TL;DR

Thunder win NBA title as Haliburton tears Achilles; Rockets land Durant; Carroll fractures wrist.

Highlights

• Oklahoma City Thunder win 2025 NBA title over Indiana Pacers; Tyrese Haliburton suffers torn Achilles, likely out all next season 13.
• Houston Rockets trade Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, No. 10 pick, and five seconds to Suns for Kevin Durant; deal official July 6 2.
• Celtics send Jrue Holiday to Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-rounders, reducing Boston’s tax bill by $40M 4.
• LeBron James resumes on-court workouts after MCL sprain; targeting Lakers training camp 11.
• Dallas Mavericks extend Daniel Gafford for three years, ~$60M, securing frontcourt depth 17.
• Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Corbin Carroll fractures wrist, joins expanding IL; Jake McCarthy recalled 5.
• Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. batting .408 with 9 HRs, 17 SBs in 29 games since ACL return 13.
• MLB All-Star voting: Ohtani (NL) and Judge (AL) lead; Phase 1 ends June 26 14.
• Flyers acquire Trevor Zegras from Ducks for Ryan Poehling and two picks; Zegras enters final contract year 6.
• NCAA eliminates sport-specific scholarship caps, shifts to roster limits; major governance overhaul under review 8.
• CBS signs five-year deal as anchor broadcaster for Pac-12; conference expansion discussions ongoing 9.
• WWE’s Saudi shows at risk after Gulf airspace shutdown; contingency planning underway 16.

Commentary

The Thunder’s championship run is overshadowed by Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles tear, a major setback for Indiana’s 2025-26 outlook and a blow to fantasy and futures markets 13. Oklahoma City’s balanced roster and postseason resilience should keep them among next year’s favorites, while the Pacers must now consider roster moves or an injured-player exception to remain competitive 3.

Houston’s acquisition of Kevin Durant, despite his age, signals an immediate title push, with the Rockets keeping their young core intact 2. Phoenix, meanwhile, pivots to a rebuild with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and draft capital 2. The Celtics’ trade of Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons and picks is a clear move to reduce payroll and maintain flexibility, especially with Jayson Tatum’s injury status uncertain 4. LeBron James’s return to on-court work is a positive sign for the Lakers, but age and recent injuries will keep his status under close watch 11.

In MLB, Arizona’s playoff hopes take a hit as Corbin Carroll joins the IL, compounding an already extensive injury list 5. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s elite production since returning from ACL surgery is a bright spot for Atlanta, keeping them in the postseason race despite a middling record 13. All-Star voting remains dominated by Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, with Phase 1 closing soon—expect shifts in fantasy and betting markets as final rosters are set 14.

Elsewhere, the Flyers’ acquisition of Trevor Zegras adds offensive upside as Philadelphia transitions from a rebuild 6. The NCAA’s move to roster limits and ongoing governance overhaul could alter recruiting and scholarship dynamics, with potential downstream effects on college sports futures 8. The Pac-12’s new CBS deal provides media stability as the conference seeks to solidify its FBS status 9. WWE’s Saudi events face uncertainty amid the Gulf airspace shutdown, which could lead to schedule changes impacting betting and event outcomes 16.