The draft fell the way most predicted months ago. The big four of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson went with the top four picks — and then the four star freshman point guards followed. The Hawks simply took the one that fell to them, but they got a guy who should be able to step in from day one and start at a position that plagued them following the mid-season trade of Trae Young.

Flemings might not be an elite level passer like Young was coming out of college, but he is a true floor general that stays within himself and limits his turnovers.

Where fans will notice a significant improvement is on the other side of the ball. You don’t start for Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars without being a willing defender. Flemings’ defense is his biggest strength coming out of college. His measurements were a little shorter than expected at the NBA Combine — standing a hair under 6-foot-3 with a similar wingspan — but his college tape doesn’t show that. Flemings was a menace on that end of the floor, helped by his strong frame and athleticism.

When discussing weaknesses, one will immediately notice his shooting stroke. It’s not as smooth as some of the other point guards that will be selected in the lottery, but it didn’t seem to matter in college, as he shot nearly 39% from three and 85% from the free throw line.

That shooting stroke and his ability to continue to develop his overall game offensively will ultimately determine Flemings’ ceiling. He doesn’t necessarily look like he’s going to translate into an All-Star caliber guard at the next level, but some of that also can be attributed to the system Sampson likes to run at Houston.

But of all the point guards selected after the fourth pick, Flemings might have the highest floor. He’s the definition of a coachable and winning player — the type of selfless point guard that Hawks fans will become fond of very quickly.

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The #Falcons and star TE Kyle Pitts have agreed to terms on a 3-year, $54M contract.

Pitts will not play on the $15M franchise tag and instead receives $36M fully guaranteed over the next two seasons. The deal was negotiated by David Mulugheta of @AthletesFirst and Andre Odom. pic.twitter.com/s6Yf7siLX4

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 23, 2026

The deal comes with $36 million guaranteed, which essentially makes this more like a two-year deal with a reasonable out if Pitts doesn’t live up to expectations, something that was a common occurrence throughout his rookie contract.

However, Pitts is coming off by far his best campaign since his first year, setting career-highs in catches with 88 and touchdowns with five, finishing just shy of the 1,000 yard mark while appearing in all 17 games.

By AAV, this makes Kyle Pitts the third-highest paid tight end in the league, behind only George Kittle and Trey McBride — a resounding signal of confidence from the organization that they do not believe last season was a fluke. Moreover, the Falcons are essentially saying his struggles from 2022-2024 were more the result of poor quarterback play and a lingering knee injury that he finally looked to have recovered from this past season.

In three straight offseasons, the Falcons had top 10 picks that they spent on three straight skill position players — Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson. They have not yet returned to the playoffs since, but while it may have been a different regime that picked them, the new regime seems to have plenty of confidence in the trio.

Drake London already received a massive contract extension earlier this offseason. Kyle Pitts now joins him as one of the highest paid players at his position, and next up is undoubtedly Bijan Robinson, who will eventually reset the market at running back.

That’s a lot of money to spend on skill players. Much like it was a lot of draft capital a few years ago. We’ll see if it pans out better this time around.

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So, it should come as no surprise that when former GM Jim Bowden asked all 30 front offices their club’s biggest need leading up to the deadline, the Braves responded with another starting pitcher and bat.

“The recent Spencer Strider injury news has pushed the Braves’ need for starting pitching to the front of the line, with another hitter being a secondary need,” Bowden wrote for The Athletic. “In terms of a bat, left field or shortstop are likely their two target areas.”

I would argue the biggest problem area for the Braves is by far the rotation. Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes have really fallen off as the season has waned, Spencer Strider is likely done for the year after suffering yet another elbow injury, and JR Ritchie is a rookie that hasn’t quite proven he’s ready to be a permanent member of the rotation. The Braves’ rotation is essentially Chris Sale and pray. Although, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful resurgent campaign Martin Perez is putting together.

There is some hope for improvement with Hurston Waldrep and potentially others returning, but that’s still not enough. Adding another legitimate frontline arm feels non-negotiable at this point.

