Cooper Flagg is a virtual lock to be the No. 1 pick of Wednesday night’s NBA draft. However despite filling his trophy case, including national player of the year honors, during his sublime freshman (and only) season at Duke University – not to mention a reputation burnished by holding his own against Team USA’s superstars prior to last year’s Paris Olympics – Flagg is not a virtual lock to become a professional legend commensurate with his presumed draft position. Yes, his hype train quickly built in high school, where he led the Montverde Academy Eagles to 34-0 record and a national championship as a senior, before driving the Blue Devils to this year’s Final Four.

Doesn’t mean Flagg will revitalize the Dallas Mavericks, who, one year removed from losing in the NBA Finals, are apparently hoping he can, on some level, fill the Luka Dončić-sized hole in their lineup. Pro sports rarely work that tidily. For every LeBron James, there’s a Kwame Brown and maybe even an Andrea Bargnani or Ben Simmons. For every Peyton Manning, there’s a Jeff George. And the spotlight is even harsher when it comes to top picks. Highly regarded Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had a decent rookie season in 2024 despite the regrettable circumstances around him. Yet his career is already being (unfairly?) measured against the man chosen right after him, Washington Commanders counterpart Jayden Daniels, who may have had the greatest NFL season ever by a rookie QB.

Welcome to the Association, Coop. To illustrate the daunting climb ahead of you, I’m going to rank this century’s No. 1 picks in the NFL – I’m old enough to have covered LeBron and Brown when they were NBA newbies, but football is my area of (alleged) expertise – from best to worst. This year’s top selection, Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans, gets a one-year exemption, for obvious reasons …

1. QB Eli Manning, San Diego Chargers (2004)

Tabbed by the Bolts against his family’s will, he was traded to the New York Giants within an hour of being picked in a megadeal involving Philip Rivers. Both passers will likely find their way to the Hall of Fame eventually, though Manning was not elected in 2025, his first year of eligibility. But he does own a pair of Super Bowl MVP trophies after vanquishing Tom Brady’s New England Patriots in style two times over. Maybe Eli wasn’t as good individually as older brother Peyton, the No. 1 pick in 1998 and a five-time league MVP, but that doesn’t detract from the exceptional performer and ambassador he was for the Giants over 16 seasons.

2. QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (2009)

A late-career surge with the Los Angeles Rams, which included a Super Bowl win to cap the 2021 season, will probably certify Stafford’s Canton credentials. But he deserves more credit than he probably gets for his often-scintillating play on some Lions teams that were overly reliant on him and WR Calvin Johnson for seven years. And Stafford’s relative excellence in Motown hardly subsided in the five seasons following Megatron’s retirement after the 2015 campaign.

3. DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns (2017)

From a personal perspective – four-time All-Pro, 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, 102½ sacks in 117 NFL games – he’s probably already done enough to gain entry into the Hall. In terms of team success, the Browns only have one playoff win since Garrett got there – not that he’s remotely to blame.

4. QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (2020)

Admittedly, this is something of a projection for a guy who’s played the equivalent of four full seasons when you take injuries into account. But Burrow has already carried Cincy to a Super Bowl – a huge feather in his cap – and a pair of appearances in the AFC championship game. He seems to be an MVP-in-waiting, and perhaps that comes this season if he’s able to – forced to? – overcome a deficient Cincinnati D. After leading the league with 4,913 yards and 43 touchdowns through the air in 2024, many league observers thought Burrow deserved quite a bit of MVP consideration despite the Bengals’ failure as a team.

5. QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams (2016)

Despite starting Super Bowl 53, he was part of the package the Rams gave up for Stafford in 2021 – and his relocation to Detroit was widely viewed as something of a salary dump at the time. But give Goff, a two-time Pro Bowler in LA, copious credit – he’s become an even better quarterback with the Lions, throwing for at least 4,400 yards each of the past three seasons and leading the franchise to a level success (including successive division titles) it had not previously experienced during the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

6. QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (2011)

During his first five seasons, the super-sized dual threat lived up to his Superman persona – faster than a speeding linebacker, more powerful than a … linebacker – peaking in 2015 with league MVP honors while the Panthers won the NFC. But Newton was notably terrible in Super Bowl 50 and experienced a steady descent afterward, dogged by injuries and inconsistency.

