Aaron Finch, Australia's captain, believes that his team's reformed attitude in the field has been a factor in a World Cup that has been notable for the spirit between the teams.

In beating England last week on the same strip that will be used for tomorrow's showdown against New Zealand, Finch's Australians became the first team to book a place in next month's semi-finals.

And looking back on the 2015 event in Australia, when they beat the same opponents to secure the World Cup for a record fifth time, Finch admitted that the tone of that tournament on that occasion had been significantly more aggressive, "mainly from us".

But, in the wake of the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal - and the bans for three of their players including the then captain and vice-captain Steven Smith and David Warner - Australia have gone out of their way to present a new, more friendly, attitude. So far at this World Cup, a softer approach has not impacted on their hard attitude in the big moments, and Finch is happy to revel in the wider benefits.

"I think it has been a great spirit out on the field, regardless of results," Finch said. "You see a lot of smiles on people's faces, which is a good sign that the game's in really good hands at the moment, and that it is being played in the right spirit.

"I'm not sure if it's been a conscious effort from individual countries, but it certainly felt like a really, really good tournament."

Australia and New Zealand have been involved in two of the stand-out moments of sporting behaviour in the tournament so far - firstly when Virat Kohli appealed to India's fans at The Oval to stop booing Smith and Warner - an intervention that led to a mid-pitch handshake with Smith shortly afterwards - and then at Old Trafford last week, when New Zealand's players queued up to console Carlos Brathwaite, after his stunning century had come so close to sealing victory for West Indies.

"It's tough to compare different times [but] I know the last one was quite an aggressive World Cup on the field, mainly from us," Finch said. "We were quite aggressive in our approach and how we went about things.

"But it's been great. This one has been absolutely brilliant, and I think what's been really pleasing as well, [comes when] you look around the stands, regardless of who is playing.

"In the past, if the home team is not playing, there could be some really empty stands, but this has been unbelievable. They have been packed-out venues and really quality cricket, so people are definitely getting their value for money, too."

Kane Williamson, New Zealand's captain, echoed the sentiments about the crowd, and looked forward to sampling a different vibe at Lord's from the one that he has been used to on his previous visits.

"The atmospheres have varied a lot," he said. "Pakistan was very loud. Bangladesh, very loud. India, we didn't even play and they were very loud [chuckles].

"Usually you come to Lord's, there's sort of a quiet murmur when you play England, but I guess playing Australia it might be a little bit different when you have Kiwis and Australians filling out the seats. It will be a really good atmosphere, whatever it is, but I know for a fact that both teams are just looking forward to getting into the cricket."

Australia, for once, might not have anticipated going into tomorrow's contest as favourites, having struggled throughout 2018, including a 5-0 series defeat against England. But order has been restored with their comprehensive displays in the crunch moments of this event, and Finch said his side was ready once again to embrace the role of tournament front-runners.

"Oh, I think that any time you have pressure on you, it's because the expectations high, because of what you have done in the recent history," he said.

"So you can never shy away from that, and you can look at it either way. You can look at it as a burden, and only you can stuff it up, but I think at the end of the day, when you're talking about [being favourites] and things like that, you also have to appreciate the amount of work that goes in behind the scenes from the coaches and everyone to get to that position.

"Whether it's us, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, I think the expectation for everyone is all the same; that you turn up and that you can win the World Cup. So if it did happen, it would be a huge achievement for the country."

Despite their damaging defeat against Australia, England remain in the running to win their first World Cup, in spite of Jonny Bairstow's belief that his team's critics are "waiting for them to fail". And while Finch said that he hadn't seen anything quite that explicit in the media, his own team's recent brushes with the opinion columns had persuaded them to ban newspapers in the team environment.

"I haven't seen anything written [about England]," he said. "I've watched a TV, a bit of Sky News and things like that that, but in terms of papers, we don't have them around our team room.

"We have made a conscious effort of that over the tournament, and that was basically on the back of coming over here. We knew that there would be some stuff written and there would be some opinions had when we first landed in the country.

"So we just wanted to take as much white noise as we could away from our focus. It is quite hard to comment on it because I honestly haven't seen much of it.

"But it's about getting away from the game and make sure you're refreshing as much as you can," he added, joking that he had been spending a lot of time on the golf course until his wife arrived in the country, and now shopping is his primary pastime.

"Overall, it's about making sure that if there's half a day, that you take that for yourself and do everything that you can to clear your mind.

"For me, that's cafes and golf. For Usman [Khawaja], that's shopping. A few of us play golf. Steve Smith is still walking around his room with a cricket bat in his hand. It's just totally different for everyone, but just mentally refreshing every chance you get is so important."

The Brooklyn Nets have extended a qualifying offer to D'Angelo Russell, making the point guard a restricted free agent, a source confirmed to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

The widely expected move Friday allows the Nets to match any offer Russell receives from another team.

The Athletic first reported the qualifying offer. Without it, Russell would have become an unrestricted free agent Sunday.

Russell, 23, was an All-Star for the first time last season after leading the Nets to a 42-40 record and averaging 21.1 points. But his return is far from certain, with the Nets able to afford two top free agents and considered one of the favorites to land Kyrie Irving, who plays Russell's position.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Magic Johnson says he received word that Kawhi Leonard had an interest in speaking with him as the free agent prepares to meet with the Los Angeles Lakers but that he is not permitted by NBA rules to be part of official team meetings with prospective free agents.

