hosts lost 3-0 at Nürnberg in the opening week as Mohamed Ali Zoma bagged the season's first hat-trick.
Florian Kohfeldt's men were also in the same direction before sealing a comeback 2-2 draw at home against Holstein Kiel. Both teams finished the game with ten players when they last met in February.
Dresden: Schreiber; Sterner, Keller, Müller, Rossipal; Wagner, Rapp; Lemmer, Hauptmann ©, Bobzien; Vermeij
Darmstadt: Schuhen ©; Lannert, Pfeiffer, Vukotic, Kleinhansl; Klefisch, Akiyama; Weißhaupt, Duijvestijn, Furukawa; Lee

#zoma #kiel

Dynamo Dresden host Darmstadt on Sunday afternoon as both sides search for their first win of the season. The hosts lost 3-0 at Nürnberg in the opening matchday, with Mohamed Ali Zoma scoring a hat-trick.
Meanwhile, Darmstadt came from a two-goal deficit to earn a point at home against Holstein Kiel. Ho-jae Lee played a big part for Florian Kohfeldt's side after coming off the bench to make his 2. Bundesliga debut. Darmstadt have now added another striker to their ranks as Stoke City's Milan Smit joined them on loan.
Both teams finished with ten players the last time they met in February. Vincent Vermeij scored twice in the stroke of half-time moments after Patric Pfeiffer's sending off.
Luca Marseiler, Fabian Nürnberger and Merveille Papela have to wait a little longer for their first appearances of the season due to injuries. As for the hosts, Lars Bünning, Kenneth Schmidt and Tobias Raschl are unavailable.
Dresden: Schreiber; Sterner, Keller, Müller, Rossipal; Wagner, Rapp; Hauptmann ©; Inanoglu, Vermeij, Bobzien

#hosts #dynamo #sunday

Whether he's stepping out at Paris Fashion Week or sending fans into a frenzy over an off-duty airport look, BTS's Kim Taehyung has quietly become one of fashion's most influential dressers. It's only fitting, then, that Champion is the latest brand to tap into his cultural appeal.
Launching today, Taehyung leads Champion's new True Champion campaign, appearing alongside Romeo Beckham, Sofi Tukker, Kyle Kuzma, Danna Paola, Megan Keller, Bella Sims, and Jaalen Best.
Instead of placing him in a traditional sports setting, Champion leans into the everyday wardrobe that has made the idol a style favorite. Think: oversize varsity jackets layered over quarter-zips, relaxed sweatpants, vintage-inspired rugby knits, and retro sneakers, all photographed inside warm, lived-in interiors scattered with cassette tapes, vinyl records, and headphones.
Champion
It's a subtle shift for the American heritage label. While Champion built its reputation on activewear, the new campaign feels just as much about everyday personal style as performance, with Taehyung serving as an obvious bridge between the two.

#everyday #launching

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.
Pirates veteran starter Mitch Keller was not having the season he was hoping for, and the right-hander won't get an opportunity to try and finish the year on a high note.
The Pirates placed Keller on the 60-day injured list on Monday with a right arm teres major muscle injury, ending his season.
"Obviously, not the news you wanted to hear," Keller said. "I wanted to finish out the year and help us, but not gonna happen."
Click here to read more on PGHBaseballNOW.

#season #right

Interested in Keller Group plc? Here are five stocks we like better.
Keller delivered record first-half 2026 results, with constant-currency revenue up 11%, underlying operating profit up 17.1% and margins improving to 7.3%. Management remains confident of meeting its upgraded full-year expectations and achieving a fourth consecutive record year.
North America was the main growth engine, with revenue up 16.7% and operating profit up 17.7%, driven by data-center foundations and major infrastructure projects including the I-40 highway remediation. Data centers rose to 9% of group revenue, while weaker multifamily residential activity remained a headwind.
Cash generation supported a 57% increase in the interim dividend and ongoing share buybacks, while management expects to end the year with approximately £30 million of net cash. EMEA profit rose despite lower revenue, whereas APAC revenue grew strongly but profit was broadly flat due to pricing and weather pressures.
Keller Group (LON:KLR) reported record first-half results for 2026, with revenue and underlying operating profit rising as strong demand for data centers and infrastructure work in North America offset weaker conditions in some residential and European markets.

