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1. Minnesota Timberwolves- Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Kentucky

All signs point to the young and emerging T-Wolves going with Kentucky’s athletic monster. Towns’ versatility and ability to play the four spot is the best fit for Minnesota. The Timberwolves already have Nikola Pekovic and Gorgui Dieng crowded at center with Anthony Bennett as the only pure power forward (assuming Kevin Garnett retires). Towns is destined to be a star in this league; with an incredible hodgepodge skillet of size, athleticism, ball-handling and jump shooting ability.

2. Los Angeles Lakers- D’Angelo Russell, G, Ohio State

The Lakers could go in many different directions with this pick, with no real possibility of bad pick as this team is in need of so much. Number one priority though is scoring, and Russell is the best scorer among the pool of top tier players. An incredible three point shooter, as well as an exceptional ball handler, poises Russell to one day emerge as the NBA’s next star at the guard position. Russell, in my eyes, is best at the two, but showed at Ohio State that he could play point guard as well. After Kobe Bryant’s final season, Russell and Jordan Clarkson should make for an exceptional backcourt.

3. Philadelphia 76ers- Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, China

Emmanuel Mudiay will be the NBA’s next great point guard no matter which team drafts him. He has exceptional size for the position as well as play on the court that resembles former number one pick John Wall. The recent news of Joel Embiid possibly missing next season led to some believing Philadelphia would select Jahlil Okafor or Kristaps Porzingis to replace the size. Mudiay is a game changer though, and a soon-to-be elite point guard running the 76ers’ offense could be what takes Philadelphia back to the playoffs in a few years.

4. New York Knicks- Jahlil Okafor, C ,Duke

This pick for the Knicks isn’t a concern of what position to pick rather than who’s the best player left to choose from. In this case it’s Duke’s Jahlil Okafor. A game changer offensively, Okafor is for sure to be the league’s next great center. Players like Okafor are hard to come by. Okafor is a truly gifted scorer in the paint and has almost unstoppable size at over 270 pounds. His defense is a work in progress and in this case he’s going to a team that could use help defensively. In the end this is a pick that would work beautifully for both sides.

5. Orlando Magic- Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia

The Magic have an extremely talented roster that includes young stars in the making at every position, except power forward. This is where the foreign big man will fit in almost perfectly. Porzingis is a pure stretch four that has incredible three point shooting ability. Private team workouts have sky rocketed his stock, as he has truly wowed NBA scouts as a potential star in this league. Putting Kristaps at the four may be what shoots Orlando to the playoffs next season; competing what would be a terrifyingly loaded starting lineup.

6. Sacramento Kings- Willie Cauley-Stein, PF/C, Kentucky

If your superstar player really wants a certain player on his team, you do whatever it takes in order to get that player. All-Star center Demarcus Cousins said in a report that he wants fellow Kentucky Wildcat Willie Cauley-Stein on his team. Kentucky fans drool over that possibility, and most experts look at it and say “why not?”. Cauley-Stein is an incredibly gifted defensive presence and an athletic masterpiece. Bulk up more, throw him next to Boogie Cousins and you’ve got yourself a truly terrifying front court.

7. Denver Nuggets- Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Croatia

Hezonja would be a solid fit for the Nuggets who could use some scoring ability. Throw Mario at the two or three spot and he’ll give you reliable outside scoring and floor spacing. Denver is still in the process of a tough rebuild, and Hezonja would be a good piece to the puzzle in the mile high city.

8. Detroit Pistons- Justise Winslow, SF, Duke

You’d figure the Pistons should be in the playoffs by now, with all this talent stored in the motor city. Something always seems to mess up the process for the Pistons though, the latest being the mistake of signing Josh Smith. Now Smith is in Houston, and the Pistons need a small forward. If Justise falls into place, the Pistons should be very content. A defensive specialist with signs of good scoring ability make Winslow, perhaps, the best three in this draft class. Winslow could potentially become a 20-10 rebound guy if he is handled correctly.