Leonard, who is expected to speak to the Lakers in the next few days, had made a personal request that only owner Jeanie Buss and Johnson, the team's former president of basketball operations, be involved in the meeting, sources told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on Friday.

Johnson told ESPN he has not been asked by the Lakers or Buss to participate in free-agent pitches but that he will help the Lakers in free agency in any way he can.

"A friend of mine called and says Kawhi wants to meet with you," Johnson told ESPN on Friday. "I said no problem. I'm available if that's what this man wants."

Because the league has specifically told the Lakers that Johnson can't be a formal part of the free-agency process, the Lakers have made no attempt to engage Johnson formally, according to league sources.

However, there has been regular communication between Johnson and the Lakers about how he can be helpful to them informally, as he no longer works for the team and is free to have any relationships with current players.

"I got a great life. I want to stick to that great life," Johnson said. "I'm not trying to mess with anybody's job."

Johnson said he wants to help the Lakers, and specifically LeBron James, because he recruited him with the promise of building a championship-caliber team in L.A. together. Johnson stepped down as the Lakers' president of basketball operations on April 9.

"He signed knowing I was here," Johnson said of James. "That we had a plan. He knew he had a big brother in me as well. He could run things by me. He can still do that."

James also has made it clear to the Lakers that he would be enthusiastic about attending the meeting with Leonard if the organization thinks it would be helpful, sources said. Johnson said he thinks there is a mutual respect between the two players.

"Everyone forgets. [Leonard] played with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili," Johnson said. "He's played with multiple superstars. He's been one of the guys on a team like that."

Anthony Davis, whose trade to the Lakers won't be completed until the moratorium ends, can act only on his own behalf. Davis cannot act as an official representative of the Lakers in a free-agent meeting.

Johnson said he has left messages for Buss but hasn't heard back from her on the request from Leonard to meet with him.

"Whatever she wants to do I'm fine with it," Johnson said. "Everyone at this point just wants the Lakers to be good, and it's from her leadership.

"I don't know if last year or two years ago she would have made these moves. But now she is really incredibly involved, she's aggressive and making the moves she needs to make. She's stepped up big time. I'm so proud of her."

Leonard did not opt into the final year of his contract with the Toronto Raptors, making him an unrestricted free agent.

He is expected to allow the Raptors to make the final presentation among the teams meeting with him in Los Angeles next week, league sources have told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The incumbent often prefers to go last in trying to convince a player to stay with the team.

Leonard was named NBA Finals MVP after helping Toronto win the franchise's first championship in his first season with the team. He was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the San Antonio Spurs last summer.

Golden State's Kevin Durant is planning to engage four teams -- the Brooklyn Nets, LA Clippers, New York Knicks and Warriors -- in discussions upon the opening of NBA free agency on Sunday, league sources told ESPN.

There is expected to be some combination of face-to-face meetings and communications by other means with Durant and his business manager, Rich Kleiman, front-office sources told ESPN.

Durant's decision-making process could extend well into next week, league sources told ESPN.

Durant invited teams for more formal presentations as a free agent in 2016, but his and Kleiman's level of knowledge on the teams, owners, executives and roster offerings suggest a less formal face-to-face process might be necessary this time. Durant and Kleiman have been in New York since the All-NBA star's surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, and they plan to communicate with the teams from there, sources said.

Durant declined his $31.5 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent. The Warriors are planning to offer him a five-year, $221 million max contract; the Clippers, Knicks and Nets can offer him a four-year, $164 million deal.

Durant, a two-time NBA Finals MVP with the Warriors, suffered a torn Achilles in Game 5 of the NBA Finals earlier this month, and he is expected to need the 2019-20 season to fully rehabilitate the injury. Every team pursuing him is expected to still offer him a full max contract.

Let's bounce around the free-agency questions big and small as we wait on Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and the other massive dominoes.

What are the ripple effects of Boston closing in on Kemba Walker?

• Boston potentially devoting most of its cap space to Walker would mark an intriguing rebound after the year from hell. It would leave Boston with precisely zero proven frontcourt players and limited means to get them. (Boston can in theory stay over the cap and maintain its full midlevel exception -- worth about $9 million -- but the pathways there are complex.)

• The Lakers' contorting their way into nearly max-level cap space could impact any star free agent -- including Walker. If the Lakers are hellbent on using all their room on one player -- and it's debatable whether that is their best strategy if said player isn't Leonard -- they should at least glance at Walker. LeBron James needs another high-volume creator to soak up some ballhandling duty.

• Speaking of which: The league has projected the cap at $109 million, but several team executives think that could go up by about $500,000 once all the numbers are in -- a bump that would get the Lakers that much closer to legit max cap space.

• If Boston inks Walker, it will be interesting to see how Brad Stevens uses him. Walker ran about 56 pick-and-rolls per 100 possessions in Charlotte, according to Second Spectrum. Irving averaged about 36, and everyone whined about him hogging Boston's offense. How useful is Walker in a more democratic system?

Walker should thrive screaming off handoffs the way Isaiah Thomas did. Charlotte nudged him into some off-ball action, and Walker is a capable gunner popping off screens. But his height is more of a limiting factor in those actions than when he has the ball.

