Boston, MA
Boston Celtics’ East rival makes aggressive Desmond Bane trade (report)
The Magic made the first big move of the offseason as they landed Desmond Bane in a trade with the Grizzlies. But the price is steep as it’s an aggressive move. While the Magic land a talented player in Bane, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, they sent the Grizzlies four unprotected first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, along with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony.
That’s naturally a lot to give up for Bane, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Memphis. But the Magic are looking to take the next step toward being a playoff contender, so they landed the sharpshooting guard. Bane, 26, averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 69 games last season.
Immediately, the Magic now pair the 6-foot-5 Bane with their young wing duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Bane should fit right in considering he’s also a career 41.0% 3-point shooter and the Magic needed someone who could stretch the floor. Bane isn’t old by any means as he enters the prime of his career, so he fits the timeline well with Orlando’s core.
The Magic have been an up-and-coming team in the East, and with this trade, they’re looking more dangerous going into next season. While they endured injuries this season, they finished 41-41 and got the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. Orlando has made the playoffs the past two seasons, falling in the first round both times.
While the Magic had one of the best defenses in the league, consistent offense was an issue. Bane’s inclusion should fit defensively while also giving the Magic a valuable floor-spacer. The East is looking wide open going into next season with the Celtics taking a step back, so it’s no surprise to see teams making significant swings.
The Grizzlies are in an interesting spot. They looked like they were going to take some steps toward being a contender themselves over the past few seasons. Plus, they went 48-34 this past season. But instead of investing further into their core of Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant, they elected to sell off a piece instead.
Now, considering the draft assets the Grizzlies just got from Orlando, that sets them up for any future moves they could make. Still, Memphis is in a place of limbo as it also fired coach Taylor Jenkins late in the regular season. For now, the Grizzlies-Magic trade goes down as the first big domino of the offseason.
FIFA World Cup host cities lay out security plans ahead of matches
Host cities ramp up security and anti-human trafficking efforts ahead of FIFA World Cup matches across the U.S.
The FIFA World Cup is coming to Massachusetts, and when it comes to having a place for people to hang out together, there will be a free fan zone where everyone can celebrate the big event.
Seven World Cup matches will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA this summer, and the first one is right around the corner, to be played on June 13, with Scotland taking on Haiti.
Fan Zones are a public space to watch the game for people who don’t have tickets to the actual game. Held in public places, they broadcast the mach on giant screens to offer an immersive experience to watch the game, according to FIFA>
“At the heart of FIFA Fan Festival Boston, (a) Cultural Showcase will ignite the stage with a vibrant celebration of the spirit, creativity, and cultural heartbeat of Boston and communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” FIFA said.
Where will the fan zone be located when the World Cup games start in just 11 days?
Where is the World Cup fan zone going to be in Massachusetts?
The official FIFA Fan Festival for the 2026 World Cup in Boston will be located at Boston City Hall Plaza at 1 City Hall Sq. Boston, MA.
“The festival will run daily from June 12 through June 27, offering live match broadcasts, cultural showcases, food vendors, and entertainment,” according to FIFA.
The fan zone will open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will stay open until after dark, between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. according to reports.
Activities at the fan zone
Here are some of the offerings at the fan zone in Boston, according to the FIFA website:
- Live broadcasts: Giant outdoor screens that broadcast tournament matches in high-definition.
- Entertainment & music: Live concerts, DJ sets, and performances celebrating global culture.
- Interactive activations: Skills challenges, mini-pitches, inflatable games, and sponsor booths.
- Food & merch: International food stalls, local beverage offerings, and official tournament merchandise.
How to go to the fan zone
While the game is free, you do need to register in advance.
“You can select which days and matches you plan to attend through the FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 website or the Meet Boston events page. Up to six people can register on a single application,” the World Cup Boston website says.
So you’re saying there’s a chance? Despite an abysmal start to the 2026 season, the Boston Red Sox remain in the mix for a playoff spot. At least according to FanGraphs, who gives the club a 27.1% chance of reaching the postseason.
Boston’s likely path to October means winning the wild card. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 26.1% chance of winning an American League wild card. The team currently sits threes games back of the third and final wild card, despite a record of 25-33.
Don’t look for a division title this year in Beantown. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 1% chance of winning the AL East. Which makes sense, since the team currently sits in last place, 11.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.
But SI’s Tom Verducci and Will Laws thinks Boston has a much tougher chance of making the playoffs. In their deep dive of the postseason, the pair came up with what they call the “Line of Doom.” According to their research, a team that starts “no better than 23–31 and your season is almost over only one-third of the way through the schedule.” Here’s why.
“In the wild card era (since 1995), only one team made the postseason starting with less than 22 wins in the first 54 games, the 2005 Astros (20–34). Of the 231 teams to start 23–31 or worse, only seven made the playoffs—once every 33 times,” Verducci and Laws note.
“Since the postseason field expanded in 2022, 31 teams began 23–31 or worse. Only one, the 2024 Mets (22–32), made the playoffs. That leaves such slow starters with a 1 in 31 chance—virtually the same as the larger sample size,” the pair add.
“The fact is one-third of the season does a good job separating pretenders from contenders. And as the calendar flips to June, understand that the playoff spots won’t change very much. In the four seasons with 12 playoff spots up for grabs, teams in playoff position when May ended kept a playoff spot 73% of the time—35 of 48 teams,” Verducci and Laws conclude.
So what does this have to do with the Red Sox, you ask? It’s Boston’s record after 54 games: 23-31. The “Line of Doom.”
More MLB: Red Sox Legend Backs ‘Worried’ John Henry
-
Alabama2 minutes agoIs Tommy Tuberville an Alabama resident? GOP candidate challenges status
-
Alaska9 minutes agoUniversity of Alaska names U.S. Army commander as new UAF chancellor
-
Arizona12 minutes agoDiamondbacks Fans Can Now Vote for Arizona’s All-Stars
-
Arkansas17 minutes agoArkansas DFA Agents seize illegal products in Corning
-
California24 minutes agoCalifornia may take weeks to finalize primary results. ‘This is normal’
-
Colorado27 minutes agoColorado governor vetoes block on surveillance pricing as other states push for bans
-
Connecticut32 minutes agoAfternoon forecast for June 3
-
Delaware39 minutes ago
FOX43 News
