ATLANTA — Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas was jovial and upbeat, even in defeat. 

Fellow co-owner David Beckham was subdued. His playing days are long over, but he still suffers defeat as tough as he did as a competitor. 

They both met star Lionel Messi for an embrace outside Inter Miami’s locker room for a brief chat, following the club’s 4-0 elimination in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup to UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, June 29. 

“We rose to the occasion. We gave it our all. And that has to serve us well for what’s really important to us, which is what’s coming next,” Messi told DSports after the loss.

“Anyway, I’m very happy to have been able to play in this Club World Cup, to have been able to compete, even though, obviously, we’re in a different league, a different level, and we can’t compete. We played against a team that is coming off a Champions League final win …  and right now, they’re the best team in the world, without a doubt. So, it was normal for what happened today to happen.”

What’s next for Messi and Inter Miami after being ousted in the tournament?

The first two items on the agenda are exclusive to Messi — the reigning MLS MVP, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion.

Messi is signed with Inter Miami through the rest of the 2025 MLS season (November or December, depending on the club’s run in the MLS Cup playoffs). Mas would love for Messi to extend his stay with the club, at least through next season when Inter Miami opens its new stadium at Miami Freedom Park. He could extend for longer, too. 

Messi must also let the world know whether he will lead Argentina’s World Cup defense in the tournament co-hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It would be Messi’s sixth World Cup and could be the final act of a legendary career as one of the greatest to ever play the sport. 

One teammate is hopeful Messi re-signs and takes the World Cup stage again, too. 

“Yes, why not? At the end of the day, I don’t see him anywhere else, to be honest, but it’s his decision,” said Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba, who played with Messi in Barcelona. “Ultimately, the decisions he has made have always been the right ones, and obviously I see him competing for the World Cup.”

Messi just finished his second straight summer of elite competition in the U.S. Some rest could be on the way for Messi when Inter Miami continues MLS regular-season play. He experienced some right thigh discomfort during the Club World Cup so maintenance will be needed. At least it won’t be a lengthy layoff like last year, when he missed two months with a severe ankle injury he suffered in Argentina’s Copa America title win against Colombia last July. 

Does Messi have (at least) one more summer in him? 

Remembering Inter Miami’s Club World Cup run

Sure, Inter Miami took a tough loss against PSG with the world watching on Sunday, June 29. But they can proudly say it’s one of the best 16 clubs in the world after the Club World Cup. That’s an accomplishment they can boast with pride. 

Still, it will be difficult to remember their Club World Cup run without thinking about the one game they let slip away.

Inter Miami was so close to winning their group in the tournament. They had a 2-0 lead against Brazilian side Palmerias, but couldn’t hang on. They allowed Palmeiras to score twice in the final 10 minutes of the match, settling for a bittersweet draw. They still advanced to the knockout stage, but they ran into a juggernaut in PSG.

Palmeiras advanced past fellow Brazilian side Botafogo 1-0 in extra time during their June 28 round-of-16 match, and will face English Premier League side Chelsea in the quarterfinals.

We will never know if Inter Miami could have beaten Botafogo or had a chance to compete against Chelsea. Even if they beat Palmeiras, it likely would have delayed the inevitability of them being eliminated.

Still, it’s something Inter Miami will wonder about.

“We ended up drawing and facing PSG, which was much more complicated, but it’s not a criticism. Just a situation that could have been different, because if we had won 2-0, rather than drawing in the last 10 minutes, we wouldn’t have been left with that bitter taste,” Messi said. “But anyway, beyond that, I think we competed and now it’s over, it’s finished and we have to think about what’s coming next, our next tournament and nothing else.’

Inter Miami was the first MLS team to face a reigning Champions League winner. They carried the flag for MLS in the tournament, while the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC were bounced during the group stage.

Inter Miami earned the first win by a North American team against a European club in a FIFA competition, defeating FC Porto from Portugal on June 19.

And Inter Miami cleared $21 million of a $1 billion prize pool in the Club World Cup. 

“Our @fifaclubworldcup journey comes to an end. I’m so proud of the players, the staff and the fans for all we have achieved together these last few weeks,” Beckham wrote in an Instagram post after the game. “We’ve shown the world what the city of Miami is capable of, performing on the biggest stage against the best.” 