#revenue #record #operating #north

Max Kellerman had immense praise for LeBron James, comparing him to one of the NBA's greatest scorers ever, the Mail Man, Karl Malone.
Malone went to the NBA Finals three times in his NBA career, twice with the Utah Jazz against Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, and once in his final year alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal on the Los Angeles Lakers.
While Malone never won a championship in his career, he was a two-time MVP in his career, and ended his tenure in the NBA as the second-leading scorer of all time.
Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images
Speaking on his podcast with Rich Paul, NBA ***** yst Max Kellerman claimed that LeBron James' 2026 playoff run was on another level.

#Career #james #time #finals

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.
The Pirates placed right-handed starter Mitch Keller on the 60-day injured list with a right arm teres major muscle injury, ending his season.
It's been a difficult year for Keller, who took the loss on Sunday against the Reds after allowing seven runs in two innings. Keller made 22 starts and went 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA, his highest mark since he pitched to a 6.17 ERA in 2021. The right-hander's 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings this season are the lowest of his career excluding the shortended-2020 season.
Things started off well for Keller this season. The 30-year-old was 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA in his first eight starts through May 7. But over his last 14 starts, Keller went 2-7 with a 6.95 ERA.
Keller is under contract with the Pirates for two more seasons. He will make just under $18.5 million in 2027 and will make just shy of $20.5 million in 2028.

#season #right #make

He earned the nickname "Tre'" for being the third Edley William Griffiths in his family.
At Keller High School in Texas, Griffiths excelled in the triple-jump.
It is little wonder Tre' Griffiths is a three-tool wideout for the University of Hawaii football team. After the first two practices of training camp, 6-foot-3, 205-pound Griffiths has shown speed, hops on 50-50 **** , and Hoy-Hoy grip.
"I'm loving it here," said Griffiths, who transferred from Oklahoma State in January. "Coach (Jared) Ursua and Coach (William) Overstreet have done a really good job getting me acclimated and adjusted to the program. I've been loving it so far."
Griffiths is helping to fill a void in the Warriors' four-receiver offense. Wideouts Jackson Harris and Brandon White transferred, and Karsyn Pupunu's petition for an extra season was denied. Margin Hooks, who is Griffiths' personal trainer, called Ursua. Hooks, a former BYU receiver, and the UH receivers coach are close friends.

#coach #ursua

ESPN insider reveals what Phillies will 'certainly' add at MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies have three clear needs for the 2026 MLB trade deadline. They need to upgrade their offense by adding a right-handed hitting outfielder, another reliever due to Brad Keller's injury, and a new starting pitcher amid some major struggles from the No. 5 spot and Aaron Nola.
All of those areas of need have to be addressed for this Phillies team to have a chance come October, if they even make it there. So, of those three needs, is there one more likely to be resolved than the others?
ESPN's Buster Olney revealed that there is one position the Phillies "will most certainly" add by the August 3 MLB trade deadline, and that position is the No. 5 starter.
"Aaron Nola has struggled, and the No. 5 spot in the rotation has been a mess," Olney writes. "The Phillies will most certainly add a veteran starting pitcher before the deadline."

#olney

The LeBron James sweepstakes unfolding while Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" debuted in movie theaters is amusing and worthy of a chuckle.
It took James 25 days to choose the Philadelphia 76ers as his landing spot in NBA free agency, yet, with the fast and furious release of podcasts and the madness of social media, those three-plus weeks felt closer to the 20 years Odysseus spent fighting in the Trojan War and making his way back to Ithaca.
One key difference between James and Odysseus, though, is the heroic graybeard who hails from Akron is not returning home.
So, why did the 41-year-old James decline a third tour with his hometown Cavaliers?
The 76ers, Cavs, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors were the finalists in the James derby, agent Rich Paul confirmed July 24 on the "Game Over" podcast he co-hosts with Max Kellerman.