Another bat is certainly a need, but it’s not nearly as pressing as the rotation. Ronald Acuña Jr. returning will essentially kill two birds with one stone. He’ll massively improve the offensive production the Braves are currently getting in right field, and Mauricio Dubon kicking back to shortstop will do the same there.

That said, it still leaves two positions where Atlanta can upgrade — left field and DH. Mike Yastrzemski has just not been consistent enough. He’s fine as a depth piece, but he cannot be an everyday starter. The DH spot has also become a black hole with Dominic Smith, who’s really struggled since his magnificent start to the season. A strong case could be made he should be removed from the lineup completely if the Braves are serious about winning the World Series.

The good news is finding a slugging DH/outfielder generally isn’t that difficult. The Braves found four of them during the 2021 deadline, and they didn’t have to give up a single worthwhile prospect to do so.

Alex Anthopoulos should prepare to dole out top prospects for a frontline starting pitcher. The other issue can likely be fixed with a couple of under the radar additions that come with high upside.

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JR Ritchie is heading back to Gwinnett after another rough start, allowing five runs over five innings. In his place, reliever Tyler Kinley has been activated from the IL. Additionally, Carlos Carrasco has been designated for assignment for about the millionth time, with Ian Hamilton joining the active roster.

The #Braves today reinstated RHP Tyler Kinley from the injured list after optioning RHP JR Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett. The club also selected RHP Ian Hamilton to the major league roster and designated RHP Carlos Carrasco for assignment.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 24, 2026

Ritchie is eventually going to be a staple of the Braves rotation, but that day is not today. He’s really struggled with walks this season, not just in Atlanta but with Gwinnett as well. No pitcher, especially one without premier strikeout stuff, is going to have much success at the major-league level when giving up that many free passes.

Getting Tyler Kinley back is certainly a breath of fresh air for a bullpen that seems to be running out of gas. Walt Weiss said yesterday that more than half of the club’s relief arms were unavailable, including Robert Suarez, who is dealing with forearm soreness.

As far as Carrasco, you know the drill. He pitches, gets designated for assignment, clears waivers, then rejoins the active roster until he has to make his next appearance. Rinse and repeat. I don’t expect anything different this time around.

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“The Braves’ right-handed pitcher is scheduled to begin his rehab assignment Thursday at the team’s spring training facility,” Bishop wrote. “Smith-Shawver will pitch two innings of a simulated game and throw between 35 to 40 pitches.”

This news really could not come at a better time. The Braves rotation, while they wholly overachieved over the first two months, has completely unraveled in June. Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes have severely regressed. Spencer Strider is likely out for the season after suffering yet another elbow injury, and JR Ritchie doesn’t look quite ready for the majors yet. This team desperately needs an influx of talent when it comes to their starting pitchers, and the hope is that Hurston Waldrep along with Smith-Shawver can alleviate at least some of the concerns.

Waldrep is already up to 71 pitches. His next time out he’ll likely aim for 80-85 pitches. At that point, the Braves might decide to call him up. Hell, they could do it right now if they think Waldrep could effectively get guys out with the way the rest of the rotation has performed.

Smith-Shawver is a few weeks behind Waldrep, and I would expect him to take a similar route as he works his way back. He’ll throw around 40 pitches this week, then work his way up to around 50 next week, followed by 60-70 and so on. Within the next month, it’s possible the Braves rotation features both Waldrep and Smith-Shawver.

That’s exciting given their upside, but it’s important to temper expectations. These are still young, relatively unproven arms that are working their way back from major injuries. Anything they can provide the club should be viewed as a bonus, even if the Braves desperately need at least one of them to step up and become an impact starter.

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But like most chatter leading up to the draft, it was all smoke. The Hawks stood pat and took Houston PG Kingston Flemings with the 8th pick and then selected St. Johns PF/C Zuby Ejiofor in the back half of the first round — both guys that could find themselves contributing immediately on a team with aspirations of seriously competing in the Eastern Conference.