What’s next for Inter Miami? 

Inter Miami has 18 MLS regular-season matches remaining this season and will begin play later this month in the Leagues Cup tournament, which they won in 2023. 

Inter Miami returns to MLS action on July 5 in Montreal, then July 9 in New England. They’ve got six league matches to play before Leagues Cup begins on July 30. 

“It serves us well,” Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari said. “We have to turn the page, obviously … but we mustn’t forget what we’ve achieved.” 

Added Alba: “We can compete against anyone … if we stay focused and keep this desire in the MLS, we’ll have a lot of chances to win.” 

Inter Miami might be sixth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings and 10th for MLS’s Supporters’ Shield, which they won last season. But Inter Miami will continue to be a favorite to win MLS Cup later this year — especially after their Club World Cup performance. 

Inter Miami has won two titles since Messi joined the club in July 2023. Their pursuit to win the Concacaf Champions Cup failed earlier this year. Their aspirations to make a statement in the Club World Cup was a success. 

Another Leagues Cup title would be an accomplishment. 

Winning MLS Cup would further validate Inter Miami’s Messi experience, beyond the impact he’s already made playing in the U.S. for the last two years. 

“We did our best and that has to serve us for what is really important, which is what is coming,” Messi said. “Very happy to have been able to play this Club World Cup, to have been able to compete beyond the fact that we are in another league and at another level.”

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The New York Knicks have been without a head coach for nearly a month.

The movement on the gig — at least after five teams reportedly rebuffed New York’s requests to interview their head coaches — has been quiet. Over the weeks, former Kings coach Mike Brown and former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins have appeared to progress through the interview process.

Then, over the weekend, a rumor surfaced that the Knicks had reached out to South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley. On Monday, South Carolina athletic director Jeremiah Donati confirmed the report to Lulu Kesin of The Greenvile News, a part of the USA TODAY Network. Winner of three national championships over the last nine seasons, Staley is widely considered to be one of the all-time great coaches in women’s college basketball history.

Does Dawn Staley fit with the New York Knicks?

Quite well, despite her lack of NBA experience. A lot of that is because of her connection to New York’s star player.

All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson signed a team-friendly contract extension last July, locking him up with the team through at least the 2027-28 season, with a player option for the following year. Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, is an assistant coach who has been with the Knicks since 2022.

And while Rick Brunson has deep ties to former Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, his son’s security with New York strongly implies that any new head coach would retain him as an assistant.

This is where Staley comes in. Staley, who is from Philadelphia, coached at Temple from 2000-08, before she took the South Carolina job. Rick Brunson played four seasons with the Owls from 1991-95.

Although they didn’t overlap, Staley and Brunson’s Temple ties have linked the families for years.

Prior to a Knicks-76ers first-round playoff game Sunday, April 28, 2024, Staley was honored pre-game and rang a ceremonial bell before tipoff. Moments before the Knicks were set to take the floor, Jalen Brunson hugged Staley, who had been chatting with Rick Brunson.

After the Knicks defeated Philadelphia in the series, Staley then posted a message on social media with two images showing Knicks gear that the Brunsons sent Staley as part of a care package. A third image showed Jalen and his sister, Erica, as children, posing with Staley, dated November 13, 2004.

“Can’t beat em join them,” Staley wrote before including laughing emojis. “Thank you to my @nyknicks peeps for sending the NY love package!  Thank you Rick!  Thank you Jalen! Family for life!  Win that ish!!”

And while New York’s players haven’t commented publicly about any potential interest in Staley taking over the Knicks, center Karl-Anthony Towns did make light over the weekend of his foul trouble issues by responding to a social media post that referenced Staley coaching the Knicks.

The original message contained a video of a visibly frustrated Staley gesturing on the bench with the caption: “Dawn Staley when KAT picks up his 3rd foul in the first quarter.”

Towns replied only with a crying while laughing emoji.