9. Charlotte Hornets- Devin Booker, SG, Kentucky

The Hornets were among the worst outside shooting teams in the NBA last season; a big reason why they struggled. Lance Stephenson just never fit, and he is now on to the Los Angeles Clippers. Gerald Henderson will exercise his player-option for the summer; needless to say Charlotte needs a two-guard. Booker falls right into place with what Charlotte needs, which is hot and pure three point shooting. Booker is as close to a pure prototype shooting guard as there is coming out of college, and can bring much needed scoring ability to the Carolinas.

10. Miami Heat- Stanley Johnson, SF, Arizona

This is the best possible fit for Miami at pick number 10. Stanley Johnson is a kid with a ton of upside and great potential in a Miami uniform. Luol Deng never got it going last year, opening the need for an athletic wing player. That is what Stanley Johnson is, a wing player equipped with great defensive ability and raw scoring ability. Certain players are just great fits with certain teams, Stanley is a great fit with the Miami Heat.

11. Indiana Pacers- Myles Turner, C, Texas

Roy Hibbert is more than likely done in Indiana, with the hopes of moving to a faster and more athletic lineup next season. Turner would fit in nicely with what the Pacers are trying to do. While weighing only 240 lbs, Myles still brings stretch scoring and athleticism to front court that Hibbert could not. This would be the smart pick for Indiana if he is available.

12. Utah Jazz- RJ Hunter, SG, Georgia State

Hunter is one of those guys whose NBA career will depend on if his coaching staff will use him correctly. The Jazz have a solid core of young talent, with a need of outside scoring. Their current two-guard, Alec Burks is more of a defender and slasher than anything else. RJ Hunter could be a valuable role player or even starter if his skillful scoring ability can be utilized to its full potential. Hunter is one of the best three point shooter in this class, and can be a difference maker for an emerging Utah team.

13. Phoenix Suns- Kelly Ourbre, SF, Kansas

Whether it was Gerald Green, PJ Tucker, TJ Warren or whoever was thrown there, small forward was an issue for the Suns last season. Kelly Oubre would be a great fit for the Suns; a nearly perfect wing player with solid athleticism and the perfect size to make him a potential star. Jeff Hornacek can throw Oubre into the starting lineup right away, and from then on could be the long term answer for the small forward position in the desert.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder- Frank Kaminsky, PF, Wisconsin

The Thunder appear to be right back in the mix of things with Kevin Durant coming back alongside MVP candidate Russell Westbrook. As a solid team with talent stacked all around, all that’s really needed is bench depth for the Thunder. Kaminsky is a good pick for any team looking to add bench scoring. Kaminsky brings great scoring ability and obvious athleticism for a guy who’s around seven feet tall; a big reason why he was the national player of the year. He makes for a great sixth man and a complimentary scorer for a team already loaded with scoring talent.

15. Atlanta Hawks- Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin

It’s likely that Demarre Carroll will not return to the Hawks as he pursues a bigger role elsewhere. That opens up the need for a small forward, which puts the likes of Sam Dekker into the Hawks’ hands. Dekker made great strides last season and put himself on the map as a prospect with his crazy athleticism and consistent three point shooting. Dekker knows how to play without the ball, which would fit well with Atlanta’s ball-movement based offense.

16. Boston Celtics- Trey Lyles, PF, Kentucky

The one thing that the surprisingly up-and-coming Celtics lacked was size in the front court. Brandon Bass is not a quality starting four at his age, which begs the need to bring in yet more young talent. Lyles is an absolute steal this far into the draft, considering he has talent level that has drawn comparisons to Grant Hill. One of the most well-rounded athletic 6’10” players you’ll ever get outside of the lottery; Lyles has an incredible skill set that includes smooth jump shooting and above the rim finishing.

17. Milwaukee Bucks- Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas

Bobby Portis was the SEC Player of the Year over the likes of Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns for a reason. Portis is one of the best bigs that will be available post-lottery when it comes to the fundamentals of basketball. Strong work ethic and floor spacing help Portis be the great prospect that he is. He’d fit right in to Brew-town, who’s in desperate need of a power forward. Their next best option is Johnny O’Bryant.