I liked the idea of Boston throwing a big offer sheet at Malcolm Brogdon, and handing more off-the-bounce duty to Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Gordon Hayward. It's time to see what those dudes can do. Boston could have used the leftover space -- likely around $13 million -- and the $4.8 million room exception to fill the front line.

But Walker is really good. Chasing a restricted free agent -- Brogdon -- is a high-risk, low-reward game. Boston is going to play Brown, Tatum, and Hayward together a lot, meaning one of them will function as power forward. Depending on how free agency unfolds in Boston and elsewhere, this version of the Celtics has a chance to compete for the No. 4 seed in the East.

• If Boston signs Walker, Brogdon loses a suitor. The Bucks are bracing for a monster Brogdon offer sheet. They have a walkaway number somewhere, sources say. If Brogdon's 2019-20 salary reaches $20 million or more, it becomes very hard for the Bucks to retain Brogdon, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton, and stay below the luxury tax -- even if they dump Ersan Ilyasova or use the stretch provision to waive Jon Leuer.

It's unclear where such an offer might come from, though there are a few candidates: Phoenix, Chicago, Dallas, Indiana, and perhaps a couple of others. Some of those teams are worried about Brogdon reinjuring his foot, sources say.

• Dallas appears to be focusing on mid-tier free agents -- and not big fish -- league sources say.

• Sources continue to say Indiana has eyes for Ricky Rubio. They can probably get him at a lower salary than Brogdon, over fewer seasons. Every dollar matters to the Pacers.

I don't love the fit of Rubio alongside Victor Oladipo and the Domantas Sabonis/Myles Turner pairing. The Pacers seem committed to starting Sabonis and Turner, sources say, which makes Thaddeus Young a goner.

The league at large is skeptical about the staying power of the Sabonis/Turner duo, and that skepticism grew louder when the Pacers drafted another center -- Goga Bitadze -- last week. (Sabonis is up for what would be a big extension this summer.) Teams call about Sabonis and Turner all the time; the Pacers rejected offers for Turner at the draft, sources say. Those calls will continue.

Indiana needs to maximize shooting around Oladipo, Sabonis, and Turner. Rubio is good, but he does not do that. He does fit the tough, selfless ethos the Pacers have cultivated under Nate McMillan.

• The Pacers hope to bring back Bojan Bogdanovic, sources say, and they will toggle between Sabonis/Turner lineups and smaller groups featuring T.J. Warren at power forward.

• You can see how Milwaukee might talk itself into playing hardball with Brogdon. They already have a point guard in Eric Bledsoe. They would have methods of replacing Brogdon.

But you'd better be damn sure those methods involve players good enough to compete at the highest level. There were times during the Eastern Conference finals when Brogdon was Milwaukee's second-best player. Giannis Antetokounmpo is up for a supermax extension next season. The long-term viability of the Bucks as contenders depends on Antetokounmpo signing that deal. The Bucks are title contenders; the luxury tax is generally the price of contention.

• Random Bucks note: Pending a vote of the board of governors next month, Marc Lasry will take over the role of Bucks governor -- i.e., ultimate decision-maker -- from Wes Edens, sources say. (Milwaukee's ownership agreement calls for Edens and Lasry to trade the role every five years.) No one is quite sure what impact the change might have -- if any.

• If Walker leaves, Charlotte is in for major pain -- and not the kind involving Damon Wayans. They knew a year ago that paying Walker would lock them into long-term mediocrity. If they had a limited appetite for that, why didn't they have more serious discussions about trading him? Was chasing a No. 7 or No. 8 seed -- again -- worth it?

The only bright side to Walker possibly leaving: Charlotte would not have to sacrifice draft picks to shed bad contracts and duck the luxury tax. They could comfortably re-sign Jeremy Lamb, now perhaps their (gulp) best player. (This is not a done deal, sources say.)

Keeping Lamb would not preclude a deep rebuild. Does Charlotte have the patience and acumen for that? The last attempt involved tanking for Anthony Davis; ending up with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist; blowing almost every subsequent high draft pick (save for Walker); and then microwaving the 40-plus win team they might now tear down.

That said, Malik Monk, Miles Bridges, and PJ Washington provide an interesting foundation. All of them have the potential to outperform expectations for their draft slots.

• Boston using its cap space on Walker would probably result in sighs of relief from the Orlando Magic, who need to retain Nikola Vucevic to remain competitive. Sacramento still looms as theoretical suitor for Vucevic, but he isn't an ideal fit for the turbo style the Kings adopted last season.

This is an important window of cap flexibility for Sacramento, with potential new deals for Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield (eligible for an extension this summer) kicking in before next summer's free agency. I'm not sure blowing the entire stack on a center is the right move with Barnes, Marvin Bagley, and Harry Giles all looking like key contributors over the next several seasons.

(As ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne noted Friday, the Kings have been a popular choice as the secret Al Horford team. Horford is great. The Kings committing a huge four-year deal to him feels shortsighted.)

Drafting Bagley over Luka Doncic tilted the Kings' roster toward big men. Barnes and Bagley need to play a lot at power forward and center, respectively. The team wants to see more of Bagley and Giles together. A big deal for Vucevic would clutter the frontcourt even more. Keep an eye on Dewayne Dedmon as a lower-cost placeholder. Lots of teams covet Dedmon -- enough that it should take more than the midlevel exception to get him.

• Some team should try to rescue Willie Cauley-Stein, though not at the salary range he wants.

Is Philly the most or least interesting team of the summer?