Dawn Staley coaching style

Staley is known for being a tough and demanding coach who prioritizes relationship-building and finding human connections. An outspoken proponent of her Christian faith, Staley has often modeled her philosophies on moral lessons present in Christian teaching. She has called herself “an expert in body language” and trusts her observational skills when making decisions.

On the court, Staley’s teams have emphasized defense — particularly in the paint — and transition opportunities. In that way, her teams have held some similarities to Thibodeau’s Knicks.

Staley also relies on game flow and empowers her players to work through issues during cold spells. This is one area where Thibodeau was often criticized for failing to call timeouts in a timely fashion. Staley has been notoriously selective — if not avoidant — of using timeouts during runs, both bad and good.

Her teams thrive when they have a strong point guard who can take over games. With her familiarity with Jalen Brunson and his ability to shoulder significant responsibility on the floor, her philosophies would appear to align in New York.

Dawn Staley NBA experience

During the 2021 offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers interviewed Staley over Zoom for their then-open head coaching vacancy. Staley spoke about the experience during an August 12, 2021 episode of the “Tea With A & Phee” podcast with A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier.

“I had never had an ounce of me that wanted to coach in the WNBA or NBA, until somebody sought me out, like the Portland Trail Blazers,” Staley said during the episode.

“When you’re being sought out, you have to vet it a little bit to see if they’re really serious about it. I thought they treated me like a real candidate. Whether or not they seriously considered me, I felt like it wasn’t a fluke. So I agreed to do it.”

Staley added that there were about five people interviewing her and that the questions focused on managing players and dealing with their behavior, as opposed to questions about technical basketball strategy.

“It was really a great experience,” she said. “I took a lot of notes because if another female is ever in that position, I got the notes, and I’m going to give them everything that they asked me: how I answered it and what they said.”

This story was updated with new information.

The WNBA has formally announced plans to expand into three new cities by 2030, which will eventually increase the size of the league to 18 teams.

In addition to previously announced expansion clubs coming next year in Portland, Oregon and Toronto, the WNBA revealed June 30 that it will establish new franchises in Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030).

“The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia to the WNBA family,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement. “This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game, and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball.’

The expansion plan now goes to the WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors for final approval.

The announcement stages a return of the WNBA to two of the league’s former cities. The Cleveland Rockers played in the league from 1997 to 2003. The Detroit Shock won three league championships during their existence from 1998-2009. The Detroit franchise moved to Tulsa in 2010 and is now the Dallas Wings.

All three new teams will pay an expansion fee of $250 million to the league. That’s a five-fold increase from the $50 million the Golden State Valkyries paid to join the WNBA this season.

3 NBA owners add WNBA franchises

The ownership groups for the three new WNBA teams feature some names familiar to sports fans.

Cleveland: The new WNBA franchise will be owned and operated by Rock Entertainment Group, the parent company run by chairman Dan Gilbert that also includes the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and G-League Cleveland Charge, as well as the American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters.
Detroit: The controlling owner of the Motor City’s new team is Tom Gores, who also owns the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
Philadelphia: The new team in Philadelphia will be owned and operated by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the same company that owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils. HBSE is led by co-founder Josh Harris, who’s also the controlling owner and managing general partner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

Mitch Marner, the NHL’s top 2025 unrestricted free agent, is off the list after being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights and agreeing to an eight-year, $96 million contract a day before free agency opens, according to multiple reports.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will receive center Nicolas Roy in the June 30 trade, giving them a return for a player they could have lost for nothing.

Last year, the Carolina Hurricanes received only a third-round pick for Jake Guentzel when they traded his rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning before free agency opened.

Marner had 102 points this past season, fifth best in the league and eight more than Jack Eichel, the Golden Knights’ leading scorer in 2024-25. At a $12 million average, Marner will be the Golden Knights’ top-paid player, though Eichel ($10 million cap hit) is in the final year of his contract and is eligible to sign an extension.

The Golden Knights had to move players to make the money work. Roy ($3 million) had 31 points for Vegas and has two years left on his deal.

The team also traded defenseman Nicolas Hague to the Predators for forward Colton Sissons (Nashville retained half his salary) and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. Hague signed a four-year, $22 million contact with Nashville.

Marner ranks fifth in Maple Leafs history with 741 points in the regular season.