7. QB Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (2012)

Targeted as the virtually irreplaceable Peyton Manning’s successor, Luck seemed up to the unenviable task … when he was healthy enough to play. He led the Colts to a 33-15 record and a trio of playoff appearances during his first three seasons, which culminated with a loss in the 2014 AFC championship game. But, like Newton, Luck was a big man who was also a big target as he often resorted to a devil-may-care playing style. He only posted 38 times over his final four seasons – he was named Comeback Player of the Year in 2018, when he passed for 39 TDs and nearly 4,600 yards – and shockingly retired during the 2019 preseason, no longer able to shoulder the pain and expectations of his job. The Colts have yet to recover.

NFL LOTTERY? Three reasons league likely won’t ever adopt NBA draft model

8. QB Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons (2001)

While it probably wouldn’t be accurate to say he’s the paradigm of the dual-threat quarterbacks who are becoming the rule rather than the exception in the modern NFL – I’m giving that credit to Randall Cunningham – Vick certainly inspired a legion of uber-athletic passers who followed him. Had he worked harder as a younger player rather than relying on his gifts – just ask Vick – remained clear of dogfighting and the jail time it earned him and avoided injuries later in his career, he might have wound up a Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer. Regardless – legend.

9. QB Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals (2003)

For a brief moment, it appeared he might be the guy to do what Burrow seems to be managing and lead the Bengals out of the wilderness. But Palmer tore up his knee on the first pass of his playoff debut – a 66-yard completion – and Cincinnati retreated into irrelevance. Fed up with the organization in later years, Palmer was traded to another backwater in 2011, joining the Raiders for 25 forgettable games. He eventually enjoyed a renaissance with the Cardinals and nearly took them to the Super Bowl.

10. QB Baker Mayfield, Browns (2018)

He emerged as Cleveland’s choice at the 11th hour – a decision he largely vindicated. However the Browns’ decisions to dump Mayfield for Deshaun Watson in 2022 will forever be viewed as an unequivocal disaster. But it may have also catalyzed Mayfield into becoming the player he is now – a two-time Pro Bowler who’s thrown for 69 TDs and nearly 9,000 yards in two years with the Buccaneers. He has plenty of runway ahead to move much further up this list.

11. DE Mario Williams, Houston Texans (2006)

He was the surprising choice over electric USC RB Reggie Bush. But Williams justified his very unpopular selection with the locals, compiling nearly 100 sacks in 11 NFL seasons. A four-time Pro Bowler, most of his career was spent in virtual anonymity with bad teams in Houston and Buffalo. Williams never started a playoff game.

12. QB Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers (2005)

He spent his career as NFL hurdler – overcoming the transition from Urban Meyer’s college offense at Utah to a pro scheme; getting chosen (instead of Aaron Rodgers) by a bad Niners squad; losing his job to Colin Kaepernick after suffering a concussion in 2012; losing his job to Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City in 2018; and suffering a gruesome leg injury late in his career at Washington but one he miraculously came back from. Still, Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, was a good player, outstanding teammate and great interview who made the most of his 16-year career (though two seasons were wiped out by injuries).

13. LT Jake Long, Miami Dolphins (2008)

He was a Pro Bowler and dominant player in each of his first four seasons before injuries largely short-circuited the balance of his nine-year career. The Fins thought enough of Long to choose him instead of future league MVP Matt Ryan.

14. LT Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs (2013)

His draft wasn’t exactly star-studded, and Fisher emerged as something of a surprise choice at the top of it. Nevertheless, he was a solid player over the course of a decade, earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods and is one of just three players – along with Eli Manning and Stafford – to play in and win a Super Bowl after being selected No. 1 overall in the 21st century.

15. QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (2019)

His potential hasn’t sufficiently matched the production to this point, though he was the Offensive Rookie of the Year and followed that up with Pro Bowl recognition in 2020 and ’21. But Murray ended the 2021 season with a poor performance in a wild-card loss to the Rams and has had to answer a lot of questions about his health and work habits in recent years. Still, plenty of time yet for his career to truly take off, and the Cards seem to be perched for a breakout.

16. DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney, Texans (2014)

A three-time Pro Bowler, the peripatetic pass rusher has been a very good player who maybe hasn’t been given due credit for his all-around game given edge players are so often judged by sacks − and Clowney has never even had 10 in a single season. Yet it is probably fair to say that he’s never lived up to his highlight-reel promise while at the University of South Carolina.

17. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (2021)

Projected as a generational prospect years before the Jags secured the opportunity to take him, Lawrence has fallen well short of fulfilling that hype … so far. However, the Meyer debacle of his rookie year and last year’s injury weren’t Lawrence’s fault. And he did flash during the 2022 playoffs while leading Jacksonville to the divisional round. His story is far from written, and a new chapter awaits with the arrival of super-hyped rookie Travis Hunter to help the cause in Duval County.

18. OLB/DE Travon Walker, Jaguars (2022)

A dark horse who galloped to the top of the draft board, Walker has reached double-digit sacks each of the past two seasons. Yet, to date, he hasn’t been nearly the player Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson, who was drafted directly after him, is. But it’s obviously early in the process.

19. QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (2024)

Greatness is expected of him. But as a rookie, he was the victim of an insufficient organizational infrastructure, one that likely contributed to Williams reverting to some of his troubling college habits – and that meant too many sacks and fumbles. However the arrival of offensively brilliant coach Ben Johnson could spark exponential improvement in Williams’ performance.

20. QB Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015)

Talented. Enigmatic. Beloved. Vexing. If you need a season to sum up Winston, it would be 2019, when he passed for more than 5,000 yards, 33 TDs and 30 INTs. If you need a game to sum up Winston, it occurred last season – when he threw for 497 yards and six TDs (four to his Cleveland teammates, two to Denver Broncos defenders) in a memorable Monday night loss. Usually a favorite in any locker room he graces, Winston has mostly been a backup since the Bucs replaced him with Tom Brady after that 2019 campaign that nearly drove then-coach Bruce Arians crazy.

21. QB Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams (2010)

His injury history at Oklahoma was predictive of similar setbacks in the NFL. In a sense, his pro career peaked when he won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Bradford played for four teams, finishing with a career passer rating of 84.5 and a 34-48-1 record in 83 starts. He never appeared in the postseason.

22. QB Bryce Young, Panthers (2023)

He struggled massively as a rookie and was benched in the early stages of his sophomore season. But after getting back into the lineup, Young started to serve reminders of why Carolina loved him in the first place. Now enjoying continuity under second-year coach Dave Canales, Young has a chance to blossom in 2025.

23. QB David Carr, Texans (2002)

The first selection in club history, he’s probably best known for being sacked a single-season record 76 times during his rookie season. Carr was constantly running for his life in Houston, subsequently developed poor on-field habits and never settled in as the franchise’s foundation. He was a solid backup later in his career, winning a ring with the 2011 Giants.

24. DE Courtney Brown, Browns (2000)

Need a snapshot of why the Browns have almost always stunk? Brown was the No. 1 pick a year after Cleveland kicked off the 1999 draft by choosing QB Tim Couch. Both were waylaid by injuries and their enlistment by an expansion team. Brown wound up with 19 sacks in six NFL seasons – basically what T.J. Watt does for the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers in a year.

DRAFT BUSTS: *50 biggest of past 50 years

25. QB JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders (2007)

Woof. Russell, who began his career with a lengthy holdout, never approached the hype generated by his howitzer arm and legendary pro day. He lasted just three seasons, losing 18 of 25 starts and compiling an abysmal 65.2 passer rating, before laziness and weight gain washed him out of the league. Who could the Raiders have taken instead? Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Marshawn Lynch and Darrelle Revis all came off the board in the first half of Round 1 in ’07.

The Dallas Mavericks defied all odds by landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which the team used to select Cooper Flagg on Wednesday. Drafting a generational talent in Flagg, however, didn’t appear to appease the Mavericks’ fanbase, which remains irate at general manager Nico Harrison.

The Mavericks hosted a draft watch party at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Wednesday and, with the Mavericks on the verge of selecting Flagg, fans broke out in ‘Fire Nico’ chants.

The chant has become a catchphrase among Dallas fans after Harrison brokered a blockbuster deal to trade Mavericks superstarLuka Doncic, in addition to Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick on Feb. 2.

After the trade, the Mavericks almost immediately suffered back-to-back injury blows — Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending ACL tear on March 3 and Davis missed 18 consecutive games after getting hurt in his Mavericks debut on Feb. 8. The Mavericks failed to make it out of the NBA play-in tournament, though the Lakers didn’t fare much better. Los Angeles was eliminated in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, 4-1.

The Mavericks may have lost one franchise star in Doncic, but they seemingly landed another in Flagg after Dallas won the first overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery despite only having a 1.8% chance to win.