18. Houston Rockets- Cameron-Artis Payne, PG, Murray State

If you go to school somewhere like Murray State, you’ll likely not get recognized for most of your career. However, Cameron Payne can flat out ball. He makes his teammates better, he takes care of the ball, and he can flat out score. Patrick Beverly is a restricted free agent, and whether he stays or goes the Rockets need help at point. That was shown after Beverly went down with injury. Cameron Payne could be a long term starting piece for the Rockets as they inch closer to an NBA championship.

19. Washington Wizards- Kevon Looney, PF, UCLA

Looney is an intriguing prospect; an insanely strong and athletic kid that can not only finish at the rim with authority, but can also stretch the floor with good perimeter shooting. It certainly seems like Nene is starting to go on the decline of his career, and seems willing to maybe come off the bench if Washington can fill in a younger and more athletic power forward.

20. Toronto Raptors- Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville

Toronto will likely need a good sized four man with Amir Johnson heading to free agency. Harrell seems to be a good fit for the Raptors, who brings NBA size combined with good athleticism to whichever team drafts him. Harrell will likely make an instant impact once he gets to the association; Toronto’s hoping they can get their hands on him.

21. Dallas Mavericks- Delon Wright, PG/SG, Utah

With the Rajon Rondo trade being a complete disaster, the Mavs need a new point guard to take over this dynamic offense. You could go Tyus Jones or Jerian Grant here, but the best fit is Delon Wright. Wright is not a ball dominant point guard, which is key when it comes to playing next to Monta Ellis. Wright and Ellis in a backcourt together would be able to play off of each other very easily and very effectively when given the opportunity to do so.

22. Chicago Bulls- Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia

The Bulls always have plenty of depth, but Mike Dunleavy is not getting any younger, and it’s about time for Chicago to get a young stud at that three spot. The stud could be Justin Anderson, a guy who shot 45% from three and led an absolutely stout Virginia defense which fits what Chicago needs to finally take the next step to being a finals team.

23. Portland Trail Blazers- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona

The Trail Blazers are in need of wing production. While Wes Matthews is coming off of injury, Nicholas Batum has not proved his worth within the last two seasons. Hollis Jefferson could be could player to plug into that spot, has he potentially brings better defense and rim-attack than any of Portland’s other options.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers- Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV

Rashad Vaughn has really come on as a prospect since team workouts began, showing great scoring ability whether it’s inside or from deep. Iman Shumpert is a restricted free agent and J.R. Smith has a player option this summer, so an extra two guard could be a big need for the Cavaliers.

25. Memphis Grizzlies- Chris McCullough, PF, Syracuse

The Grizzlies hope that Justin Anderson drops here in the actual draft, but in my world he doesn’t. In my world the Grizzlies draft Chris McCullough out of Cuse. McCullough is a very mature kid that has good passing ability for his size and also adds some range with his jump shot. Zachary Randolph may be heading into the lower part of his career, bringing the need of a young power forward to go ahead and develop.

26. San Antonio Spurs- Jarell Martin, PF, LSU

Nobody has any idea how much longer Tim Duncan’s gonna play for. It could be another few years before Duncan hangs it up. Just in case he decides to go early though, the Spurs need to go ahead and find a young power forward to potentially replace him. LSU’s Jarell Martin could be that guy. Martin is an absolute workhorse, rebounds the ball well and plays good defense. You’ll rarely see this guy take any plays off.

27. Los Angeles Lakers- Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky

Pairing Dakari Johnson with his former college teammate Julius Randle could be a pretty good idea. Johnson brings good size at seven feet, 260 lbs and is among the most NBA-ready centers left when it comes to being not only a low post presence but running the court as well. Lakers still need size and Johnson could be that guy that can give them it, all he needs is that aggression and confidence and he’ll be just fine.