The Maple Leafs also received forward Matias Maccelli in a trade with the Utah Mammoth on June 30.

Alex Pietrangelo injury update

Though the Golden Knights are adding Marner, they will be without defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, one of the top acquisitions in franchise history. Pietrangelo and general manager Kelly McCrimmon put out statements on the defenseman’s health.

Said Pietrangelo: “The past few years have been very challenging on my physical well-being, and I am in a difficult position with my overall playing health. After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life. This decision has been difficult to come to terms with after the last 17 years of competition and the camaraderie with my teammates and coaches. The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family.”

Said McCrimmon: “Alex has our organization’s full support in prioritizing his long-term health and quality of life. Alex is dealing with hips that would require bilateral femur reconstruction, with no guarantee of success. Throughout the season, the steps that Alex needed to take to be able to play and practice began to grow and take a significant toll on his body. Our hope in February during the NHL’s break for the 4 Nations Face-Off was to give Alex treatment and rest to help provide relief, but instead, what we found were diminished positive results and a process that is no longer sustainable moving forward.

‘Alex has given everything to the game and to the Golden Knights and has played through significant challenges in the pursuit of trying to win another Stanley Cup in Vegas. He is one of the most respected players in the league, not only for his elite talent but for his character, leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism. Today’s decision is a difficult one for both Alex and the Golden Knights, but it is being made for the right reasons – so that Alex can be the family man we all know him to be.’

According to reports, Mitch Marner is heading to the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade and will get an eight-year, $96 million contract. Nicolas Roy will go to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the trade.

The Vegas Golden Knights earlier made a trade with the Nashville Predators to clear up cap space.

The Florida Panthers were also busy, bringing back Aaron Ekblad on an eight-year deal. Reports say Brad Marchand also has a deal in the works, meaning the back-to-back champions’ big three free agents (also Sam Bennett) are returning.

Here’s a look at the busy action on June 30 heading into the July 1 start of NHL free agency:

Patrick Kane returning to Detroit

The Red Wings announced that Kane had signed a one-year deal with an average annual value of $3 million. Per The Athletic, he could earn up to $7 million total thanks to $4 million of potential bonuses — including $2.5 million for playing 10 games.

The longtime Chicago Blackhawks star has recorded 106 points in 122 games with Detroit since signing with the team in 2023.

Mitch Marner traded to Golden Knights, will sign deal, per reports

Marner, the NHL’s top free agent, is headed to Vegas and will sign an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights, according to multiple reports. Forward Nicolas Roy will return to the Maple Leafs in the trade. Marner is coming off a 102-point season and has three other 90-point seasons. He’s fifth in Maple Leafs history with 741 points, though he and the team have been to the second round only two times during his time there.

Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo also announced on June 30 that he needs to step away from the game for now because of health reasons. ‘The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family,” he said.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon said Pietrangelo ‘is dealing with hips that would require bilateral femur reconstruction, with no guarantee of success.’

Panthers reach deal with Brad Marchand, per report

Panthers GM Bill Zito has done it. Not official yet from the Panthers, but Marchand has joined fellow free agents Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett in staying with the back-to-back champions. It’s a six-year deal, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, averaging a little over $5 million. Sam Bennett (eight years, $8 million average) and Aaron Ekblad (eight years, $6.1 million) also agreed to team-friendly deals to try to build a dynasty. Marchand, who scored six goals in the Stanley Cup Final, will be 43 when his deal expires.

Blue Jackets reach deal with Ivan Provorov, per report

He’ll get $8.5 million over seven years, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Blue Jackets get a deal done with two key free agents after earlier re-signing defenseman Dante Fabbro.

Kings re-sign Andrei Kuzmenko for one year

Kuzmenko was traded twice last season but found a fit in Los Angeles. He recorded 17 points in 22 games during the regular season and averaged a point a game in the playoffs. He’s making less in the new deal ($4.3 million) than last year ($5.5 million cap hit) but has a chance to bump that up next season if he builds on the end of last season.