‘A new era begins tonight,’ the Mavericks said on social media on Wednesday. Mavericks fans sure hope so, but it looks like they will need a little longer to mourn the loss of Doncic.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Three games into his career, Jacob Misiorowski has yet to encounter a foe that can match up with his flame-throwing repertoire: Not the St. Louis Cardinals, the Minnesota Twins nor the Pittsburgh Pirates.

And you can add Paul Skenes to that list.

Skenes, one of the game’s most dominant pitchers in just his second season, went up against the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander, who only just began his freshman season in Dairyland. And Misiorowski’s near-perfect start to his career rumbled on despite the formidable opposition.

He struck out eight batters over five scoreless innings while Skenes suffered through one nightmare inning exacerbated by Pittsburgh’s poor defense in Milwaukee’s 4-2 victory.

Misiorowski set a major league record by giving up just three hits in his first three starts – with a minimum 16 innings pitched – edging the Oakland Athletics’ Mike Norris, who gave up four hits in three starts in 1975.

Oh, nobody’s quite ready to put Misiorowski, 23, up there with Skenes, who’s actually two months his junior. It is Skenes who put together a Rookie of the Year season and backed it up with a sophomore campaign in which he’s struck out 110 in 106 innings, putting him on track to make a second consecutive All-Star Game start.

But Misiorowski’s first three starts were certainly ones for the record books.

Rare heat

He’d already made history coming into Wednesday: Misiorowski became the first pitcher since 1900 to have more wins than hits given up in his first two career starts. Yep, that’s just one hit over his first 11 innings, which included five no-hit innings in his major league debut against St. Louis.

That start ended when he rolled his ankle in the sixth inning, though his four walks given up might have prevented a shot at a no-hitter, anyway. The 6-7 kid they call the ‘Miz’ backed that up with six innings of one-hit, one-run ball at Minnesota, setting the stage for this showdown.

The two did not disappoint: Misiorowski threw 19 pitches of at least 100 mph, topping out at 102.4. Skenes also topped triple digits with a first-inning fastball, just the third time in the pitch-tracking era that two pitchers topped 100 in the same game.

And Misiorowski produced more fireball fodder: His five pitches of at least 102 mph trails only Hunter Greene (11), Justin Verlander and Jordan Hicks (6) in the pitch-tracking era. And the man has pitched just three games.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy had set a pitch count of around 75 and Misiorowski did him one better, completing five scoreless innings in 74 throws, striking out eight and walking two. He has seven walks in 16 innings, a bit of cleanup he’ll have to work on, but for now a problem he can simply punch out of.

Walk worries

Meanwhile, Skenes got sideways just once Wednesday, but it was enough to ruin his day. Milwaukee loaded the bases on two walks and a single, but what could have been a limited-damage inning got worse when center fielder Oneil Cruz whiffed on a sliding catch for an RBI double and second baseman Nick Gonzales made an ill-advised throw home – wide, to boot – to set up two more runs.

So, Skenes was hardly bad – he struck out four in four innings – but a pair of walks pushed his pitch count to 78. Control has been a bugaboo for Skenes this year – he has 29 walks in 106 innings, nearly equaling the 29 in 133 innings his entire rookie season.

Again, not disastrous, and Misiorowski will undeniably experience similar ups and downs as his career gets off the ground. But he is still in the honeymoon phase and before a raucous crowd of 42,774 at American Family Field, continues to be a gift to Brewers fans.

‘So much fun. It was so electric. The fans here were so awesome,’ says Misiorowski in a postgame dugout interview. ‘You have the guys score four for me, I felt at ease a little more, it felt like, OK, I got this.

‘We can win this game.’

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

It’s like watching a murder mystery and learning who the killer is with an hour left.

Or sitting down for a gourmet dinner and being served the filet before your drink order.

It’s like riding in a stretch limousine in Beverly Hills with champagne and caviar and being dropped off for the evening at the Holiday Inn Express.

It is this year’s Major League Baseball trading deadline.

The biggest and most fascinating trade was consummated 10 days ago when the Boston Red Sox sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, triggering a cascade of stories dissecting who should be blamed for the fallout.

There are five weeks remaining before this year’s July 31 deadline, and there will not be a single trade that remotely comes close to baseball’s version of the Luka Dončić deal.