28. Boston Celtics- Aaron White, SF, Iowa

Outside of Evan Turner, the Celtics don’t really have a true small forward. Aaron White is a really undervalued guy that has enough of a work ethic to really make himself into a quality player in the NBA. White is a solid three point shooter, rebounder and above the rim finisher. He showed great leadership skills leading a short handed Iowa team to the NCAA tournament. Personally I think this pick will probably be traded away, but if the Celtics keep it, go for White.

29. Brooklyn Nets- Tyus Jones, PG, Duke

Tyus Jones drops considerably here compared to other mocks. The lingering question is, does Jones have the size to be effective at the NBA level? Brooklyn is a team that could bring him in and make it work though. Jones has great game. If there were a high level NBA point guard to compare Jones to, I’d say Deron Williams. Williams could finish out his days with the Nets by developing Jones, then letting the young stud take over after. There is something about Jones that separates him from the likes of Austin Rivers or any of the high level guards to recently come out of Duke, besides Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving.

30. Golden State Warriors- Christian Wood, PF, UNLV

Wood lacks strength and size for the position, but the Warriors always have a way to make players like that work out. With David Lee and Andrew Bogut likely to be traded, the Warriors will need to add some size to bench to replace what they’re about to lose. Wood adds even more athleticism to a Warriors bench that will be loaded with the same guys that just won a championship. Wood could be a great fit for Golden State.

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Leading the way for the Red Sox was Brock Holt. Holt hit for the cycle and went 4-for-5 with two RBI. 

Also helping the Red Sox in their win was outfielder Mookie Betts. Betts and Holt went a combined 7-for-9 with three RBI and four runs scored.

Holt has been productive in his limited playing time all season, as he has hit .309 in his 152 at bats. The home run for Holt was only his second on the season, as he is a contact hitter that can draw walks (as shown by his .400 OBP).

This game for the Red Sox could be a turning point for them and spark a winning streak. The Red Sox are currently 8.5 games back of the AL East’s first place Tampa Bay Rays and are 28-38 on the season.

The Red Sox have to be encouraged by the performance put in by Holt and must hope that he can lead the Red Sox up the rankings in the AL East.

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(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

The Buccaneers selected Florida State quarterback, Jameis Winston, with the first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. However, many reports have suggested that he hasn’t secured the starting job in Tampa quite yet. Backup Mike Glennon has been giving the first overall pick a run for his money in Buccaneers mini camps.

Winston was drafted with the full intentions of not only being the starter, but possibly the face of the franchise. The team has been juggling quarterback over the past couple of years, including Mike Glennon, Josh Freeman, and Josh McCown. Glennon has had the most success. and is Winston’s biggest threat.

Glennon only played in six games last season, but threw for 1,417 yards, and held a passer rating of 83.3. He proved to be a decent quarterback, but the Buccaneers knew they needed more, as they drafted Winston.

After drafting Winston, Glennon’s name surfaced in many trade rumors, as many speculate the Bears, Giants, and Browns may have interest in the 25 year old. Although as of now the Buccaneers believe they will hang on to Glennon for now, if Winston excels, Glennon may be on the move.

Jameis released this statement, when asked when he would like to take over the starting job :

 “As soon as I earn it,” He said. “With this camp being the last week (before the team reports for training camp), I feel like I’ve had great practices day in and day out and I’m just enjoying it. I haven’t earned it until I get it.”

Winston was terrific at Florida State, and many believe his dominance on the college level will carry over to the NFL scene. He has incredible accuracy, and can make plays with his legs. Winston is a terrific athlete, and it seems that him not being the starter is extremely unlikely.

The post Could Jameis Winston not be the Week One Starter? appeared first on Insider Sports Network.

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The Tennessee Titans have reportedly released running back Shonn Greene. Greene has been with the Titans for two seasons, as he began his career with the New York Jets. Greene was used as a backup, and all of the additions over the offseason may have hurt his chances for a spot with Tennessee.

Greene was scheduled to make $3.25 Million this season, as he signed a 3-year, $10 Million dollar deal back in 2013.

