Welcome to the dark days of the offseason. Summer League was a nice solvent for those of us starved of legitimate basketball, but thats come and gone. There are still a number of items that need to be addressed this offseason, ones that are holding up the rest of the league in one way or another. Lets take a look.Whats the holdup with LeBron?If the mere visualization of LeBron James latest free agency saga wasnt the biggest indicator that the NBA offseason has reached its Rubicon point, Im not sure how else to explain it. These are dark times.This is perhaps the first time in league history where 98% of the basketball world has been in the dark for this long about where a player will eventually end up. Lets even push that to 99%. Social media is clinging to every word and every episode of the Game Over podcast with James agent Rich Paul and co-host Max Kellerman like its peak Succession era. Ask front office executives about this topic and youre met with laughter and confusion, because it truly is both hilarious and head-scratching. At this juncture, we know the major players: Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia and maybe Golden State. No need to inundate you with a laundry list of reasons for each destination, but briefly Cleveland: The storybook ending, a chance to return home to where it started. Teaming up with Donovan Mitchell, a player LeBron has spoken highly about in the past, and Kenny Atkinson, a highly respected tactician.Miami: Quality of life, no state income tax (which should come into play if reports of James not considering finances as a deciding factor are true), teaming up with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo to form the most physical and feared frontline in years.Philadelphia: The contention angle, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid (along with talented second-year guard VJ Edgecombe) certainly have the talent to push the Knicks in a seven-game series.Golden State: Aura farming. The draw is Steph Curry and no one else. Two GOATs of this generation finally sharing a locker room together outside of the All-Star game and Olympics.Weve already seen our fair share of blunders, too. There was Atkinson getting a little too liberal with his words during a summer league broadcast. YouTubeGate in Miami. And who can forget Warriors rookie Yaxdel Lendeborg making his very public pitch?(Theres also the trickle-down effect LeBrons decision has on the rest of the field. DeMar DeRozan, Jonathan Kuminga, Russell Westbrook and James Harden will all be affected by this in some fashion, whether its financial in Hardens case or role/fit for the rest of the field.)Our Kevin OConnor opined on James indecision, tying his former teammates Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis as reported reasons behind the delay, which makes a ton of sense. But this isnt 2006 or 2016. Most teams have sewn up their summer business by now. Even the commissioner is complaining. Maybe well have an answer by the time GTA 6 comes out.When will Kawhi/Aspiration investigation wrap up?Recent word from around the NBA suggests the Clippers are extremely displeased with Adam Silver and the league office on the scope and length of their internal investigation and continue to communicate such displeasure.It was September of 2025 when the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz was hired to investigate whether or not Los Angeles and team governor Steve Ballmer knowingly circumvented the salary cap by way of a $28 million endorsement deal between Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration, a company that has since gone bankrupt and seen its co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for wire fraud. Were creeping up on a year now!I would say this can be wrapped up and needs to be wrapped up before next season, Silver said during the recent Board of Governors meetings in Las Vegas earlier this month.The Clippers frustration likely stems from team planning. A prior agreement in principle, which would send Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, involves two players who stand to assume sizable roles in Ty Lues rotation. But because the findings from the investigation could theoretically result in a possible suspension for Leonard, its understandable that the Raptors, having given up a decent amount of capital, would want to pause things temporarily.Theres also the additional unearthing of a second investigation regarding Leonard/Aspiration, according to The Athletic in a recent report. From two weeks ago:Not only has Wachtell Lipton, the leagues go-to law firm hired to conduct the inquiry, inspected if the Clippers circumvented the NBA salary cap by facilitating a sponsorship deal for Leonard with Aspiration, it has also looked into whether the Clippers improperly covered expenses for Leonard but were not reimbursed for them, those sources said. And the firm has examined if Leonard had a previously unreported endorsement deal with another company, those sources said.Which will finish first? Kawhis investigation, LeBrons free agency or House of the Dragon?How will Pistons-Jalen Duren staring contest end?It seems something like this happens every season: a player outperforms his current contract, may/may not have a poor postseason showing, heads into the offseason assuming he has a plethora of leverage only to be handed down a swift, unfortunate dose of reality.Duren wants the max. Five years, $287 million. He is 22 years old, was a critical piece of a Pistons team that shocked the world en route to 60 wins and finished third team All-NBA.Hes also a restricted free agent. Detroit, having dipped into its financial flexibility war chest to acquire Isaiah Joe (nontaxpayer mid-level exception) and John Collins (sign-and-trade), is hesitant to commit nearly $60 million annually to a center who might not be dependable in a playoff setting in addition to having to eventually pay Ausar Thompson (All-Defense) and already on the hook with Cade Cunningham (All-NBA). Sprinkle in Victor Wembanyamas discount, which came at the worst possible time for a rival player in negotiations, and its easy to see the Pistons hesitancy as well as Durens gripe. You know its rocky when your starting center takes a meeting with another team (Lakers) only for said team to immediately turn around and bring in someone else (Walker Kessler). Were talking about a multi-million dollar difference in valuation between player and organization this could take a while (something you definitely havent heard elsewhere today!).Theyre just going to sit and stare at each other, said one executive. Its a staring contest. Sounds like he wants more.Duren taking 25% of the salary cap, as opposed to the 30% hes likely seeking, would put him just north of $40 million. The other option would be to take a chance on himself, bet that he could rewrite his playoff struggles and accept a one-year, $9.6 million qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.The facts are the facts. Restricted free agency is not particularly kind to players (see Quentin Grimes, Jonathan Kuminga, Tari Eason) because it gives overwhelming power to the incumbent team.