Barring another significant acquisition, Flemings will almost certainly step in and become the Hawks’ starting point guard. Atlanta really doesn’t have another option on the roster, and even if they did, it’s unlikely he’d come with as much talent and upside as the former Houston Cougar.

Flemings’ calling cards are his defense and quickness. He compares himself to the likes of De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Maxey, while others believe he’s reminiscent of former NBA MVP Derrick Rose. His first step to the rim is almost impossible to guard one-on-one and his strength and athleticism give him the ability to finish in a multitude of ways around the rim.

However, what might be most impressive about his offensive game is his patience. Flemings was a freshman playing in the ultra-competitive Big 12 Conference, but you’d be hard-pressed to find many moments where he was out of control. He’s a true floor general that lets the game come to him, turning the ball over less than two times per game.

Defensively, Flemings and Dyson Daniels have the opportunity to become one of the most menacing duos in the NBA. You don’t start under Kelvin Sampson as a freshman unless you’re prepared to give max effort on the defensive end for the full 40 minutes. Flemings has the will, quickness, and strength to immediately become a nightmare for opposing guards from the moment he steps on an NBA floor.

Ejiofor — though in a different body type, standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 240 pounds — is cut from the same cloth. There might not be a player across college basketball that played harder than he did when he was on the floor, featuring active hands on the defensive end that paired with a terrific ability to defend the rim.

It’s hard for me to avoid Draymond Green comparisons when watching Ejiofor — both undersized from a height perspective but can defend much bigger because of their weight, strength, and overall relentless pressure. But the comparisons don’t stop on the defensive end. Ejiofor is an unbelievable passer for a player his size, averaging 3.5 assists per game this past season in just 30 minutes, and like Green, he doesn’t quite have a reliable jump shot… yet.

That’s something I’m sure the Hawks will get straight to work with him on once he enters the building. Ejiofor shot just over 30% from beyond the arc as a senior on 1.6 attempts per game. He doesn’t ever have to be a sniper from deep, but if he can at least keep defenses honest, it will take his game to the next level. I don’t think it’s a secret why the Hawks might have been higher on him than most, given Onsi Saleh spent a lot of time with Golden State watching the impact Draymond Green had on the Warriors.

The Hawks’ first-round picks share some similar traits, but the one that pops off the page is their effort — a willingness to do whatever it takes to win. These are culture-building selections that also have the talent to immediately contribute to what the Hawks are building.

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(Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire)

Suarez will play catch today to see how he’s feeling, but the alarm bells are understandably ringing loudly for a fan base that has watched star player after star player land on the Injured List.

Robert Suarez is dealing with right forearm soreness. He was unavailable tonight. He will play catch tomorrow to get a feel for when he might be available again

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 24, 2026

An argument could be made that Robert Suarez has been among the top five most valuable Braves this season — pretty rare for a reliever that is not the primary closer. In 31 appearances, he’s surrendered just two runs — good for a 0.56 ERA. Nearly every time he’s toed the rubber, the Braves have gone on to win the game.

Losing him for any amount of time would be detrimental for a club that’s already in a massive downswing. The Braves have lost three in a row and nine of their last twelve. Their once double-digit lead in the NL East is down to just 5.5 games with more than three months to play, and even more concerning, holes on the roster are beginning to show everywhere.

The one place that’s been consistently fantastic has been the bullpen, but that might not be the case for too much longer. It’s very apparent that first-year manager Walt Weiss overworked these guys early in the season. Seemingly on a nightly basis, several guys are unavailable. That’s not how it’s supposed to be in June, and it’s another significant concern moving forward.

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(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire)

Rowdy Tellez got the club on the board with a two-run single in the second inning. Michael Harris II added on with a double — one of his three hits on the night — and Matt Olson brought in a fourth run with a walk before the Padres finally found their way to the dugout.