The Titans reloaded their backfield this offseason, when they drafted the electric David Cobb out of Minnesota. They also have Bishop Sankey, who they drafted last season, who never quite came along. However, Tennessee still has high hopes for the second year veteran. Also, Dexter McCluster is gradually becoming a bigger threat coming out of the backfield, and is a menace in the passing game. Greene found himself being used when Tennessee needed a small gain. However, Tennessee still has high hopes for the second year veteran. Unfortunately for Greene, he found himself as the odd man out in Tennessee’s backfield.

Greene joined Tennessee in 2013, with the hope of becoming a Pro-Bowler. He was coming off consecutive 1,000+ yard seasons with the Jets, and he did this while sharing time in the backfield. The Titans had a solid running back in Chris Johnson, but his play was slowly declining. They hoped Greene would be a reliable backup to him, and in worst case scenario, his replacement. However, Johnson shined, and put up over 1,000 yards in Greene’s first season. In his first year as a Titan, he rushed for only 295 yards on 77 attempts. His second year was a little better, as the Titans were without Chris Johnson, but drafted the then shining draft prospect, Bishop Sankey. Sankey took the majority of the carries, but Greene still rushed for 392 rushing yards on 94 attempts. Greene skipped last month’s voluntary OTA’s, while Tennessee is just beginning their mandatory mini camps this week.

Greene is entering his 7th season in the league, since he was drafted out of Iowa in 2009. He is a tough, physical runner, and is mainly used for 3rd and short situations. However, back in New York, he was able to be a primary back. He can still be a great back in the NFL, but he will need to find a new beginning somewhere else, to pursue his football career.

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Photo Credit: @Warriors Twitter

In an NBA season that was one for the ages, the Golden State Warriors have reached the ultimate height. One of the historically great teams in NBA history finishes an incredible season as the champions of the basketball world. Golden State has won the NBA Finals for the first time in 40 years, defeating Lebron James and the injury plagued Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2.

The road to this title was one of pure dominance. The Warriors were just the 15th team in NBA history to win 67 games in a single regular season and the first team since the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls to win 83 games in a full season. Golden State was 12-3 in the 2015 playoffs heading into the Finals when things started getting a little ugly.

After the injury to Kyrie Irving, the Warriors would lose two straight to go down 2-1. NBA MVP Stephen Curry was absolutely struggling, and the Cavaliers looked to shock the world and take the title from the NBA’s best team. Then, the baby faced assassin found himself, and he and Golden State never looked back. The ultimate series changer, however, was the man who hadn’t started a game all season long. Andre Igoudala was inserted into the starting lineup by head coach Steve Kerr and won this title for the Warriors. Igoudala would be awarded with the NBA Finals MVP Award, a truly heralded honor for such a great player.

Lebron James, now a victim of his fourth Finals loss, had what was without a doubt the greatest finals performance of the post-Jordan era. Without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, Lebron had to give it his all in order for his team to have a chance. What he did was show why he is the greatest basketball player in the world. Lebron threw up numbers in these finals that’s difficult for even my mycareer player on 2K average. He was the first player in NBA history to lead both teams in total points, rebounds and assists in a finals series. In the end, it was simply not enough.

In the end, the boys from the Bay Area truly deserved it, and now they are NBA champions. Congratulations to the Golden State Warriors!

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Law enforcement officials have found evidence that potentially led to the Caridnals breaking into the Houston Astros’ database, which held internal discussions about trades, statistics, as well as scouting reports.

Although the FBI refused to give names of specific guilty party members, the focus will rest mainly on whether or not the higher-ranking front office members of the Cardinals were involved. This attack is the first ever internet takeover scandal in sports history, and it’s up to the MLB to make sure that this does not happen again in the future.

We’ve seen recent scandals in other leagues, such as the National Football League, but this could potentially leave its impending mark, not only in the MLB, but all of sports as well.

There will be a great deal of additional information to follow; stay tuned for more updates.

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Photo Credit: Twitter: Mental Floss

The Blackhawks first captured the dream in 2010 when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers for their first Stanley cup in the 2000’s era.