Sean McVay and the front office probably have a good idea of which players are locks to make the 53-man roster this year. With such a strong roster, many players are certain to make the team. But there are a handful of guys who are squarely on the bubble, needing a good showing in camp in order to stick around on the active roster.Training camp practices will help decide who falls on the right side of the bubble and who gets cut, as will the preseason. These six players are right on the bubble heading into camp, which begins this weekend.QB Stetson Bennett Ty Simpson obviously isn't in any danger of being cut if he can't secure the No. 2 spot behind Matthew Stafford, but Bennett's job isn't safe. In fact, if Simpson beats out Bennett, it's possible the Rams will release the former Georgia standout and only carry two quarterbacks.Of course, that's dependent on Bennett's performance in camp and the preseason, but with such a talented roster, the Rams may not find room for three quarterbacks. If Bennett performs the way he did last summer, though, he'll be difficult to cut.LB Shaun DolacDolac was a key special teamer last year after standing out in training camp and the preseason, securing his spot on the 53-man roster after just two exhibition games. Even though he made the team last year, there's no guarantee he'll be back on it this season especially after the Rams signed Grant Stuard to be their special teams ace.More likely than not, the Rams will keep Dolac for another season, particularly if Omar Speights takes a step back as the No. 2 linebacker. DL Ty HamiltonHamilton endured a disappointing rookie season after the Rams traded up for him in last year's draft. He played sparingly and finished with only 11 total tackles, with no sacks or tackles for a loss in the 14 games he suited up for. He was blocked by more talented players on the depth chart, but there were still opportunities for him to contribute. Entering Year 2, he's not assured a roster spot, even as a former fifth-round pick. He'll need to hold off players such as Larrell Murchison and Tim Keenan III in order to make the team again.OT A.J. ArcuriArcuri's fate could come down to whether Alaric Jackson gets suspended or not. If Jackson does face a ban from the NFL to start the year, the Rams could need some more tackle depth, and Arcuri would be someone to keep on the active roster. However, if Jackson avoids a suspension, Arcuri will likely be behind David Quessenberry and Keagen Trost in the battle to be a backup tackle.OL Dylan McMahonBeaux Limmer and Justin Dedich are both likely to make the team, which crowds the guard and center spots for a player like McMahon. He still has a chance to make the team but the interior of the offensive line is one of the deepest groups on the roster. Even though he plays a different position than Jackson, if the starting left tackle gets suspended, it could open up a roster spot for someone like McMahon.WR Xavier SmithSmith's 2025 season ended about as poorly as it could have, muffing a punt in the NFC title game that contributed to L.A.'s loss. The Rams still brought him back as an exclusive rights free agent, which was a no-brainer due to the low cost, but he'll still need to earn his spot on the roster.What helps Smith is his return ability, paired with the Rams' lack of quality options at punt returner. Plus, Smith had his best season yet as a wide receiver and the Rams need a No. 3 option on offense.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 6 Rams players on the roster bubble entering training camp