Nobody will be traded with $100 million left on his contract, let alone the $254.5 million remaining in Devers’ deal, or nearly the star power.

Juan Soto won’t be traded for the third time in three years. The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t giving Mookie Betts back to the Red Sox. Future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are staying put this time.

Once Vladimir Guerrero signed his 14-year, $500 million contract extension in April, it ended any intrigue that he could be the biggest trade chip.

Instead, we could be in for a sleeper of a deadline, largely because there are only six teams – the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates – who will definitely be sellers with five weeks to go. And they have no star players who would send the baseball world into a frenzy.

Please, forget about the fantasy of the Pirates even considering trading ace Paul Skenes, so don’t even bother calling. Now, if you want starters Mitch Keller or Andrew Heaney, or closer David Bednar, or infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ke’Bryan Hayes, or outfielders Bryan Reynolds and Tommy Pham, the Pirates will have an operator standing by to take your calls.

The Chicago Cubs, who have dominated the NL Central but have seen their lead getting a little too close for comfort, are one of the teams who would love to get their hands on Keller and Bednar. Every contender but seemingly the Seattle Mariners are seeking a starter, reliever or both.

While there’s so little certainty, phone calls have already begun taking place, which will become much more frequent after the July 13-14 Draft in Atlanta.

Here’s a look at the murky 2025 deadline:

Five bubble teams who could alter the MLB trade deadline

– Arizona Diamondbacks: They will be the epicenter of the deadline if they sell. They are only 2 ½ games out of a wild-card berth, but they have been decimated with injuries. All-Star outfielder Corbin Carroll and catcher Gabriel Moreno went on the injured list this week, while co-closers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez and starters Corbin Burnes and Jordan Montgomery all have gone recent Tommy John surgeries.

The cruel reality is that they may have no choice but to sell, and if they sell, Arizona could be the epicenter of the trade deadline. Starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly would be two of the premier pitchers on the market, third baseman Eugenio Suárez and first baseman Josh Naylor would be two of the top available position players, and closer Shelby Miller should draw widespread interest.

– Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox may have made a solid trade for the future by sending Rafael Devers to the Giants, but they all but waved the white flag on 2025. Even though they can augment the future by selling at the deadline, can they afford to completely alienate their fanbase?

If they don’t mind a modern-day Boston Tea Party with everyone ripping up their tickets, the Red Sox could set the trade deadline ablaze by dealing Alex Bregman before he opts out or trading outfielder Jarren Duran. Boston could part with closer Aroldis Chapman and starter Walker Buehler, who joined in the winter on a one-year deal.

– St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals are a real life version of “Major League’’ where the team is winning despite of the front office’s attempts for them to fail. The Cardinals didn’t do anything in the offseason, tried to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado, asked ace Sonny Gray to waive his no-clause trade, and planned on waiting until the All-Star break to trade closer Ryan Helsley and starter Erick Fedde.

Well, here we are, and the Cardinals aren’t going away, sitting just 3 ½ games out of first place in the NL Central and tied for a wild-card berth. If the Cardinals stay close, can they really deal Helsley and Arenado? Helsley would be one of the top relievers on the market, and Gray would be among the top starters if he waived his no-trade clause.

– Los Angeles Angels: They can’t possibly stay in the race, can they? Do they really believe they have a chance to be in the playoffs and will stand pat at the trade deadline?

Well, you have to look only back to two years ago when they were in a similar position, sitting 5 ½ games back in the AL West, three games back in the wild-card race, and holding the most valuable trade chip in Shohei Ohtani.

What happened? They kept Ohtani, picked up Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, and finished with a 73-89 record, and two months later lost Ohtani to the Dodgers in free agency.

This time around, they’ve got future Hall of Fame closer Kenley Jansen, outfielder Taylor Ward, starter Tyler Anderson and reliever Reid Detmers, all who would draw strong interest if the Angels decided to surrender.

Six best players who will (or should) be available

– Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins: This was the finest pitcher in baseball in 2022, unanimously winning the Cy Young award. Now, after recovering from Tommy John surgery, he is slowly regaining his form. He is 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA in four starts this month, and the beauty of Alcantara is that he’s still under contract through the 2027 season. The price tag will be high, and if no one is willing to meet it, the Marlins will simply hold onto him until this winter.

– Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks: Gallen likely will depart in free agency after this season, which is why the Diamondbacks signed Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million deal, knowing they would needed to replace him. While Gallen has struggled this year with a 5-8 record and 5.60 ERA, he’s a big-game pitcher who thrives against top teams. Gallen, who’s from the Philadelphia area, is is 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA this season, striking out 27 batters in 19 ⅔ innings in three starts against the Mets and Yankees this season.

– Eugenio Suárez, Diamondbacks: You want a power hitting third baseman? You want solid defense? You want one of the most beloved and friendliest guys in the game? Suárez is your man. He has 46 homers and 132 RBIs since July 7, 2024. Only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have more homers. No one has more RBIs.

– Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals resisted all offers for him last winter, believing his trade value should only increase. Well, he’s not pitching as well as a year ago when he saved 49 games with a 1.101 WHIP – going 3-0 with 14 saves and a 3.67 ERA and 1.444 WHIP – but considering that every contender is seeking late-inning relievers, the Cardinals were wise to hang onto him. He may not get traded if the Cardinals keep winning.

– Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals: The Nationals parted company with Finnegan last winter when they non-tendered him, not believing he could produce an encore of his All-Star season. He later returned on a one-year, $6 million contract, and here he is again, with 18 saves and and a 2.93 ERA. His WHIP has dropped from 1.335 to 1.229 this year. He’ll be a nice fit for a number of teams looking for back-end bullpen help.

– Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox : The likelihood of Robert being traded barring an injury? Just about 100%. The White Sox don’t want him. They don’t need him. And they know they should have traded him during the winter. All they can hope for now is that he starts performing much better after hitting .184 with seven homers, 31 RBI and a .573 OPS this season. He has played better of late with a .703 OPS the last two weeks, leads the league with 22 stolen bases and plays a terrific center field. It’s not as if anyone is going to pick up the $20 million options on him this year or next, but the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies are keeping close tabs on him.

Teams who will be most aggressive at trade deadline

– Philadelphia Phillies: If you know anything about Phillies president Dave Dombrowski, it’s that passive isn’t in his vocabulary. He realizes this team is getting older, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suarez are pending free agents, and the time is now to win. Anything less than a World Series appearance would be a colossal disappointment. They took a $10 million gamble on Max Kepler that has backfired, and are seeking another left fielder or center fielder plus bullpen reinforcements.

– Chicago Cubs: The Cubs didn’t trade third baseman Isaac Paredes and prized young outfielder Cam Smith for one guaranteed year of All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker to sit back at the deadline now. The Cubs have led this division since April 4, and if they somehow aren’t playing in October there will be some premium jobs available in the front office. Jed Hoyer, president of baseball operations, whose contract expires after the season, knows what’s at stake. They are scouring the market for a starter, keeping a close eye on Alcantara (2 ½ years remaining on his 5-year, $56 million contract), Keller (3 ½ years remaining on his 5-year, $70 million deal) and Luis Severino of the Athletics (2 ½ years remaining on his 3-year, $67 million contract). It’s highly unlikely, however the A’s would consider trading Severino and risk the fallout, even with his dramatic home/road splits (0-7, 6.79 at home; 2-0, 0.93 on the road). Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon could also be intriguing.

– Detroit Tigers: The Tigers tipped their hand when they offered Alex Bregman a 6-year, $171.5 million free-agent contract last winter. If the Red Sox shop him, they’re all in again, still in need of a third baseman. The Tigers realize this is their chance to return to the World Series for the first time since 2012, and win it for the first time since 1984. They’ve got ace Tarik Skubal under control through only 2026 and need to take full advantage of having the finest pitcher in the game. Detroit love to add a strikeout pitcher in the bullpen.

– New York Yankees: The American League is wide open, and the Yankees are poised to take full advantage of the opportunity. They badly need a third baseman or a second baseman, and realize there’s 0% chance that the Red Sox answering their prayers by trading them Alex Bregman. They are keeping a close eye on Suarez and Kiner-Falefa, which would allow them to move Jazz Chisholm back to second base. They have Devin Williams and Luke Weaver at the back end of the bullpen, but would like to have one more arm. Their ultimate prize could be Alcantara, giving them a powerful rotation, particularly when Gerrit Cole returns next year.

– Los Angeles Dodgers: You don’t have their payroll and worry about cutting costs now. The Dodgers may have a stacked team, four future Hall of Famers in their lineup, and Shohei Ohtani, but they also have a few holes. They are seeking another outfielder with Michael Conforto’s struggles. They want another starter, and yes, Alcantara is the man they want. The Dodgers are always looking for bullpen help and would like another late-inning reliever like Rays closer Pete Fairbanks.