Oilers reach deal with Evan Bouchard

He’ll average $10.5 million in the four-year contract. He’ll be the third $10 million player on the Oilers, following Leon Draisaitl ($14 million) and Connor McDavid ($12.5 million), who has another year on his contract. Bouchard averaged $3.9 million in his last contract, a two-year bridge deal. During those two years, he totaled 32 goals and 149 points, reaching the Stanley Cup Final both seasons. The four-year deal will allow Bouchard to cash in later as the salary cap continues to rise.

Panthers reach terms with Aaron Ekblad

He’s the second key free agent to return to the two-time champion Panthers. (Sam Bennett was the first and Brad Marchand is the other). Ekblad takes a hometown discount with eight years at a reported $6.1 million, per TSN. He’s on the top pairing with Gustav Forsling and led the Panthers defense in regular season and playoff scoring despite time missed with suspensions. The Panthers had Seth Jones in case Ekblad left, but the team is much better with both on the blue line.

Islanders re-sign Alexander Romanov

The 25-year-old gets eight years at a reported $6.25 million cap hit. The second-pair defenseman blocks shots and is known for his physical play with nearly 900 hits in his career. The Islanders got him locked in after their trade of defenseman Noah Dobson on draft day. New York drafted defenseman Matthew Schaefer No. 1 overall.

Maple Leafs acquire Matias Maccelli from Mammoth

The Mammoth get a conditional 2027 third round pick in return. Maccelli, 24, gets a fresh start after dropping to 18 points in 55 games this past season. But he can provide secondary scoring for Toronto after totaling 106 points over the two seasons before that. If he gets 51 points this season and the Maple Leafs make the playoffs, the third rounder becomes a 2029 second-round pick.

Red Wings trade Vladimir Tarasenko to Wild

Tarasenko has won two Stanley Cup titles but he disappointed with 33 points in his lone season in Detroit while averaging less than 15 minutes a game. He has another year on his contract at $4.75 million, so the Wild get secondary scoring at a reasonable price. Detroit gets future considerations in the deal.

Oilers re-sign forward Kasperi Kapanen

His one-year contract is worth $1.3 million. He scored the series-clinching goal against the Golden Knights in overtime and finished the playoffs with three goals and three assists in 12 games. The Oilers had claimed him off waivers in November.

Predators-Golden Knights trade

The Nashville Predators acquire defenseman Nicolas Hague and a conditional third-round pick from the Golden Knights in exchange for forward Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. Nashville will retain 50% of Sissons’ salary. If Vegas wins two rounds in the 2026 playoffs, the Golden Knights will move a second-round pick instead.

Hague was a restricted free agent and Vegas needs to clear out cap space to prepare for free agency. He signed a four-year, $22 million contract with Nashville after the trade. He was the Golden Knights’ second round pick in 2017 and is a physical player with 572 hits. Sissons and Lauzon are entering the final years of their contracts.

Bruins re-sign three players

The Boston Bruins re-signed defenseman Henri Jokiharju (three years, $3 million average), forward John Beecher (one year, $900,000) and goaltender Michael DiPietro (two years, $812,500 average). Jokiharju averaged more than 21 minutes a game and had four assists in 18 games after arriving in a trade from the Buffalo Sabres. Beecher had 11 points in 78 games and DiPietro was the American Hockey League goalie of the year.

June 29 signings

Boston’s Morgan Geekie signed a six-year contract ($5.5 million average) after a breakout 33-goal season.
Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux signed a bonus-laden one-year deal with a $2 million base salary. The contract can be worth another $2.75 million in bonuses.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro will average $4.125 million in his four-year deal.

Top NHL free agents

Playoff MVP Sam Bennett and other pending free agents have already re-signed. Here’s a list of the top 20 available players.

So much for a slow summer in the NFL.

With all teams on break until training camps open in mid-to-late July, this stretch would seem like a natural window for a break in action for a league that seemingly never rests. Yet on Monday, two teams brokered an ultra-rare swap of star players.

The headline of the deal: The Miami Dolphins traded cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Also headed to Pittsburgh are tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick, while Miami also receives a 2027 seventh-round draft pick.