#christopher

The Diamondbacks dropped the opener of The Most Important Series of the Season™, losing 3-2 in ten innings to the Pirates. Merrill Kelly pitched well, and Max Kepler gave Arizona a 2-0 lead. But a throwing error by Kelly allowed a key Pittsburgh run, and Juan Morillo then gave up the tying score, which pushed the contest into extras. The Diamondbacks were unable to take advantage of a major Pirates gaffe, stranding the Manfred Man. A ball which was clanked off the glove of Ildemaro Vargas let the home team walk off, but the key stat tonight was the D-backs going just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. And one of those hits didn't score a run either.
But to focus on the positives. Merrill Kelly continued his resurgence. He finished June with an ERA above six (6.11, to be precise). But since the calendar turned to July, he has been much improved. Tonight, he allowed only an unearned run over 5.2 innings, on four hits – all of which were singles. He walked one and struck out six. [That is still an area of concern. Through nineteen starts last year, he had 7 or more K's eight times: he hasn't gone past six at all this year] He did hit a batter, Pirates' rookie Esmerlyn Valdez wearing a pitch around the wrist area, and having to leave the game in obvious discomfort. Hopefully, there's no serious damage there.
Through five innings, both Kelley and his opposite number – confusingly, called M. Keller – were basically cruising. Each side has managed to advance only one runner past first-base to that point. In the top of the second, Max Kepler led off with a single, advanced to third on a pair of outs, but was stranded there when Ildemaro Vargas grounded out. For the Pirates, they got a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth, and the runner stole second before being left there. Kelly even got a pick-off, ending the fourth by nailing the pinch-runner who had come in to replace Valdez. Rather embarrassing for them, I imagine.
Both pitchers were also being highly efficient. Through five innings, Keller had needed just 63 pitches, and Kelly less than a handful more at 67. I particularly enjoyed this strikeout by Kelly which ended the fifth inning. None of the six pitches in the zone, and zero contact by the batter on his three swings. However, my hopes of a quick recap foundered thereafter, as neither starting pitcher would make it through the sixth. Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo singled to lead off the top of the frame, though Gabriel Moreno would strike out looking, on a master-class of ABS by the Pirates catcher, which reversed two ******* to strikes, by very narrow margins.
[Conversely, Moreno was 0-for-2 in his challenges tonight. Though it is worth noting that the team's overall challenge rate when on defense is still 66.7%, significantly better than the MLB average of 58.1%.]

#innings #tonight #runner

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.
The good news for the Pirates is that they moved into a tie for the third National League wild card spot with a 3-2 walk-off win over the Diamondbacks at PNC Park on Monday night.
But the win came with a potential cost as star rookie Esmerlyn Valdez left the game after being hit by a pitch on his left hand.
Top 6th, 2-0 ARZ: The Diamondbacks (55-52) broke the scoreless tie on Max Kepler's two-RBI double off Mitch Keller with one out, knocking the Pirates starter out of the game.
Bottom 6th, 2-1 ARZ: Brandon Lowe got the Pirates (55-52) on the board when he plated Jake Mangum from third base on an infield single off Merrill Kelly.

#pirates #Third #Monday

In a promotional video posted to social media on Friday, July 24, agent Rich Paul broke out his famous whiteboard featured on the "Game Over" podcast he co-hosts with Max Kellerman and circled a group of names representing the Philadelphia 76ers in red marker.
"It's Philly. Rich, there's a star by [Tyrese] Maxey's name. Was that a breadcrumb I missed?" Kellerman asked. Paul replied, "Maybe you did. Maybe you didn't, Max. But it's Philly."
Yes, Akron native LeBron James announced on July 24 he will sign with the 76ers instead of the other top suitors vying for his services in NBA free agency — the Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors. James will join the Sixers on a two-year, $8 million contract, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, Paul told ESPN.
LeBron James news: NBA's all-time leading scorer passes on third Cavs tour and chooses to sign with 76ers
Should we have known all along it would be the 76ers?

#kellerman #philly #maybe #sign

Canelo Alvarez has opened up on his put-down of Max Kellerman, 10 months after the Mexican fighter fired up fans with his response to the commentator.
At the press conference for Canelo’s fight with Terence Crawford, Kellerman lauded Dana White – who was promoting a major boxing event for the first time – for allegedly building the UFC into something bigger than boxing.
At the time, Kellerman said: “Dana White is the greatest combat-sports promoter in my lifetime. He built an institution. You know why boxing is not as popular as it used to be anymore, right? UFC is really popular. That’s because of Dana White. He built something like the NBA.”
Fans in Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena booed Kellerman at this point, to which he said: “Stop now, because he’s about to do it again, for boxing now. You want an NBA or an NFL for boxing? Here it comes.”
Canelo, 36, took issue with this comment, telling Kellerman: “Hey Max, boxing is always [getting] bigger and bigger and bigger. Don’t say boxing is not big enough. Boxing is big, you know how big boxing is.”