The Blackhawks would then capture their second in just four years, when they defeated the Boston Bruins in six games. The Blackhawks’ win would mark the team as a dynasty already but the team desired more.

The Blackhawks would walk into the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs as the third seed in the playoffs, facing the Nashville Predators in the first round of what would be an amazing run. The Blackhawks would move onto to complete a sweet against the Minnesota Wild before defeating the #1 seeded Anaheim Ducks in the seven game series.

The team would then stroll into the Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defied all doubts to move onto the Stanley Cup Finals. The series would prove to be a good one, as we saw the two teams battle it out in the first four games where we saw a series tied a two a piece going into the pivotal game 5 on Tampa Bay’s home ice.

The Lightning and Blackhawks would fight it out all game, but when the final whistle blew, we saw the scoreboard flash a 2-1 win for the Blackhawks, making them one win away from hoisting the cup.

Game 6 would be all they needed, as the Blackhawks would get a late second period goal from Duncan Keith, putting the Blackhawks up 1-0 in the potential clinching game. Keith would win the Conn Smythe trophy, becoming the first defenseman to win the award since 2007, when Scott Niedermayer won the trophy with the Anaheim Ducks.

The Blackhawks would get an insurance goal for Corey Crawford late in the third, but it wasn’t needed as Corey Crawford played some of the best hockey we’ve seen this playoffs, saving 25 of the 25 shots taken from Tampa Bay. Patrick Kane was responsible for the insurance goal in the third period.

The Stanley Cup win represents a lot to the fans in Chicago, as the team was able to hoist the trophy up on their home ice for the first time since 1938. The title will also shape the future of the NHL as this Blackhawks team is a dynasty already made and you can’t deny that, as they capture their third Stanley Cup win in just six seasons.

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Photo Credit: Jason O. Watson – Getty Images

Pujols seemed to have fallen off due to a combination of injury and age, failing to be named to the All-Star team over the past four years. It once was the norm for him, as he made the team in nine of his first 10 years in the bigs. In that downhill span, Pujols’ power dropped – going from 37 home runs in 2011 to 17 in 2013, before rising to 28 the following year.

However, since his rebirth at the end of May, the 35-year-old first baseman has not looked back.

In the past 16 games, Pujols is batting .387 with 10 home runs and 17 RBI. Since the beginning of May, Pujols has lifted his average from an abysmal .208 to a respectable .276. He currently leads the American League with 18 home runs – tied with Seattle’s Nelson Cruz, who has cooled down since his 10 home run April.

Though the Angels sit at third in the American League West, the team has found success with the hot streak from their first baseman – with the exception of being swept by the first place New York Yankees.

Pujols has stepped up in more than one way, however. His veteran presence in the clubhouse has impacted his team, most evident through the Josh Hamilton trade. Morale was low through the toll of Hamilton – due to possible suspension and injury lurking – leaving Pujols with the task to step up and take hold of the team in his absence. After he was traded, Pujols certainly stepped up in a big way.

The Angels open up a series at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night, looking to lessen the gap between themselves and the AL West crown, currently held by the Houston Astros.

It will be interesting to see if Pujols is back to his old form, or if it is a June fluke. However, all signs point to a revival, as he is officially 100 percent healthy and finally tearing the seams off the ball.

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Photo Credit: Jesse D. Garrabrant – Getty Images

The Los Angeles Clippers may have just found the last piece to the championship puzzle by acquiring shooting guard Lance Stephenson from the Charlotte Hornets. In exchange the Hornets will provide Spencer Hawes and forward Matt Barnes, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

Stephenson received a three-year, $27 million deal last off-season, but could not live up to expectations. Through the 2015 season, Stephenson averaged 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He also shot 38 percent from the floor, all of which were significant drops from his All-Star season in 2014 with the Indiana Pacers.

The Clippers are looking to build the championship team, but have come up short year after year. In the Western Conference Semi-Finals, the team imploded, losing three straight after building a 3-1 series lead over the Houston Rockets. Adding Stephenson may help their championships, assuming he can return to his former All-Star form.