• Sixty percent of Philly's vaunted starting five is entering free agency, including two players -- Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris -- who figure to be among the most sought after once Durant and Leonard commit. Butler or Harris could end up connected with one of those players.

Timing is crucial. One hypothetical: What if Leonard has interest in Butler joining him with the Clippers, or Butler wants to wait and see if that option is available? And what if the Sixers lavish Butler with a full five-year max deal at 6:01 p.m. ET Sunday? Will Philly wait as Butler and Leonard take meetings? Players get picked off the board every hour.

Philly could have anywhere from no cap room to about $60 million. The playoffs laid bare how badly the Sixers needed Butler to run the offense in the half court. The simplest outcome is bringing him back on a max deal.

Harris is a trickier case. He was a fourth option -- and sometimes fifth. Does Harris want to sign up for that role? Should Philly really pay the max for it? It's tempting to suggest Philly try to coax Harris back on a five-year deal with an annual salary below the max -- and replace him with a cheaper option if he balks.

Once Utah used its cap space on Mike Conley, it became harder to see where Harris had a no-brainer competing max offer. Dallas has Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis close to Harris' spot on the positional spectrum. Indiana has Sabonis, Turner, and Warren. Perhaps New Orleans; the Pelicans have $30 million in room and interest in a stretch power forward.

Would New York make an exception to its "no fat long-term deals to consolation prizes" stance for Harris? Brooklyn makes for a snug fit, but only if Plans A and B fall apart. The Clippers traded Harris because they didn't view him as worthy of a max deal; are both sides willing to pretend that never happened?

But if Philly comes light and someone else does step up, replacing Harris wouldn't be that easy. The Sixers could have about $30 million in space with Butler still on the books, but that does not account for JJ Redick's cap hold. Redick is, like, kind of important.

Philly could justify paying a fourth option the max because Harris might not be a fourth option there forever. Things change fast in the NBA. It's not inevitable that Harris, Butler, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons are all on the Sixers in two, or three, or whatever seasons. (Simmons is up for an extension, and that max deal could come fast once free agency starts, sources say.) They also gave up a lot to get Harris. It would hurt to lose him, even if the Sixers understand that what they traded for Harris is gone regardless.

• The Heat could draw Butler's interest in the sign-and-trade market, sources say. (Houston, of course, has very loudly entered that market. Scoff if you want, but the last time Daryl Morey boasted of his capped-out team having something "up its sleeve," he pulled out Chris Paul.)

Houston needs a lot to line up. Philly has to cooperate, and the Sixers have little incentive to do so. Butler could force their hand by threatening to bolt to another team, but for that gambit to work, Philly has to actually care about Butler bolting to another team. What if they prefer that to taking back whatever players and picks Houston might send out? Houston has searched out third-party homes for Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, and P.J. Tucker, but why would such teams pay full freight when they know Houston has to make deals in the event they actually pull off the Butler acquisition? The Rockets have little leverage in those talks.

None of this even gets into base-year compensation, the perils of the hard cap that kicks in with any sign-and-trade, and whether dealing two or three good players for Butler actually makes Houston any better.

• As Shelburne and Windhorst noted, there have been whispers that Philly could loom as Horford's secret destination. The Sixers seem to like going extra big at every position; they do not like facing Horford in the playoffs. But they have no room for Horford unless Harris or Butler leaves.

What are the lessons of 2016?

The last time the league was awash in this much cap space, everyone went kind of nutso. Almost every four-year deal for a role player -- low-end starters and below -- ended up a disaster.

A few exceptions: Eric Gordon, E'Twaun Moore, and Dwight Powell. Do they have anything in common? Eh. They were on the younger side; long-term deals carried them through their primes. Moore and Powell came relatively cheap -- about $8 million and $10 million per season, respectively. A mistake at that level doesn't kill you.

But most four-year deals from 2016 in that range ended in regret, too. Sitting out the market isn't a real alternative. You get no talent that way. The Bulls tried that until they got antsy and splurged on Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. (Whoops.)

But those were short deals, and perhaps that is the cautionary lesson of 2016: short and big is better than long and slightly less big.

The downside of short deals is that teams don't get full Bird rights on players coming off one- and two-year contracts. (Bird rights allow teams to go over the cap in re-signing their own players.) They get a more limited version, allowing only for small raises. With good players coming off low salaries, that raise is not enough and those limited Bird rights are useless; teams lose such players for nothing, or need cap room to re-sign them. (This is why Milwaukee is opening room now for Lopez.)

But if the player's previous salary is high enough, the limited version of Bird rights works.

Speaking of which ...

What is Plan B for the Knicks and Clippers?

It is really hard to cycle through short-term deals to maintain cap space and build a team good enough that your cap space draws superstars. Stars want to see something sustainable. That is the main source of Brooklyn's appeal right now.

You need your young players to be good. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander checks that box. Landry Shamet looks solid. Montrezl Harrell is just 25. I'm not as high on Ivica Zubac (a restricted free agent) as some, but he should be helpful. Jerome Robinson and the guys L.A. drafted last week are unknowns.

That core is ... interesting? The Clippers have some valuable future first-round picks, but superstars don't really care about those things. If this summer's cap space doesn't net Leonard, it would be helpful to turn it into someone else who might matter to free agents in 2020 and 2021. Is there another Lou Williams or Joe Harris out there?