New York Mets pitcher Clay HolmesThe New York Mets' postseason chances are near zero, and they could be the most active seller at this year's trade deadline.They have plenty of rental arms teams could be interested in, including Clay Holmes. The Mets signed him to be a starter after he found success as a reliever with the New York Yankees. In his first year as a starter, he had a 3.53 ERA. This year, he had a 2.39 ERA through nine starts before landing on the injured list. He fractured his fibula after taking a combacker off the leg."At this point, an extension between right-hander Clay Holmes and the New York Mets ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline appears unlikely, multiple major-league sources say," MLB insider Robert Murray wrote on Thursday. "Things can change with one phone call, especially at this time of the year, so nothing can be totally ruled out. But Holmes is expected to draw significant trade interest in the coming days as hes getting closer to returning from a fractured fibula thats sidelined him since mid-May."Holmes is expected to make his first rehab start on Thursday, and many teams will have scouts there to watch him. He has a $12 million option for next season, and considering how well he has performed as a starter, he could be interested in testing the open market.Shop Our Best Offer!Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!The Mets would be wise to deal him for prospects in a lost season. He gets a ton of ground balls, and he could thrive on a team with an elite infield. The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs would both make sense as landing spots for him.More MLB:Yankees Reportedly Considering Calling Up Top Prospect For Debut

The New York Jets have heard plenty of skepticism this offseason. Apparently, there was room for a little more. CBS Sports recently released its annual rankings of every NFL team's offensive "triplets" (quarterback, running back, and primary pass catcher). It didn't take long for the disrespect to flow.The Jets landed 29th overall. Only the Tennessee Titans, the Miami Dolphins, and the Cleveland Browns were ranked lower, placing New York firmly in the bottom tier despite an offseason that brought meaningful changes to the offense.The ranking featured discussion about Geno Smith at quarterback, Breece Hall at running back, and Garrett Wilson as the Jets' featured receiver. According to CBS Sports, much of the skepticism stems from Smith's disappointing 2025 campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders."TheJetsfell six spots here despite replacingJustin Fieldswith Geno Smith. It feels like they're being punished for Smith's awful season in Las Vegas, which unfolded under horrendous circumstances in arguably the NFL's worst offensive environment. (Tennessee is the only team that has an argument for being worse.) Smith is also getting up there in age, though, so it's possible that he's just on the downslide of his career and will never get back what he had for a few years in Seattle. The Jets and the next three teams on the list were separated by a total of 0.2 points in the rankings."Can the veteran recapture the form he displayed during his Pro Bowl seasons as part of the Seattle Seahawks? It's easy to understand why this remains a conversation.Quarterback is the most influential position in football, and no amount of talent at running back or wide receiver can completely overcome inconsistent play under center.The Raiders fielded one of the league's least productive offensive environments, battling issues along the offensive line while rarely surrounding Smith with the type of supporting cast necessary to succeed. The Jets believe they're offering something entirely different.Smith steps into an offense featuring one of the NFL's better young receivers in Wilson, a versatile running back in Hall and an offensive coaching staff intent on restoring efficiency to a unit that struggled to find consistency a season ago. Whether that environment helps Smith rediscover his earlier form will likely determine whether the Jets outperform expectations in 2026.If there's one player who seems difficult to question, it's Wilson. Despite playing with constant turnover at quarterback throughout his career, the former first-round pick has continued producing at a high level and remains one of the league's most polished young receivers. His route running, body control and ability to create separation have consistently made him the focal point of opposing defensive game plans. Hall has also demonstrated the ability to impact games as both a runner and receiver when healthy, giving the Jets a balanced offensive weapon capable of creating explosive plays in multiple ways. On paper, that's hardly the profile of one of the league's least talented skill-position groups.Rankings don't decide seasonsTo be fair, CBS Sports didn't dismiss the Jets entirely. The outlet acknowledged that Smith's struggles came under difficult circumstances and noted that the teams grouped near New York were separated by razor-thin margins. That suggests the difference between the Jets and several teams ranked ahead of them isn't nearly as dramatic as the final order might indicate. Still, perception often lags behind reality in the NFL.Until the Jets prove they can consistently move the football and win games, national rankings are likely to remain cautious.Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 NFL season.This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Where do the Jets' 'triplets' rank in last NFL ratings?