#boxing #kellerman #canelo #fans

After a stormy Tuesday kept the tarp on the field at Yankee Stadium, the Pirates (52-49) and the Yankees (56-44) will take the field today twice in the form of a day-night doubleheader. The Yankees sit atop the Wild Card standings and two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East while the Pirates sit 11 games back of the Brewers in the NL Central and tied for the final Wild Card spot.
As a refresher, New York won the series opener Monday night, 8-5, thanks in large part to a pair of home runs and five runs batted in by Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Game 1 today pits two veteran right-handers Mitch Keller (6-7, 5.14 ERA) and Gerrit Cole (3-5, 3.93 ERA) against one another. Keller has been bad for about the last six weeks allowing 26 earned runs over just 35 innings. In his two July starts he has been even worse allowing eight runs in nine innings. In his last start Keller gave up three home runs. Well, the Yankees hit more home runs than anyone. Cole is beginning to look more like himself following his return from Tommy John surgery in late May. He was special against the Dodgers in his last start…until his last pitch. Max Muncy took him to the second deck in the seventh inning in a 2-1 Yankees loss. In July, Cole has thrown 17.1 innings and allowed seven earned runs, walking two and striking out 21.
The nightcap features a matchup of power arms at very different points of their seasons. Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.77 ERA) remains one of Pittsburgh's most talented young pitchers, possessing high-end strikeout stuff, but command issues have led to inconsistency. He has struggled recently, posting a 6.60 ERA over his last three starts. Chandler was better in his most recent start, though, allowing two runs over 4.2 innings. Great? Hardly but better than his previous two starts in which he allowed a combined nine runs in 10.1 innings of work. For the Yankees, all eyes will be on Max Fried (4-3, 3.21 ERA), who is being activated from the injured list for the nightcap. The left-hander has been sidelined since May with a bone bruise in his elbow and was originally expected to make another rehab start before joining the rotation. Instead, the rainout accelerated his return. Expectations are he will throw a max of 60 pitches tonight.
Lets dive further into today's doubleheader and find a sweat or two.

#last #starts

The Philadelphia Phillies have the 11th-best starting pitcher ERA in baseball this year, but that is being carried by the top of their rotation.
The team has a 7.33 ERA from its fifth rotation spot and is 5-20 in games not started by Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler, Jesús Luzardo or Aaron Nola. If they want to win the National League, they need another arm, and according to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury, they know that.
"The Phillies are actively looking to trade for a back-end starting pitcher," wrote Salisbury on Monday. "If they can't pull off a deal before Saturday, they could bring up 32-year-old right-hander Brian Keller from Triple A. Keller has pitched in the Red Sox and Yankees organizations. He spent time in ****** an, had Tommy John surgery, and signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies in May. He has allowed just two runs in his last four starts while going six innings in three of them."
Luckily for the Phillies, there is no shortage of starting pitching available this summer. Freddy Peralta, Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano could all be on the move. However, if the Phillies are looking for a back-end starter, they may not be looking to overpay. They could target a team like the Seattle Mariners or Milwaukee Brewers, who may be willing to deal from their depth.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!

#looking

If you are waiting for LeBron James to make his free agency decision, you might want to get comfortable.
The basketball universe is waiting for James to decide where he will play the final year(s) of his NBA career after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
There are several potential suitors including former homes like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. There's also the possibility he could link up with stars in Golden State or even Philadelphia or Minnesota.
But on the latest edition of his Game Overpodcast with Max Kellerman, James' agent Rich Paul said that only LeBron James knows when that decision will come and that any reports or information being circulated in the media is pure guesswork.
"I'll say it again, none of these people know anything. **** ody knows nothing. And I say that respectfully because we haven't made it to where anybody knows anything," Paul said. "I think it's important for people to understand, we're not making this about attention and a spectacle. It's not about a decision or anything like that. He has a choice to make. He has a business choice to make. We're not going to sit here and decide or allow someone else to decide when he makes that decision or that choice. It's a business choice that he's making. And I think as an athlete, why is it that an athlete has to rush his choice."

