NBA

Magic sign SF Franz Wagner to five-year, $224 million contract

Wagner is an ascending talent, despite an 8 percent drop in three-point percentage last season, so Orlando is doing the right thing by locking him up. One could haggle over whether or not the forward is worth the supermax, but the Magic are clearly building around Paolo Banchero and Wagner, who averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in 2024. For Orlando to take the next step and win a playoff series, Wagner — and others — needs to improve several facets of his game, namely long-range shooting and composure.

Grade: B-

MLB

Cubs 5, Angels 1

Justin Steele, after a 16-win campaign in 2023, has had some tough luck this season. Yesterday’s complete game was the left-hander’s first win of the season, and it’s not like Steele has been bad — the 28-year-old boasts a 2.95 ERA. Chicago’s starting pitching has been strong this year — perhaps the team’s lone bright spot — and Steele has been a major contributor.

If any franchise needs to tear it down, it’s probably the 36-51 Angels. Los Angeles is lifeless without Mike Trout — and not much better with the future Hall of Famer — and could really use a reset. Arte Moreno doesn’t seem to want a rebuild, though, so it likely won’t happen, at least any time soon.