However, for the Clippers to remain a dominant team in a competitive Western Conference, they need to resign DeAndre Jordan, who is a free agent and seeking a max deal in the upcoming offseason. If he walks, the Clippers will be left with Blake Griffin and Glen Davis at the four and five; though it is not awful, it certainly is not a championship-like front court.

Packing their bags and heading to Charlotte, Barnes and Hawes will likely see some solid playing time, if they are on the roster come next season. According to Wojnarowski, the Hornets are left undecided on Barnes, as the possibility to cut him is not out of the question. Barnes is due $3.5 million dollars in the 2015-16 season, which is also the last year he is under contract.

Barnes was an efficient small forward for the Clippers. Averaging 10.1 points and four rebounds per game on 44 percent shooting, Barnes was one of the more consistent players, appearing in 76 games for the Hornets.

Hawes, on the other hand, has done well in his limited playing time. Though he only played 17.5 minutes per game, he averaged 5.8 points and 3.5 rebounds. He is a solid big man who also has a knack from three, as he is a career 35 percent shooter.

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The 2015 All-Star game is only a few weeks away. The All-Star game is known to bring the best of the best around the Major Leagues. In order for a player to be selected into the All-Star game they must garner enough votes; those votes come purely from the fans around the league.

Well, the 2015 All-Star game, hosted by the Cincinnati Reds, may a look a tad odd, at least on the American League end of things. Currently, the Kansas City Royals have eight potential starters holding the highest amount of votes. Do all the Royals deserve, rightfully, to be in the All-Star game?

Major League Baseball (MLB) is one of the few sports that entitle their All-Star game to be important. For those unaware, the All-Star game winner gains home-field advantage in the luxurious World Series. Yet, the fans hold the responsibility of choosing who gets to play in the game, rather than coaches and officials of the game.

The most recent Royals player to lead the voting in their respected position is second baseman Omar Infante. Many non-Royals’ fans are concerned as to if Infante is worthy of an all-star bid, and they have a right to be too. Through 53 games, Infante holds a mere .204 batting average and has driven in 17 runs. Other individuals in the American League who are second baseman that can prove to more worthy are Cleveland Indians’ Jason Kipnis and Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve. To put it into perspective, Kipnis is batting an astounding .355; Altuve, on the other hand, has 17 stolen bases and has aided the Astros to a 36-28 record, good for first in the American League West.

The same statement could be made in several cases around the field. An additional example, is Lorenzo Cain more worthy than Los Angeles Angels star outfielder Mike Trout? Trout has 13 additional RBI than Cain, and provides a more stable batting average at .297. In terms of WAR, Trout has an edge over Cain by 0.8 (3.8 total).

Names that could be worthy that are missing on the current roster of All-Stars are Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, Seattle Mariners’ Nelson Cruz, and Toronto Blue Jays’ Josh Donaldson.

As Royals’ fans decide to celebrate, one minor flaw could be installed. Using Infante as an exemplar, if Infante is rightfully named as an All-Star, the Royals will have to pay an additional $250,000 to his contract as a bonus. As Infante is struggling this season, having an additional All-Star would be neat, but when he wouldn’t deserve it, would Royals’ fans want to pay an additional dollar value? Same could be said about various other players.

Regardless, currently the Royals lead all position players, except one, in terms of All-Star game votes. Manager Ned Yost doesn’t have much to say about it either.

“If you don’t like it, go out there and vote. Our fans have gotten out and voted. Does seven starters surprise you? Yeah. But once you sit back and think about it, it’s really not that surprising” (USA Today Sports).

In ends meet, the annual All-Star game is in fact fan selected. If you’re unhappy with the results, as Yost stated, go vote for the player you believe deserves to be named an All-Star.

*Below is the current (June 15) rosters and votes per player.

Here is the latest AL voting update for the #ASG: pic.twitter.com/9YMYBvIG2a

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) June 15, 2015

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