But it didn’t take long for that lead to evaporate with rookie JR Ritchie on the mound, who continues to prove he might not quite be ready for a permanent role in a major-league rotation. The reasoning for that, like so many young pitchers before him, is control.

Ritchie can’t throw strikes, even with a four-run lead. Two one-out walks got the Padres feeling like they could get back in the game, and in the blink of an eye, they found themselves with the lead following four straight hits.

The promising aspect of Ritchie’s outing is that he settled down, making it through five innings without allowing a single run. There’s never been much concern about the mental side of the game for the 22-year-old, but it seems there’s always one inning where everything unravels.

In the process, the Braves retook the lead, courtesy of a home run from Mauricio Dubon. Unfortunately, they couldn’t hold it.

For whatever reason, Walt Weiss turned to Carlos Carrasco for multiple innings in a one-run game. The first frame was fine, as Carrasco set the Padres down in order. But Weiss should have learned not to push his luck the last time he tried this, as Fernando Tatis Jr. led off the seventh inning with a solo home run.

Eventually, the game worked its way to extras, where the dismal bottom of the Braves lineup couldn’t muster anything — a primary storyline of this recent rough stretch. In the bottom half, Manny Machado walked it off with a single to center on the first pitch, sending the Braves home losers for a third consecutive night and the ninth time in their last twelve games.

Atlanta’s NL East lead is now down to 5.5 games, and after a first two months where it seemed nothing could go wrong, the script has completely flipped in June — marked most notably by a rotation that has completely imploded. JR Ritchie is being asked to do something he shouldn’t have to this early in his career. Hopefully, Hurston Waldrep‘s return can allow him to continue working on his craft in the minors.

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(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Pitts was arguably the second best tight end in the sport in 2025. He stayed healthy, playing in all 17 games, catching a career-high 88 balls with five touchdowns and finishing just shy of 1,000 yards receiving on his way to second-team All-Pro honors. It might have been the best season of his entire career, even above his rookie campaign when he eclipsed 1,000 yards and set the Falcons franchise rookie record for receiving.

But we can’t base things solely off one season. For the most part, Kyle Pitts has been a massive disappointment. He was touted as a unicorn prospect in a loaded draft class that saw a plethora of perennial All-Pros drafted right behind him. Pitts was supposed to be chasing tight end receiving records, not happy about finishing a campaign with 928 yards, most of which came without Drake London on the field.

From 2022-2024, Pitts never caught for more than 667 yards in a season and eclipsed 50 catches just once. He was an average tight end at best, but some context has to be added.

Pitts suffered a knee injury during the 2022 campaign, and it was something that clearly hampered him in the seasons that followed. Last year was the first time he looked fully healthy since his rookie year. Additionally, the quarterback play in Atlanta has been abysmal. It’s hard to have much success as a second option when the organization has been playing musical chairs under center from the moment he was drafted.

With this deal, the Falcons are saying they believe Kyle Pitts can be a true #2 receiving threat, and that the circumstances prior to last season were more responsible for his struggles than his talent itself.

That’s probably a more than fair assessment, but not something the Falcons should be taking a $50+ million gamble on.

But that’s the thing… they aren’t.

NFL contracts are all about how they are structured, and this extension is essentially for one year. Only $36 million of the deal is guaranteed, and the Falcons were already on the hook for about $16 million this season if Pitts played under the franchise tag. Atlanta was going to pay that regardless, and they are now essentially guaranteeing one extra year with an easy out in the third year if Pitts doesn’t live up to expectations.

When put that way, it is a lot more palatable. And it’s important to remember — Kyle Pitts was among the youngest players in his draft class. Despite the fact he’s played five NFL seasons, he’ll only be 26 years old next season. A strong argument could be made that Pitts’ best football is in front of him. That’s what the Falcons are banking on with this vote of confidence.

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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Farmer has caught 19 games in his career, most of which came in 2019. Not exactly a savant behind the plate, but an option nonetheless in emergency situations.