Jalen Ramsey trade details: Dolphins deal star CB to Steelers in blockbuster move

The shake-up brings an end to the uncertainty that had prevailed for months since the Dolphins first acknowledged they were looking to part with Ramsey, the seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback. And for Pittsburgh, it served as the latest marquee addition – and departure with the exit of Fitzpatrick, a five-time Pro Bowl selection – for a franchise reshaped by the arrivals of Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf.

How did each team fare in the deal? Here are our trade grades:

Steelers trade grade: B

When news of the Ramsey trade first broke, it seemed to be a fitting move for an organization clearly embracing a truncated timeline for competing with Rodgers at the helm. The surprising return, however, muddled the outlook a bit.

Cornerback play tends to be volatile year to year, but there’s little question that Ramsey raises both the floor and ceiling for Pittsburgh at this vital position group. The Steelers in March signed reliable veteran Darius Slay to fill the void opposite Joey Porter Jr., seemingly settling one of the more pressing deficiencies of the defense. But trusting a 34-year-old to run with the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins within the division was always going to be a stretch.

With Ramsey on board, the Steelers now size up as one of the most imposing matchups for opposing wide receivers. Ramsey can handle the lion’s share of reps in base looks alongside Porter, and his experience working inside should pay off massively in allowing him to kick inside to get all three standout corners on the field in nickel packages. That sort of rotation can keep the team fresh down the stretch, with both of its matchups against the rival Baltimore Ravens and a trip to face the Detroit Lions all coming in the final six weeks.

Still, given the loss of Fitzpatrick, does this trade truly move the needle much in reshaping the secondary for a defense that ranked 25th in passing yards allowed (228 per game)? The Steelers will try to scrape by on the back end with Juan Thornhill seemingly stepping in alongside Deshon Elliott, but there’s little question that the unit will miss Fitzpatrick’s playmaking range, though he has recorded just one interception in the last two years combined. Of course, the outlook shifts considerably if Pittsburgh utilizes Ramsey in this role, but it’d be yet another adjustment for all involved.

Adding Smith might seem like a natural move, as the tight end will be reunited with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who first helped the pass catcher flourish with the Tennessee Titans and later helped him bounce back with the Atlanta Falcons. But even with an abundance of multiple tight end sets, it’s still unclear exactly how he’ll be incorporated alongside established starter Pat Freiermuth.

‘It would be complicated having (Smith) and Pat. They’re kind of the same type of tight end,” Steelers tight end Connor Heyward said earlier in June, according to PennLive, when discussing the rumors of a potential Smith trade. ‘They both got to have 100 balls a year thrown their way.’

Maybe the doubling down in Pittsburgh isn’t so much a bet on Rodgers as it is on Mike Tomlin finding a way to bring all these disparate pieces together. Regardless, it’s a lot of upheaval – even if it largely appears for the better – for the coach to navigate.

Dolphins trade grade: B-

With the Dolphins in April broadcasting their intention to move on from Ramsey, it seemed as though the organization could only expect a modest return. Instead, it addressed its biggest hole by bringing on one of the top players at his position.

Fitzpatrick returns to the franchise nearly six years after it dealt him amid his clash with then-coach Brian Flores regarding his utilization. This time around, there shouldn’t be any issues regarding his role. Miami was preparing to enter the season with perhaps the most unstable safety tandem in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis. Fitzpatrick isn’t at his peak as he prepares to enter a season in which he’ll turn 29 in November, but with Ramsey’s departure essentially looking inevitable, he’s probably the most meaningful addition who could have been acquired at this point in the calendar.

Yet it’s difficult to feel good about the state of Miami’s secondary overall given the outlook after the trade. With Ramsey gone, the Dolphins will depend on the likes of 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, 2024 undrafted free agent Storm Duck and fifth-round rookie Jason Marshall Jr. on the outside, with nickel Kader Kohou providing the lone bit of stability. Fitzpatrick can only do so much to compensate for a group that doesn’t seem up to the task of running with the AFC’s best.

Sending off Smith also further ups the challenge for an aerial attack that lacks much depth in its pass-catching options beyond Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Julian Hill could see a sizable leap in action as a potential replacement at starter, but the move likely necessitates an addition sometime before the season (NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the team is scouring the trade market).