(That 2021 class could include Leonard again. Leonard at that point will have completed his 10th season, meaning that if he pops back into free agency in 2021, he would be eligible for the largest possible maximum contract. A one-plus-one or two-plus-one deal this summer in Toronto -- or elsewhere -- would put that timing in play, though a two-plus-one deal with the Raptors would keep Leonard in Toronto one season beyond the current contracts for Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka.)

The league is collectively down on New York's main second- and third-year players: Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr., and Kevin Knox. (As I've said often on the Lowe Post, the league got too far down, too fast, on Smith -- even if I see all the warts. I'm interested to see how he develops. Knox has a very important sophomore year coming up.)

Allonzo Trier and Damyean Dotson are worth monitoring. That leaves RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson. In a year, that duo could look like a killer combination. It could also look very raw.

The Knicks would like to put together a representative team next season. What is the point of doing that with mercenaries on one-year deals? It doesn't help lure the next class of free agents. Tanking again would be better.

The rumored one-year mega-deal for DeMarcus Cousins would give New York the ammo to re-sign Cousins if he rediscovers peak form. The Knicks should at least think about D'Angelo Russell. He's just 23! Next year's free-agency class stinks. What are the Knicks saving their space for?

Beyond Russell, there might be decent mid-tier deals out there if they hunt the right players.

Who falls through the cracks?

There is a ton of cap room, but there is also a crazy number of free agents and not a whole lot that differentiates some of them. We are going to take stock on July 10 and say, Wait, wait: Why did Player X get $15 million when Player Y got only half of the taxpayer midlevel exception -- less than $3 million? Why did that guy get the minimum while that other guy got $4 million?

There are tiers. Stretchy power forwards are in short supply; Nikola Mirotic and Marcus Morris are going to get paid. (Morris is my favorite candidate for a "What the Hell Happened?" contract.) A few wing shooters stand above the rest, and will probably require cap room and salaries north of $10 or $12 million (and in some cases, well north of it): Terrence Ross, Redick, Lamb, Beverley, Bogdanovic, maybe Danny Green.

Beyond that? It's wild. What is the market for, say, Wesley Matthews? Garrett Temple? Avery Bradley? DeMarre Carroll? There is very little Carroll buzz. Would you rather have him for one of the baby midlevel exceptions -- $4.8 million for room teams, $5.5 million for tax teams -- or Morris at $15 million? If Utah could somehow snag Carroll as Jae Crowder's replacement for $4.8 million, they could hang onto Derrick Favors instead of waiving him to open cap space for a pricier stretch power forward.

(Utah and Favors -- whose $17.6 million deal for next season is non-guaranteed until July 6 -- have entered into a very delicate dance. Teams are waiting to see if Utah waives Favors. A team with room -- maybe Sacramento -- could claim him off waivers and land a good center on a nice one-year deal.)

Who wants Trey Lyles? Remember him? What about Rondae Hollis-Jefferson? Teams who wait out the initial frenzy are going to find lots of interesting buy-low candidates. Executives and agents expect a lot of players will end up splitting the various midlevel exceptions.

There is no science to this. If one team lusts for a particular fringe guy, they might go for him early with a deal in the $8 million range. Some team might love Noah Vonleh's upside and splurge. That shoves three or four other guys into the "sharing the midlevel" tier. There is a lot of Maxi Kleber buzz. There is minor Alex Caruso buzz. There are murmurs of a Luke Kornet market above the minimum. As always, there is zero Ed Davis buzz.

Go early, and a smart bet in the $8-10 million range on a young player could net a value long-term contract. For those who don't covet anyone specific, waiting will probably have its rewards.

Who else can level up in the West?

• The Lakers are in star accumulation mode. Utah made its big move with Mike Conley. The Clippers want Leonard. Who's next?

The Blazers are the obvious candidate. They have two star guards in their primes. They own all their future first-round picks and have quietly assembled tradable young talent: Zach Collins, Anfernee Simons, and Nassir Little. They are one player away from being really good.

Could that player be Kevin Love? The Cavs have shown limited interest so far in serious Love discussions, sources say, but a divorce seems inevitable. After all, they extended Love in part to goose his trade value. Love is healthy. He's really good. His contract is not some uber-toxic albatross; it starts at $28.9 million this season, rises to $31 million over the next two, and then declines back to $28.9 million in 2022-23. Who knows how high the salary cap might be then?

The Cavs won't get great return for Love, but if they play their hand right, they should not have to attach an asset to move him. They might even get one.

You can build two- and three-team deals involving Maurice Harkless, Meyers Leonard, one of those three young guys, and/or a protected first-round pick. Portland may prefer to hang onto all three of Collins, Simons, and Little -- and deal multiple picks instead. Collins is their starting center right now. They love Simons.

Some suitors wonder whether Love is more center than power forward now. For a team counting on Jusuf Nurkic's return next season, the answer matters.

For a team with Rudy Gobert barricading the back line, it might be a little less pressing. (Utah could in theory flip Favors, some additional salary, and a draft asset for Love, but their interest in taking on another big contract and sloughing away picks is probably limited after the Conley deal.)

• What about Denver? They will improve with experience. They are a borderline lock to bring back Paul Millsap -- either on a longer deal at a lower annual salary, or failing that, by picking up his $30 million option for next season -- so they won't have any cap space. But if Bradley Beal ever became available, they could put together some interesting packages centered around Gary Harris, Michael Porter Jr. and a draft asset. Acquiring Beal without giving up Jamal Murray would be a monster move.