Bowman added an update on Sean Murphy. Walt Weiss said that he is still more than a month away from returning from the broken middle finger he suffered a little over a month ago.

Walt Weiss said Sean Murphy is likely more than a month from returning. Getting Kyle Farmer reacquainted with the catching position will provide the luxury of having a third catcher in case there’s a late-inning need to hit for Joey Bart or run for Drake Baldwin.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 24, 2026

The Braves have tried out a number of catchers in the wake of injuries to Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy. Chadwick Tromp and Sandy Leon provided absolutely nothing offensively, which led to the acquisition of Joey Bart. Bart is at least competent enough to handle the backup duties over the next month or so, but the Braves could really use their catching tandem at full strength coming down the stretch.

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(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

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In 2026, Savannah’s celebration is expected to be even bigger as communities across the country mark America’s 250th anniversary, making the holiday weekend one of the most exciting times to visit the Hostess City of the South.

The centerpiece of Savannah’s Fourth of July celebration is the annual Waterfront Independence Day Celebration along River Street. Crowds gather early in the evening around Rousakis Riverfront Plaza, Plant Riverside District, and Eastern Wharf to enjoy live music, street performers, family activities, and riverfront dining before the fireworks begin. The fireworks are typically launched from a barge on the Savannah River around 9:30 p.m., creating a spectacular reflection across the water and historic skyline.

One of the best things about watching fireworks in Savannah is that there are so many different viewing experiences.

Visitors who want the full festive atmosphere usually head directly to River Street. Thousands gather along the waterfront to see the show. Here, lawn chairs and blankets are allowed. (Note: At some specific venues like The Park at Eastern Wharf, blankets must be water-permeable and tarps are not allowed). Try to get there early to secure your spot along the riverfront with a clear view across the water.

For travelers looking for a more elevated experience, rooftop venues and riverfront hotels provide incredible panoramic views. Spots near Plant Riverside District have become especially popular thanks to their modern rooftop lounges and unobstructed river views. Some visitors even reserve balcony rooms overlooking the Savannah River so they can watch the fireworks above the crowds.

Transportation tip: Take the Old Town Trolley

Old Town Trolley Tours® of Savannah will be open on the 4th of July, operating a regular schedule. Take advantage of Old Town Trolley’s hop-on and -off services to see the best attractions and enjoy all the Independence Day decorations in Savannah. They can take you to almost every 4th of July Celebration around the city, allowing you to hop on and off to enjoy the best of the best. Old Town Trolley’s WEBSITE.

CLICK HERE FOR AN OLD TOWN TROLLEY COUPON!

Another unforgettable option is taking a fireworks cruise aboard the iconic Savannah Riverboat Cruises.

These special Fourth of July cruises combine dinner, live entertainment, and front-row views of the fireworks from the water itself. Watching the bursts of red, white, and blue explode above the Savannah skyline while floating on the river creates a truly memorable holiday experience.

Because the event draws tens of thousands of people each year, planning ahead is important. Parking downtown fills quickly, and River Street closes to vehicle traffic at around 6:00-6:30 PM. Many experienced visitors choose to park near the Savannah Convention Center and take the ferry across the river to avoid some of the post-show traffic. Bringing water, comfortable shoes, and arriving well before sunset can make the evening far more enjoyable in Savannah’s summer heat.

What truly makes Savannah special on the Fourth of July is the atmosphere surrounding the fireworks. The city blends Southern hospitality, historic charm, and waterfront beauty into a celebration that feels both exciting and timeless. Whether you spend the evening on crowded River Street, relaxing on a rooftop terrace, or cruising along the river beneath the fireworks, Savannah offers one of the South’s most memorable Independence Day experiences in 2026.

Please note:

• Coolers: Generally discouraged or prohibited on River Street.
• Prohibited Items: Glass containers, personal fireworks, skateboards, and bicycles are not allowed.
• Alcohol: No outside alcohol is allowed. Drinks must be bought from vendors and consumed within the designated To-Go Cup Zone.

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