#james #decision #lebron

As the ultra-successful agent of Akron native LeBron James and many other NBA players, Rich Paul knows how to read the room, and it's an important quality to have as the James sweepstakes reaches three weeks in duration.
On the "Game Over" podcast Paul co-hosts with Max Kellerman, Paul acknowledged a reality of James' free agency. When James eventually chooses his next team, the other franchises vying for him — and their fan bases — will be left disappointed to varying degrees. In an apparent effort to preemptively soften the blow, Paul wanted to make it known neither he nor James have been "leading on" teams by intentionally creating false hope.
"We've done this purposefully that there's no leading on for anybody," Paul said during an episode of his podcast released on Monday, July 20. "I've had everyone from ownership to general managers and presidents of teams, they've all asked, 'Is there any more we should be doing? What else could we do?' So on and so forth, and it's been, 'No, you've done all you needed to do, and that's it, right?' So, there's no leading on for anybody in that capacity."
The Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors are widely considered the top contenders to win the James sweepstakes. The competition for James' services tipped off after Paul informed the Los Angeles Lakers on June 30 the NBA's all-time leading scorer would leave LA in free agency after spending the past eight seasons there.
Since then, speculation about which team the 41-year-old James will choose has been relentless. The guesswork has also extended to when James will render a verdict.

#paul

LeBron James' 2026 free agency can't be discussed without mentioning a potential team-up with career-rival Stephen Curry on the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors are among James' shortlist of teams he's considering as his next destination, with Curry even openly recruiting James by explaining why he should join Golden State.
While other teams seem to be more appealing destinations, even James' agent Rich Paul couldn't dismiss the notion of a LeBron-Curry team-up on the Warriors.
On the latest episode of the Game Over podcast, Paul explained to co-host Max Kellerman why the Warriors and Curry are such an enticing fit for James from a strictly basketball perspective.
"If we're talking strictly basketball, you don't want to play them. You definitely don't want to play them in a playoff series. You don't want to get to the trade deadline and have little surface-edge type of moves made. You talk about just basketball brilliance of mind and experience, production. It's pretty tough."

Ben McCollum has knocked high school recruiting out of the park since arriving in Iowa City.
On a short turnaround, he put together a solid 2025 class. He upped the ante this past offseason, landing a pair of highly-touted players in Ethan Harris and Jaidyn ****** . And he’s already landed a big-time commitment from 2027 four-star forward Keller Daughtery.
While there’s still work to do on the 2027 class, McCollum is already starting to look into the 2028 crop. He and the Hawkeyes officially offered 2028 five-star center Bentley Lusakueno on Wednesday. Lusakueno took to social media to announce the offer.
Lusakueno is from College Park, Georgia, and Woodward Academy High School. The 6-foot-10 center is currently ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the 2028 class, according to 247Sports. He already holds nine Division I offers, with Florida State, Georgia, Miami, and Oregon all joining Iowa in the mix.
He's already garnered a lot of attention from USA Basketball as well. Lusakueno was a member of the 2025 USA Men’s U16 National Team and was recently named a finalist for the 2026 USA Men's U17 National Team. With two years of high school ball remaining, he's only going to rise in the recruiting rankings. Iowa getting in on him early could be the difference late in the process.

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Keller Cliffton is the founder and CEO of a drone delivery business that operates in Dallas.
He believes there is a huge inefficiency in using cars to deliver food and other household essentials to residents.
He thinks food delivery could grow from roughly 5.5 billion deliveries annually to 55 billion.
Imagine ordering a rack of ribs, a burrito bowl or a gallon of milk and having it arrive from the sky a few minutes later.

Appearing on the latest episode of the "Game Over" podcast with Max Kellerman, Paul explained that James initially seemed likely to return to Los Angeles for another season. But as the offseason unfolded, that confidence faded. "So if it's about happiness, then it can't be about money," Paul said. "If it's about happiness, because if it's the most money, then it's not necessarily the most happiness."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "So if it's about happiness, then it can't be about …