• The Spurs seem like a team that should do something, but DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge are not exactly brimming with trade value. San Antonio will be rightfully cautious trading any of their good young players with superior Western Conference teams loading up around them.

What are the Timberwolves up to?

Minnesota is up to something. Gersson Rosas, the Wolves' new president of basketball operations, is almost starting from scratch constructing a roster around Karl-Anthony Towns. (Towns is already meeting with free agents, JJ Redick told me this week on his podcast.) And, yes, the clock is ticking even though Towns' mega-extension kicks in just next season. That's the hard reality with stars in the NBA. Sorry.

Minnesota has sniffed around Russell, though the Nets have no interest in Jeff Teague on the other end of any sign-and-trade, sources say.

Can they sucker someone into taking Andrew Wiggins? One rival executive predicted to me this week that not only will Minnesota succeed at dealing Wiggins at some point, but that they will get at least net-neutral value for him. That would be a coup. Would the hopeless post-Walker Hornets deal Nicolas Batum for Wiggins? Would they include a second-round pick?

Batum's deal is two years shorter than Wiggins'. That alone has value for Minnesota. The Hornets could sell Wiggins -- and not unreasonably -- as a bouncy 24-year-old former No. 1 pick who might approach his potential in a new environment. They have to sell something.

What about Phoenix flipping Tyler Johnson -- on an expiring one-year deal -- and some flotsam for Wiggins? That would seem dumb. Phoenix already has young centerpiece players to sell hope. Wiggins would cripple their cap sheet going forward. Still: Never underestimate the Suns.

Answers are coming starting on Sunday.

Wade Davis' time as Rockies closer could be nearing its end.

Colorado manager Bud Black said Friday that the team is evaluating potential changes in its bullpen as the veteran Davis continues to struggle at the back end.

The right-hander's latest hiccup came Thursday when he allowed four runs in the ninth inning, taking the loss against the Dodgers. Overall, Davis is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.83 WHIP, with 11 saves and two blown saves.

"We are contemplating a few things," Black told reporters Friday.

Davis signed a three-year, $52 million deal with Colorado prior to the 2018 season. He saved an NL-best 43 games last season, but has struggled with his control in 2019, walking 16 batters in 24 innings.

"The walk rate, for me, is concerning," Black said. "Wade and I have talked about this, and we will continue to talk about it."

Right-hander Scott Oberg would be a leading candidate to replace Davis if the Rockies do move him out of the closer role.

Also Friday, Black said shortstop Trevor Story (right thumb sprain) will begin a rehab stint this weekend for Triple-A Albuquerque and could join the major league team as early as Tuesday.

New York Mets rookie Pete Alonso, whose 28 home runs rank second in the majors, said he has accepted an invitation to take part in the Home Run Derby on July 8 in Cleveland.

Alonso told reporters on Friday that he is hoping to have a good time in the event televised on ESPN -- and he's going to try to win it.

Alonso said his cousin Derek Morgan will pitch to him in the All-Star competition.

"I just want to go out there and have fun and represent the Mets in a great way," Alonso said.

He said he thinks he can win it if he keeps everything simple.

"I just need to say, 'It's my cuzzo throwing me BP, it's gonna be awesome,'" the first baseman said.

Alonso, 24, is hitting .279 with 18 doubles and 62 RBIs, and he already has set the franchise record for home runs by a rookie.

He homered in the fourth inning of the Mets' home game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night, a solo shot off Mike Soroka.

Alonso will have extra incentive to win the Home Run Derby. The victor will get a $1 million prize this year. Alonso is making $555,000 in salary.

CINCINNATI -- The Chicago Cubs watched their best pitcher in June walk off the mound after throwing a warm-up pitch before the bottom of the second inning on Friday, as veteran Cole Hamels left the game with an injury to his "left side," according to the team.

Hamels, 35, was still under evaluation.

The left-hander gave up a first-inning run on a walk and two hits to the Cincinnati Reds but couldn't start the second, as he indicated to manager Joe Maddon he was done, and then continued into the Cubs' dugout.

Hamels is a candidate to make the All-Star team, as well as for pitcher of the month, as his June ERA was 1.00 going into the game. Overall, he was 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA.

Hamels had been pitching through some back issues in recent weeks, a source told ESPN, but it's unclear if that's related to him leaving Friday's game.

Lefty Mike Montgomery took over for Hamels and was promptly greeted with a first-pitch home run by Phillip Ervin.

While the Yankees and Red Sox will face off in jolly old England, the high-flying Braves meet the miserable Mets. Here's what else we'll have our eyes on this weekend.

The Braves, who meet the Mets this weekend (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN), are threatening to run away with the National League East. Is Atlanta's long-term future as bright as any team's in baseball?

Eddie Matz: Well, if you include their young studs who have unexpectedly cracked the bigs already (guys such as Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Austin Riley), then the Braves have 107 of the top 100 prospects in baseball. But the Padres have a loaded farm system too. Ditto for the Rays and Astros. But the Astros are already really good and, with A-listers such as Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman locked up for a long time (not to mention general manager Jeff Luhnow), they should stay that way. All things being equal, when it comes to forecasting long-term success among several well-stocked franchises, I'll take the one with the head start. That'd be Houston.