The Dodgers continue to be on the prowl, and Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, will do everything humanly possible to make sure this team is given every opportunity to become the first NL team to repeat as World Series champions since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Argentine World Cup champion Lionel Messi and seven players from the U.S. men’s national team are among 26 players named MLS All-Stars for the 2025 season, the league announced on Wednesday, June 25.

The MLS All-Stars will face a team of All-Stars from Mexico’s Liga MX on July 23 at 9 p.m. ET at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, broadcast on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

The USMNT’s Patrick Agyemang, Max Arfsten, Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman, Diego Luna, Miles Robinson, and Brian White will represent their MLS clubs in the showcase.

Canada national team goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and Mexican National Team forward Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano are also on the MLS team.

The Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps will have four All-Stars in Berhalter, White, defender Tristan Blackmon and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.

Agyemang and Lozano were selected by MLS commissioner Don Garber to be All-Stars.

Columbus Crew’s Diego Rossi will make his fourth appearance (2019, 2021, 2024-25), while LAFC’s Denis Bouanga (2023-25), Philadelphia Union’s Jakob Glesnes (2022-23, 2025) and FC Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson (2021, 2024-25) have been named MLS All-Stars for the third time.

Messi, the Inter Miami star, and his teammate Jordi Alba were named MLS All-Stars for the second straight season. Alba played in the match last year with midfielder Sergio Busquets, while Messi and Luis Suarez did not participate in the showcase.

Messi, 36, and Alba, 36, are the oldest players on the MLS All-Star roster, which features six players aged 24 years old and younger.

Of the 26 players selected, 16 players are first-time All-Stars.

2025 MLS All-Star roster by position and selection mechanism:

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC / Voted In)
Brad Stuver (Austin FC / Coach’s Selection)
Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver Whitecaps FC / Coach’s Selection)

DEFENDERS (8)

Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF / Voted In)
Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection)
Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps FC / Voted In)
Michael Boxall (Minnesota United FC / Voted In)
Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC / Voted In)
Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union / Coach’s Selection)
Andy Najar (Nashville SC / Coach’s Selection)
Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati / Coach’s Selection)

MIDFIELDERS (6)

Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC / Voted In)
David Da Costa (Portland Timbers / Coach’s Selection)
Evander (FC Cincinnati / Voted In)
Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake / Voted In)
Jeppe Tverskov (San Diego FC / Coach’s Selection)
Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire FC / Coach’s Selection)

FORWARDS / WINGERS (9)

Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC / Commissioner’s Pick)
Tai Baribo (Philadelphia Union / Voted In)
Denis Bouanga (LAFC / Voted In)
Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC / Coach’s Selection)
Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano (San Diego FC / Commissioner’s Pick)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF / Voted In)
Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew / Coach’s Selection)
Brandon Vazquez (Austin FC / Coach’s Selection)
Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps FC / Voted In)

The franchise selected the former Duke basketball star with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 25. Flagg averaged 19.2 points with 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 48.1% shooting during his lone season with the Blue Devils, leading the program to the Final Four.

The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward will join Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis with the Mavericks, who are looking to turn around the franchise following the shocking midseason trade of Luka Dončić in February. The Mavs had a 1.8% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick entering the draft lottery on May 12.

By landing Flagg, Dallas adds one of the youngest draft picks in NBA history and just the second-youngest No. 1 overall pick ever.

Here’s everything to know about Flagg, the future of the Dallas Mavericks:

Cooper Flagg age

Flagg was born on Dec. 21, 2006, which makes him 18 years old at the time of him being the No. 1 overall pick. Flagg is 18 years and 186 days old at the time of the 2025 NBA Draft. That makes Cooper the second-youngest player to be taken No. 1 overall.

Los Angeles Lakers’ star LeBron James was 18 years and 178 days old when the Cleveland Cavaliers took the hometown hero No. 1 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. While James did not attend college, Cooper did play for one season for Duke, but skipped his senior year of high school basketball to reclassify to be in the 2024 recruiting class.

Cooper committed to Duke on Oct. 30, 2023, and despite skipping an entire year of high school, was still the No. 1 overall player in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

Cooper Flagg stats

Here are Flagg’s season averages in his lone year in college:

2024-25: 19.2 points with 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 48.1% shooting (38.5% from 3-point range)

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte broke down in tears on the field during Tuesday night’s game in Chicago after a fan made derogatory comments about his late mother.