A fine return for Miami on the whole, but the prevailing issue of the top-heavy roster remains as pervasive as ever.

The NBA season may have ended just recently, but the NBA offseason has already seen a myriad of big moves from contenders that may have NBA fans scratching their heads.

Most notably, the Boston Celtics, just two years removed from an NBA title and still very much in their championship window, traded away two key contributors in quick succession. The team sent guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and center Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks. Given how vital each of these players were to the team’s championship run in 2024, these moves seem atrocious at first glance.

However, the Celtics didn’t have much of a choice. The team needed to shed salary in order to get under the second apron threshold. But what is that?

Essentially, the apron system is a soft cap enforced on every team in the league. It is a series of payroll markers that, once crossed, invoke serious penalties on each team that crosses them. These penalties are severe and can damage an organization’s long-term ability to build a championship contender.

NBA players like four-time champion Draymond Green have already expressed discontent with the system, claiming that it prevents the creation of super teams, which has always been a huge draw for NBA fans. Unfortunately for Green, the second apron was agreed upon by the National Basketball Players’ Association when negotiating the latest CBA in 2023.

Here’s everything to know about the NBA’s controversial financial rule.

When did the aprons first come into effect?

The apron system came into effect as part of the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement and began prior to the 2024 season.

What are the limits for the aprons this year?

For the upcoming 2025-26 season, the salary cap is projected to be $154.6 million. Any team that crosses this threshold will be forced to pay the luxury tax. However, that hasn’t stopped teams from spending far beyond the luxury tax threshold in the past. The luxury tax threshold is set at $187.9 million.

The first apron does not come into effect until a team reaches $195.9 million for their payroll. The second apron is set at approximately $207.8 million, a $17.8 million increase from last year.

What are the penalties for crossing each threshold?

Penalties via Spotrac:

First apron:

Team loses access to sign-and-trades if the player acquired in the deal keeps the team above the first apron
Team cannot sign waived players with a salary above the mid-level exception ($12.8 million)
When trading, teams cannot use more than 100% in salary matching in a trade

Second apron (includes all first apron penalties):

Team loses access to the mid-level exception in free agency
Team cannot aggregate two or more player salaries in a trade
Team loses option to use trade exceptions agreed to in previous years
Team cannot send out cash in trade negotiations

Though not an immediate ramification of the second apron, any team that remains above the second apron threshold for three years of any five-year period will be forced to move their next first-round pick to the end of the first round, regardless of finish in the previous year or lottery results.

Which teams are currently above the apron thresholds?

Currently, the only teams in danger of opening the 2025-26 season above the second apron are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns (even after the Durant trade). The Boston Celtics were in that group, but the recent trades of Holiday and Porzingis have moved them out of the second apron. They are still above the first apron, though.

Other teams close to the second apron include the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks.

When does the NBA offseason begin?

The NBA offseason officially begins Monday, June 30, at 6 p.m. ET. Per USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt, ‘That’s when teams and players can start agreeing to terms of a contract. However, contracts can’t officially be signed until July 6.’

Teams will take another shot at re-signing their unrestricted free agents before they hit the open market. Restricted free agents could also land new deals.

The 30th is also the deadline for teams to buy out players’ contracts and also to decide whether to give a pending restricted free agent a qualifying offer. Players become unrestricted free agents if they are bought out or don’t get a qualifying offer.

There also could be trades, and the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights announced one.

Here’s a look at the action on June 30 heading into the July 1 start of NHL free agency:

Panthers reach deal with Brad Marchand, per report

Panthers GM Bill Zito has done it. Not official yet from the Panthers, but Marchand has joined fellow free agents Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett in staying with the back-to-back champions. It’s a six-year deal, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, averaging a little over $5 million. Sam Bennett (eight years, $8 million average) and Aaron Ekblad (eight years, $6.1 million) also agreed to team-friendly deals to try to build a dynasty. Marchand, who scored six goals in the Stanley Cup Final, will be 43 when his deal expires.

Blue Jackets reach deal with Ivan Provorov, per report

He’ll get $8.5 million over seven years, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Blue Jackets get a deal done with two key free agents after earlier re-signing defenseman Dante Fabbro.

