NBA
Thunder sign C Isaiah Hartenstein to three-year, $75 million contract
Hartenstein had a $28.5 million team option for next season, which the Thunder declined in favor of this new pact. It’s a prudent financial decision for Oklahoma City, as it secures its starting center for a few more years at a slightly reduced annual cost. The luxury tax and apron savings alone make this deal more than worth it.
Hartenstein, too, is great value on this new contract. The 28-year-old has blossomed into a solid starter with a Thunder. A stout defender and reliable offensive hub, Hartenstein fits well with the rest of Oklahoma City’s core. He surely took at least a minor discount to ensure security but more importantly winning.
This deal includes a unique mutual option for the third season. Mutual options are rarely if ever exercised. Instead, it should serve as another opportunity in 2028 for team and player to renegotiate a contract. Hartenstein should be in Oklahoma City for a long time.
The center averaged 9.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this year.
Pistons receive:
SG Isaiah Joe
Thunder receive:
2030 second-round pick (via Timberwolves)
2031 second-round pick
The Pistons, despite winning 60 games this season, entered the summer with a few pressing needs. Most notably, Detroit was missing shooting.
Cade Cunningham has blossomed into a star. A creator both for himself and others, the first-team All-NBA guard still needed more shot making around him.
Enter Joe. The 26-year-old is among the best spot-up shooters in the NBA, and is a 40.6% career marksman from three-point range. He received plenty of open looks playing with talented distributors in Oklahoma City, and those opportunities shouldn’t dissipate too much with the Pistons.
As for the Thunder, this is another salary-trimming move. Oklahoma City traded Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks several days ago for a similar package, so this transaction further weakens the Thunder’s deep roster.
Knicks sign PG Jose Alvarado to three-year, $14 million contract
Alvarado declined a $4.5 million player option prior to signing this contract.
The Knicks entered this summer with financial constraints, mostly thanks to the NBA’s restrictive second apron. Even with limited wiggle room, the expectation was that New York would retain Alvarado. A key reserve acquired from the Pelicans in February, Alvarado’s energy and defense boosted the Knicks throughout the team’s championship run.
Alvarado, 28, is squarely in his prime, so he should continue as a rotation regular for the duration of this pact. New York likely received a discount in exchange for long-term security and winning with this agreement, which will lessen the franchise’s luxury-tax bill. More importantly, it could help keep it out of the aforementioned second apron.
Alvarado averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season.
NCAAB
Fairfield to leave the MAAC and join the CAA
This move will go into effect on July 1, 2027. By then, the MAAC will have officially rebranded as the Metro Conference — and have one less member.
Fairfield had been targeting a move to a better conference — ideally the CAA — in recent years with an increased budget and improved facilities. The Stags boast solid on-court results to back their investment, too, as they’ve won 20-plus games in two of the last three seasons. The CAA is a small jump up in competition from the MAAC, but Fairfield is trending toward being prepared for it.
MLB
Mets fire manager Carlos Mendoza
Everyone should’ve seen this coming.
Mendoza’s tenure with New York got off to a strong start in 2024, as the Mets finished 89-73 and made the NLCS in his first season. However, since then it’s been all downhill for the franchise. New York suffered a massive collapse to end last year, resulting in the club missing the postseason.
2026 hasn’t been any better. At 34-47, the Mets are a distant fifth in the NL East — a far cry of what’s expected from the team with MLB’s second-highest payroll. New York needed a shakeup of some sort, and in baseball that usually results in the manager getting canned.
To be clear, it’s hard to argue that Mendoza has done a good job with the Mets. New York’s high-priced players aren’t as good as their salaries would suggest, but the roster isn’t exactly bereft of talent. At a minimum, this should be a yearly postseason member. That consistent standard, however, hasn’t been met in Queens in quite some time.
Andy Green will take over as New York’s interim manager. The former Padres skipper has experience in the dugout’s top role, so perhaps he’ll be able to navigate the Mets’ challenging situation. The most likely outcome, though, is that Green finishes the season and then Steve Cohen and David Stearns conduct a wide-ranging search for the organization’s next full-time manager.
Reds 6, Pirates 4
What better way to get off the schneid than … facing Paul Skenes?!
Lately, that’s been true for numerous clubs. The Reds, losers of five of seven, weren’t expected to follow suit, however. But thanks to an eight-inning Noelvi Marte home run, the Pirates have lost eight consecutive starts made by last season’s NL Cy Young winner.
It’s a curious streak. Skenes sported an ERA under 2.00 in both of his first two years, but his 2026 mark is 3.10. That’s by no means a bad figure, though it’s a far cry from what’s become expected of the 24-year-old.
Skenes was decent in this tilt, offering five innings of four-run ball. That won’t cut it, but the big right-hander did strike out seven Reds.
Skenes will take the mound in Philadelphia on July 1 in his next outing. He’ll need all the luck he can get in facing Philadelphia’s parade of left-handed bats.
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