The market is being driven by rising warehouse automation, expanding e-commerce logistics, increasing demand for recyclable transport packaging, and stricter global packaging waste regulations. Paper-based pallet corner boards continue to replace conventional plastic alternatives as companies strengthen sustainability initiatives while improving load stability during transportation. The...

The market is being driven by rising warehouse automation, expanding e-commerce logistics, increasing demand for recyclable transport packaging, and stricter global packaging waste regulations. Paper-based pallet corner boards continue to replace conventional plastic alternatives as companies strengthen sustainability initiatives while improving load stability during transportation. The...

Lucas Herbert and Bryson DeChambeau picked up right where they left off at Royal Birkdale. Herbert, who has been the hottest Ripper GC in recent weeks, fired an 11-under 61 in the opening round of LIV Golf United Kingdom Presented by JCB at JCB Golf & Country Club. The bogey-free effort broke the course record of 62, set four years ago at an event when the layout also played to a par of 72. It's the lowest score relative to par in his LIV Golf career and acontinuation of a stretch that's seen Herbert become one of the hottest players in the game, starting with a win at LIV Golf Virginia in May. He then held the 36-hole lead at The Open Championship, where he shot 62 in the second round to tie the all-time major scoring record. Now hehas shot 11 under in the first round at JCB. Herbertmade the turn in 5-under 31 and kept the foot down with a 6-under back nine, missing a chance at something even more special when a putt on 17 for a shot at 59 just missed. "Of course it was," Herbert said when asked if he was thinking about 59. "You could see in my reaction there on 17, when that didn't go in, I was like, that was my chance. But if you were going to pick days you were going to shoot 59, I wouldn't have thought today would have been the day. The golf course is a little firm, which makes it play a little tougher and a bit of breeze out there that kind of moved around. I'm pretty incredibly happy with 61 still." He credited his recent run of results for a new level of belief. "I think once you've been there and done that a little bit, you have the confidence that you know you can do it," he said. "I feel like I'm getting a new taste for being out there at the top of the leaderboard." Right behind him is DeChambeau, who continued his own hot streak with an 8-under 64, continuingthe pace he carried through the first two roundsat Royal Birkdale before his T14 finish there last week. The Crushers GC captain made the turn in 5-under 31, highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 fourth, and added a 3-under back nine despite a late bogey at the 16th that briefly cooled his momentum.DeChambeau sits alone in second and squarely in position to chase Herbert all week. The two Ripper GC and Crushers GC stars also carried their teams to the top of the team leaderboard. Ripper GC leads at 19 under, with Marc Leishman (68) and Cameron Smith (69) providing solid support and Travis Smyth turning in a respectable 71.Crushers GC sits second at 15 under, with Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri both carding 68s alongside DeChambeau's 64. Behind the two co-leaders, Tyrrell Hatton and Harold Varner III shared third individually at 6-under 66, with Hatton also anchoring Legion XIII into a tie for third on the team leaderboard at 8 under. It was a solidstartfor the home favorite, who will carry plenty of crowd support into the weekend. The Majesticks Golf Club contingent, playing in front of its home fans, were led byIan Poulter who carded a 4-under 68 to sit inside the top 10 individually, while Lee Westwood added a 1-under 71. Laurie Canter and Sam Horsfield each posted 1-over 73s on a course that bit back in the afternoon breeze, leaving the Majesticks tied for sixth as a team at 3 under plenty of ground to make up, but far from out of it with three rounds still to play. Elsewhere, Caleb Surratt joined the group at 4-under 68, Peter Uihlein and Cameron Smith both sat at 3-under 69, and Thomas Detry opened with a 3-under 69 of his own. With Herbert and DeChambeau setting a blistering pace up top, the rest of the LIV Golf UK field will need something special over the next three days to catch them. LIV Golf UK Round 1 Leaderboard 1. Lucas Herbert (-11) 2. Bryson DeChambeau (-8) T-3. Tyrrell Hatton (-6) T-3. Harold Varner III (-6) T-5. Byeong Hun An (-5) T-5. Richard T. Lee (-5) T-7. Abraham Ancer (-4) T-7. Bjrn Hellgren (-4) T-7. Charles Howell III (-4) T-7. Anirban Lahiri (-4) T-7. Marc Leishman (-4) T-7. Luis Masaveu (-4) T-7. Ian Poulter (-4) T-7. Caleb Surratt (-4) T-7. Scott Vincent (-4) This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf.