The agent for LeBron James indicated nearly half the teams in the NBA are interested in signing the league's all-time leading scorer and the decision won't be about money.
Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said he spoke with "12 to 14" teams about James after NBA free agency negotiations officially began during an episode of The Ringer's "Game Over" podcast featuring Paul and former ESPN commentator Max Kellerman released on Wednesday, July 1. Paul also confirmed the Golden State Warriors were one of the teams to contact him regarding James, but remained non-committal about any favorites to land his 41-year-old client.
James announced on Tuesday he plans to play elsewhere next season after spending the past eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul revealed negotiations with the Lakers never reached the point where the team's front office made a formal contract offer to James.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver poses with 2026 draft prospects before the NBA Draft at Barclays Center.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — X-rays were inconclusive on Eugenio Suárez's left hand after he was hit by a pitch and forced to leave the Cincinnati Reds' 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
Manager Terry Francona said Suárez will have a CT scan on Monday after traveling with the team to Milwaukee for the start of a four-game series against the Brewers.
“Right now, it’s very swollen. So, the X-ray doesn’t say anything because it’s too swollen,” Suárez said. “We’ll see what is in there. Right now, obviously, I feel a lot better than when I got hit. I thought he hit me really good. Was painful, but right now, I feel a lot better. So, I pray to God for nothing to come up.”
Suárez was hit by a 92.4 mph fastball from Mitch Keller with two outs in the sixth inning. The designated hitter was checked by Francona before slowly making his way to first base. Nathaniel Lowe came in for Suárez's next at bat in the eighth.
“It swelled up really rapidly,” Francona said. “The trainers' hope was that maybe it hit a blood vessel. ... He's very tender. So, we'll get more information tomorrow.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking for revenge after a tough 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners last night at PNC Park.
The Pirates held a 2-1 lead going into the seventh inning, but a pair of runs surrendered by Mitch Keller off of a home run from Cole Young did the Buccos in.
Tonight, the Pirates will hand the ball to Braxton Ashcraft, who is continuing to build off of an impressive season. Ashcroft is fresh off a win in his last start against the Athletics on June 17. He pitched six innings, giving up just one earned run while striking out seven batters in a 12-4 victory. The Pirates are 9-6 in games where Ashcraft starts, which is a good sign going into their game against the Mariners.
On the flip side, Bryan Woo is starting for the Mariners. In his last start on June 18 against the Baltimore Orioles, he pitched seven innings, giving up no earned runs and striking out nine in a 3-0 victory. Woo has gone five or more innings in each of his last four starts, suggesting that he could be in for the long haul once again.
Woo might not be playing at the All-Star level he was at a year ago, but he provides a tough matchup for the Pirates tonight.

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.
North Allegheny graduate Cole Young hit the game-winning home run off Mitch Keller to sink his hometown Pirates and give the Mariners a 3-2 win on Tuesday night at PNC Park.
Bottom 2nd, 1-0 PIT: Marcell Ozuna plated Endy Rodríguez with a base hit to center field off George Kirby (6-7) to give the Pirates (39-40) an early lead.
Bottom 3rd, 2-0 PIT: With two on and one out, Nick Gonzales reached on an infield single to third base. Spencer Horwitz scored from second on Colt Emerson's throwing error across the diamond.
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Fantasy managers will be treated to a deep list of two-start options this week. Even without an obvious headliner, there are at least five pitchers who warrant strong consideration and a few others who make sense in the right situation. On the hitting side, the Red Sox and Mets should meet the needs of anyone who is looking for immediate help.
Zebby Matthews, Twins, 15% (vs. LAD, vs. COL): Matthews has logged a 4.78 ERA that has been heavily influenced by a pair of 7-run disasters. The 26-year-old has notched a quality start in each of his other five appearances, and his 34:9 K:BB ratio is an impressive mark. Homer prevention has been the main problem for Matthews, both this season (1.7 HR/9 rate) and throughout his brief career. If he can survive a start against the high-scoring Dodgers at the outset of the week, he could thrive against a Rockies offense that typically struggles on the road.
Andre Pallante, Cardinals, 42% (vs. ARI, vs. MIA): Pallante has always ranked among the league leaders in groundball rate, and is showing some skill improvements this year by producing a career-best 19.3% strikeout rate. Because he gives up plenty of contact, the right-hander will always be a weak option in the WHIP category. But he has become a serviceable innings eater on a team that has played better than expected, which makes him a viable option in 12-team leagues for two home starts this week.
Anthony Kay, White Sox, 13% (vs. CLE, vs. KC): Although he struggled in a tough matchup at Yankee Stadium last time out (4 IP, 4 ER), Kay has produced respectable results (3.77 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 40:14 K:BB ratio) in nine starts since the calendar flipped to May. The southpaw finished six innings just twice this season, and the combination of a poor 7.0 K/9 ratio and inability to work deep into games gives him a low ceiling. That being said, he has favorable matchups this week, especially with the Guardians working without José Ramírez.
Mitch Keller, Pirates, 31% (vs. SEA, vs. CIN): Keller is having a disappointing season that includes his worst ERA since 2021 and worst WHIP since 2022. While the right-hander must take responsibility for a small drop in his strikeout rate, the biggest reason for his struggles is a 63.1% strand rate that is the second-worst mark among qualified pitchers. Keller won't make the cut in many leagues this week due to his bust potential, but with two starts at his pitcher-friendly home park, he is a better option than many will realize.