Sam Miller: I think we tend to overthink this a little. The Braves are a good team, a very young team, a team with some contracts that are so team-friendly they'll make you shake your head, and they have a very good outlook. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are probably going to win 15 more games than they do this year, and for the next decade they're probably going to outspend the Braves by $50 million to $100 million per year. L.A. has won six consecutive division titles, and if anything, the trend line has been going up. So what do we mean by long term? If you had to predict which team will win more games this year, next year, over the next five years, it'd have to be the Dodgers. And beyond that, the Dodgers' financial edge is probably the most important thing we know. The Braves should feel pretty good, too.

David Schoenfield: It's possible the Braves will have the best record in baseball over the next five seasons, but they wouldn't be my first choice. Consider things we know: (1) They don't really have a proven No. 1 or even No. 2 starter yet. Maybe Soroka will be that guy, but a lot can go wrong over five years (just ask Mike Foltynewicz); (2) I have no doubt that Ronald Acuna Jr. will be an annual MVP candidate, but let's wait before we anoint these other young guys big stars (Ozzie Albies has a 105 OPS+ this season, Riley has 55 strikeouts and eight walks and Fried has leveled off after his hot start); (3) They are unlikely to ever spend in the same ballpark as the Dodgers or Yankees. The future is obviously bright, but I'd still bank on the Dodgers.

The Red Sox enter a two-game series against the first-place Yankees having lost four games in which they've led in the eighth inning or later. If they don't acquire a legit high-leverage reliever in the next couple of weeks, will they miss the playoffs?

Matz: The Yankees and Rays aren't going away anytime soon, and the Indians are starting to do their usual "Oh, it's past Memorial Day, guess it's time start for us to start, ya know, winning" thing. All of which is to say, regardless of what the Red Sox do with the back end of their bullpen, there's a good chance they miss the playoffs. Of course, if Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez decide to give their team an extended shoulder ride, like they did pretty much all of last season, then all bets (except for Mookie Betts) are off.

Miller: Maybe, and so they should probably go get that guy, but ... last year's Red Sox had the eighth-best bullpen ERA in baseball; this year they have the seventh-best. Craig Kimbrel is very famous, and might make the Hall of Fame, but let's not convince ourselves that "future Hall of Fame closer" was the reason the Red Sox won 108 games and the World Series last year. He had a lesser Kimbrel season, and a super shaky postseason, and the Red Sox overcame all of that easily because they were incredible up and down the roster. Most of that roster is still here. More crucial than replacing Kimbrel in the Famous Closer role -- which, hey, every team would benefit from adding a great high-leverage reliever, no doubt about it -- is getting the rest of that roster back to incredible.

Schoenfield: The Red Sox were 97-1 when leading after eight innings last season and 90-4 when leading after seven. This year, they're 33-4 and 35-7, respectively, in those situations, so while the overall ERA looks solid, they haven't been as clutch. They've also received tremendous work this year from Marcus Walden and Brandon Workman (combined 13-1), and that's not guaranteed to continue. So the late-inning guys could be more reliable, but the middle guys might regress. I think they need a closer, although he doesn't have to be a Famous Closer (and don't forget to include the Rangers in that playoff picture!).

Max Scherzer is closing out what has been an amazing June this weekend against the Tigers. How awesome is this guy?

Matz: To paraphrase the cheerleaders from my high school basketball team, "A-W-E ... S-O-M-E ... awe-some, awe-some, awe-some are, um, Max Scherzer." My favorite Mad Max anecdote -- and this is really all you need to know about him -- is this: When David Price got traded to the Tigers in 2014, he met the team at Yankee Stadium. His old pal Scherzer, whom he knew from their time playing together as amateurs on Team USA, was throwing a bullpen session, so Price decided to pay a visit. But in order to gain access to the bullpen and watch Scherzer throw, Price first had to sign a waiver. And it wasn't a joke. If you want to watch Mad Max during one of his famously intense bullpen sessions, you must first sign a waiver. No matter who you are. Scherzer's orders.

Miller: From ages 30 to 34 -- Scherzer signed with the Nationals just before his age-30 season -- only nine pitchers in history have ever produced more WAR than he has. But, of course, it's only June 28 in his age-34 season; Scherzer has a whole half-season to keep climbing. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, he'll pass Roy Halladay and Kevin Brown on that list; by the end of July, he should pass Bill Hutchinson (a 19th-century guy) and Carl Hubbell. If his second half is typical Scherzer, he'll pass Gaylord Perry and Lefty Grove and finish the season fourth all time, behind Bob Gibson, Joe McGinnity -- who played in an era when starting pitchers threw 400 innings a year -- and Cy Young. Cy Young! We had to go back to before the first World Series to find more than one pitcher who was as good, from 30 to 34, as Max Scherzer. That's how awesome.

Schoenfield: What they said. I'll throw this out as well: He's headed for his 11th straight season with 30-plus starts (every full season of his career), seventh straight with 200 innings and fifth straight with a sub-3.00 ERA. He's dominant and reliable in a time when few pitchers go 200 innings in a season, let alone season after season after season. Forget Nic Cage, this guy is the true National treasure.

Speaking of awesome, what are you gents most looking forward to seeing this weekend?