Kings re-sign Andrei Kuzmenko for one year

Kuzmenko was traded twice last season but found a fit in Los Angeles. He scored 17 points in 22 games during the regular season and averaged a point a game in the playoffs. He’s making less in the new deal ($4.3 million) than last year ($5.5 million cap hit) but has a chance to bump that up next season if he builds on the end of last season.

Oilers reach deal with Evan Bouchard, per reports

He’ll average $10.5 million in the four-year contract, according to multiple reports. He’ll be the third $10 million player on the Oilers, following Leon Draisaitl ($14 million) and Connor McDavid ($12.5 million), who has another year on his contract. Bouchard averaged $3.9 million in last contract, a two-year bridge deal. During those two years, he totaled 32 goals and 149 points, reaching the Stanley Cup Final both seasons. The four-year deal will allow Bouchard to cash in later as the salary cap continues to rise.

Panthers reach terms with Aaron Ekblad, per report

He’s the second key free agent to return to the two-time champion Panthers. (Sam Bennett was the first and Brad Marchand is the other}. Ekblad takes a hometown discount with eight years at a reported $6.1 million, per TSN. He’s on the top pairing with Gustav Forslund and led the Panthers defense in regular season and playoff scoring despite time missed with suspensions. The Panthers had Seth Jones in case Ekblad left, but the team is much better with both on the blue line.

Islanders re-sign Alexander Romanov

The 25-year-old gets eight years at a reported $6.25 million cap hit. The second pair defenseman blocks shots and is known for his physical play with nearly 900 hits in his career. The Islanders got him locked in after their trade of defenseman Noah Dobson on draft day. New York drafted defenseman Matthew Schaefer No. 1 overall.

Maple Leafs acquire Matias Maccelli from Mammoth

The Mammoth get a conditional 2027 third round pick in return. Maccelli, 24, gets a fresh start after dropping to 18 points in 55 games this past season. But he can provide secondary scoring for Toronto after totaling 106 points over the two seasons before that. If he gets 51 points this season and the Maple Leafs make the playoffs, the third rounder becomes a 2029 second-round pick.

Red Wings trade Vladimir Tarasenko to Wild

Tarasenko has won two Stanley Cup titles but he disappointed with 33 points in his lone season in Detroit while averaging less than 15 minutes a game. He has another year on his contract at $4.75 million, so the Wild get secondary scoring at a reasonable price. Detroit gets future considerations in the deal.

Oilers re-sign forward Kasperi Kapanen

His one-year contract is worth $1.3 million. He scored the series-clinching goal against the Golden Knights in overtime and finished the playoffs with three goals and three assists in 12 games. The Oilers had claimed him off waivers in November.

Predators-Golden Knights trade

The Nashville Predators acquire defenseman Nicolas Hague and a conditional third-round pick from the Golden Knights in exchange for forward Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. Nashville will retain 50 percent of Sissons’ salary. If Vegas wins two rounds in the 2026 playoffs, the Golden Knights will move a second-round pick instead.

Hague was a restricted free agent and Vegas needs to clear out cap space to prepare for free agency. He signed a four-year, $22 million contract with Nashville after the trade. He was the Golden Knights’ second round pick in 2017 and is a physical player with 572 hits. Sissons and Lauzon are entering the final years of their contracts.

Bruins re-sign three players

The Boston Bruins re-signed defenseman Henri Jokiharju (three years, $3 million average), forward John Beecher (one year, $900,000) and goaltender Michael DiPietro (two years, $812,500 average). Jokiharju averaged more than 21 minutes a game and had four assists in 18 games after arriving in a trade from the Buffalo Sabres. Beecher had 11 points in 78 games and DiPietro was the American Hockey League goalie of the year.

June 29 signings

Boston’s Morgan Geekie signed a six-year contract ($5.5 million average) after a breakout 33-goal season.
Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux signed a bonus-laden one-year deal with a $2 million base salary. The contract can be worth another $2.75 million in bonuses.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro will average $4.125 million in his four-year deal.

Top NHL free agents

Playoff MVP Sam Bennett and other pending free agents have already re-signed. Here’s a list of the top 20 available players.