A team spokesman said the fan was immediately ejected from the stadium. The offending fan has been banned ‘indefinitely’ from future games at Rate Field, the team said on June 25.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo tried to console the two-time All-Star during a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh inning of the June 24 contest against the White Sox, putting his arm around Marte as he was wiping away tears from his eyes.

‘I just reacted as a dad would when I went out to change pitchers,’ Lovullo said. ‘I could see he was sobbing. It hurt.’

Marte’s mother, Elpidia Valdez, died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic in 2017.

‘That can’t happen,’ Arizona shortstop Geraldo Perdomo told the Arizona Republic after the game. ‘Everybody knows how Ketel is. He’s fun. He plays the game hard. I feel bad for him. I feel mad about it. I hope MLB can do something with that guy.’

Marte had homered earlier in the game as the Diamondbacks went on to win 4-1.

Lovullo said he heard what the fan said as Marte was walking back to the dugout after making the final out of the seventh inning.

‘I looked right at him when I heard,’ Lovullo said. ‘I looked right at him and he looked at the person, as well. He put his head down and I could tell it had an immediate impact on him, for sure.’

Lovullo said he noticed Marte was having trouble managing his emotions as he prepared to go back out on the field and was still shaken during the pitching change in the bottom of the inning.

‘(I told him), ‘I love you and I’m with you and we’re all together and you’re not alone. No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you heard, that guy is an idiot. It shouldn’t have an impact on you.’’

When Marte came to the plate in Wednesday’s series finale, the outfield scoreboard showed a message of support.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The NCAA approved the one-game extension to the regular season on Wednesday, June 25 during its summer meetings. The change will go into effect starting with the 2026 college football season. The recommendation was made by the Division I Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee in May at a meeting in Indianapolis.

‘At the recommendation of the Football Championship Subdivision Oversight Committee, the council adopted expedited legislation to change the first contest date for FCS football, starting in the 2026 season,’ the NCAA release reads. ‘Moving forward, FCS programs will be able to compete in 12 regular-season games every year, with the regular season starting 13 weeks before the FCS championship selections date. The move provides programs greater scheduling flexibility and eliminates the first contest date exceptions.’

Under previous legislation, FCS teams were permitted to play 12 games in years in which there were 14 Saturdays from the first permissible playing date through the last playing date in November. All other years, teams could play 11 games.

The new recommendation and rule will also standardize the start of the FCS football season: 13 weeks before the championship bracket is released, which occurs on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The FCS scheduling format is now more closely aligned with the Bowl Subdivision, which has played 12 games per season since 2006.

The 12-game schedule will open up more opportunities for teams to play buy-in games with bigger schools, including FBS opponents — games that can impact programs’ athletic budgets. However, the extra game also means teams will have to play another game in their respective bids to make the playoffs and challenge for a national championship.

The New England Patriots made sweeping changes to their organization in 2025 for the second consecutive offseason.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft acknowledged those changes were necessary as New England looks to become a contender again.

‘The last two years were the worst years of my 31 years of ownership,’ Kraft said in a discussion with ESPN’s Adam Schefter at Fanatics Fest over the weekend. ‘We have to change that.’

The Patriots posted a combined 8-26 record over the last two seasons and have changed coaches after each campaign. A 4-13 finish to the 2023 season cost franchise legend Bill Belichick his job, while Jerod Mayo was made a one-and-done coach after posting the same mark in 2024.

Kraft believes new coach Mike Vrabel will be able to achieve better results and stabilize the franchise. He credited Vrabel as being ‘really connected with the players’ and ‘doing great work’ over his first six months with the team.

Kraft also expressed confidence in the offseason moves the Patriots made to fortify their roster. He lauded the team for landing ‘a lot of great veterans’ and bringing in a strong draft class to supplement those big-money acquisitions.

The Patriots spent heavily to make the roster upgrades Kraft deemed necessary. New England doled out more than $360.8 million with its free agent contracts, per Spotrac.com. That was by far the most in the league and $95.2 million more than the second-highest spenders, the Minnesota Vikings.

Thanks to those improvements, Kraft believes New England is on the right track. That has left him ‘very excited about the upcoming season.’

‘We’re gonna have fun this year,’ he said. ‘I promise.’

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.