Matz: Watching Franmil Reyes do anything. I had the pleasure of seeing him up close (and chatting with him) this week at Camden Yards, and I'm convinced that he has the potential to be the next Big Papi. From his size (6-foot-5, 275) to his megawatt personality to his ability to pulverize baseballs, it's kind of impossible to take your eyes off him. I'm not the only one who's buying shares of Franmil Inc. -- according to reports, Scott Boras just became the big fella's agent.

Miller: All three American League divisions are led by at least 4½ games. I really like great teams winning 104 games, but what I love is a nice, crazy pennant race, so my hopes and dreams right now rely on the Texas Rangers keeping the wild card juicy. They visit the wild-card-leading Rays this weekend. Joey Gallo's back healthy. Nomar Mazara's on a tear. Unlikely AL WAR leader Lance Lynn is on the bump. I do not actually believe in the Rangers, but I will not turn away from them.

Schoenfield: Not to pick on the Mets when things are going bad, but can this week's dumpster fire turn into a full-scale four-alarm blaze? After they blew five games in a row in which they led by at least two runs at some point -- including Thursday's Edwin Diaz implosion -- manager Mickey Callaway's job is clearly on the line. The Braves come to Citi Field, and you can imagine how vociferous the boos are going to be. Not to be overly dramatic here, but the Mets' season might be on the line. (OK, that's a little overly dramatic, but this is NYC, baby. Put this team on Broadway and it would be a tragedy.)

PICK 'EM TIME

Mariners hitters have struck out more than 800 times this season, and Astros pitchers have more than 800 K's. Strikeouts for Houston pitchers this weekend: Over or under 36?

Matz: In the seven games they've played against Houston this year, the Mariners are averaging 11.6 whiffs. That works out to 35 punchouts over a three-game series. Also, Seattle has been putting bat on ball more frequently of late: The team's 23.6% K rate in June is its lowest of any month this year, and ranked in the middle of the MLB pack. I'll take the under.

Miller: Gerrit Cole has the second-highest K/9 rate in history right now. Justin Verlander has averaged just under 10 K's per start this month. Those two have the Saturday and Sunday games. The Astros could start a tee on Friday night and they might still reach 36.

Schoenfield: I love when I'm the tiebreaker. Remember the 1986 Mariners? Of course you don't. Why would you? That was the team against whom Roger Clemens struck out 20 batters to set the record (since matched, including by Clemens himself). Anyway, when Clemens faced the Mariners in late April, they were in a tremendous strikeout slump. They had fanned 18 times against the A's, 16 times against the A's again (both games, by the way, started by a young Jose Rijo), 11 times against the A's and 12 times against the A's in the game before facing Clemens. In the game after Clemens, they fanned 16 times and two games later fanned 13 times. The Mariners fanned 1,148 times that season -- 7.1 times per game. That's nothing in 2019 terms, but the AL average was 5.8 per game. I don't have a point here. I just wanted to write about the '86 Mariners. I'll take the over.

The Rangers and Rays, wild-card contenders in the AL, meet for three games in the Trop. Who's your pick to win the series?

Matz: Technically, the Rangers are the hotter team, as they're 7-3 over their past 10 games (Tampa Bay is 3-7). But the Rays' past 10 were all on the road, and included three in the Bronx (where they can't win) and three against the juggernaut that is the Twins. Back at home, they should do better, particularly against a Texas squad that struggles away from Arlington. Rays win! Rays win! Rays win!

Miller: Well, see, now, Joey Gallo's back healthy. Nomar Mazara's on a tear. Unlikely AL WAR leader Lance Lynn is on the bump. And my pick is definitely the Rays. They've had the best pitching staff in baseball this year, and (once you adjust for ballpark) a better offense than the Rangers. And they're at home.

Schoenfield: The Rays' pen is going to be on fumes after Thursday's 18-inning game. Plus, Joey Gallo's back healthy, Nomar Mazara is on a tear and unlikely AL WAR leader Lance Lynn is on the bump. Rangers take two of three.

With the Yankees and Red Sox playing two games in London (Sunday, 10 a.m. ET, ESPN), which English word or phrase -- as in England English, not American English -- will be most overused by the games' various announcers this weekend?

Matz: I'm pretty good at foreign languages, but I'm basically illiterate when it comes to England English, owing mostly to the fact that I've never been to England. Don't really have any interest in going, either. Not when there are so many fascinating places that (A) have better food, (B) have better weather and (C) speak languages that are actually different from English. Having said all that, I'll go with the one word I remember from when I was in college and worked as a summer camp counselor with a bunch of Brits: "knackered."

Miller: Totally in character for each franchise, the Yankees and the Red Sox have very good offenses this year. So put me down for "chockablock," as in, "the basebags are chockablock with runners." (They do call them "basebags" in England, right?)

Schoenfield: Oh, Eddie, trafficking in 1990s food stereotypes. The food over there is vastly improved from a generation ago. (Granted, most of it isn't English in nature.) Speaking of food and baseball, the clear answer to this question is: "bangers and mash."

TWO TRUE OUTCOMES

Each week, we ask our panelists to choose one hitter they think will hit the most home runs and one pitcher they think will record the most strikeouts in the coming weekend. Panelists can pick a player only once for the season. We'll keep a running tally -- and invite you to play along at home.

Home run hitters

Matz: Pete Alonso

Miller: Joc Pederson

Schoenfield: Luke Voit

Strikeout pitchers

Matz: Justin Verlander

Miller: Robbie Ray

Schoenfield: Max Scherzer