The Texas Longhorns are reportedly getting a huge boost to its 2026 roster with the season just a few weeks away.Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley Five-Star Plus+ cornerback John Meredith, the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle, is reclassifying to the 2026 cycle and will enroll early in Austin this fall, Rivals Hayes Fawcett confirms.This breaking news story will be updated.

Gavin Williams only needed nine pitches to get through the top of the fourth inning during a Thursday matinee against the Minnesota Twins. The Cleveland Guardians pitcher was efficient as he recorded the fifth immaculate inning in franchise history, throwing only strikes to three visiting batters.Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers and Josh Bell each struck out on three pitches with Williams recording five swinging strikes, two looking and two foul balls to retire the side in quick fashion.IMMACULATE INNING Gavin Williams strikes out the side on nine pitches! pic.twitter.com/n93Uen7EIb MLB (@MLB) July 23, 2026Jos Ramrez was apparently unaware of the history made by Williams and nearly tossed the ball into the stands following the third out. Thankfully catcher Patrick Bailey saved the day by alerting the third baseman to hold on to the ball.Williams was in the zone as he finished with 11 strikeouts for the third straight start and second time this month against Minnesota. He was replaced after the seventh inning after 97 pitches with the Guardians leading 1-0.The last immaculate inning by a Guardians pitcher came in Sept. 2022 when Enyel De Los Santos made quick work of Christian Bethancourt, Jose Siri, and Taylor Walls of the Tampa Bay Rays. The rare feat was also achieved by Zach Plesac (Sept. 2020 vs. Detroit), Carlos Carrasco (July 2017 vs. Detroit) and Justin Masterson (June 2014 vs. Boston).Williams' achievement is the second time an MLB pitcher has delivered an immaculate inning this season. Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Michael Soroka struck out Javier Bez, Kerry Carpenter and Gleyber Torres of the Detroit Tigers on nine pitches on March 30.

The 49ers and Dolphins will be taking a look at the UFL's best player in 2026. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Jack Plummer will work out for San Francisco on Friday and Miami next week. Plummer is the UFL's reigning MVP, having won it for his season with the Orlando Storm. He led the UFL with 2,188 passing yards while tossing 17 touchdowns with just one interception in 10 games.Plummer previously spent time with the Panthers after going undrafted in 2024. He was waived by the team during roster cuts last year.