Breaking One

(News Analysis) PARIS -- In its chaos, desperation and sheer scale, the sudden surge last week of tens of thousands of migrants into a Spanish territory in North Africa recalled similar scenes 11 years ago along the coasts of Greece and Italy. It was that 2015 crisis -- when more than 1 million people, mostly from the Middle East, swept into southern Europe -- that deepened opposition to immigration across Europe and emboldened the far right.

Kevin Durant knows a thing or two about building super teams. Remember when he was vilified for leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join a Golden State Warriors team that had just gone 73-9? Or when he joined Kyrie Irving with the Brooklyn Nets, who traded for James Harden one season later? Durant does. And the now-Houston Rockets forward sees similarities in LeBron James joining a Philadelphia 76ers team already loaded with All-NBA talent in Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

On a cold, windy, wet summer evening last month, Pete Beachy giggled as he peered into his binoculars and prepared to do something even he admitted can seem very, very stupid. "There she is," he muttered. "That's a wave." Parked along the Seward Highway in Alaska, Beachy had spotted the first hint of foam curving around Bird Point, 30 miles southeast of Anchorage, and heading toward an inlet known as Turnagain Arm.

Large parts of Spokane County, Washington, including residences and at least one hospital, were under mandatory evacuation orders Saturday as strong winds were propelling wildfires into residential areas. At the same time, more than a dozen other fires were also burning across the state, mostly in less populated areas, affecting about 250,000 acres. "This is an extraordinary fire season," Dave Upthegrove, the state's commissioner of public lands, said at a Saturday evening news briefing.

Braves get: OF Lane Thomas and LHP Bailey Falter Royals get: LHP Carter Holton and RHP Lucas Braun Atlanta parts with minor-league arms for an outfielder who can hit lefties Braves: B+ Royals: A- Two years ago, the Cleveland Guardians acquired Thomas at this very time and for this very reason: He can hit left-handed pitching. Truth is, Thomas stunk (and was hurt) for much of his time in Cleveland. An OPS of 67. Negative WAR. Things of that nature.

White Sox get: RHP Luis Castillo Mariners get: RHP Seranthony Domínguez, C Boston Smith, OF Nolan Jones White Sox: D Mariners: B+ This isn't great for the White Sox. Yes, they are desperate for starting pitching. Beyond Davis Martin and Sean Burke -- who are reaching career highs for innings -- there isn't much reliable starting pitching on their roster. Chicago is, as of Aug. 1, a World Series contender. Laugh all you want at that sentence.

As they bid to run away with the National League East, the Atlanta Braves acquired outfielder Lane Thomas and pitcher Bailey Falter from the Kansas City Royals on Saturday evening, a league source told The Athletic on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been announced. The Royals' return in the trade was not immediately known. Thomas exited the Royals' game in Colorado in the fourth inning and received hugs from teammates in the visitors dugout.

The most coveted pitcher at this year's MLB trade deadline appears headed to the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Detroit Tigers on Saturday evening were close to finalizing a trade sending left-hander Tarik Skubal to the back-to-back World Series champions, a league source told The Athletic. In return, the Tigers would receive three prospects: right-hander River Ryan, right-hander Brady Smith and outfielder Zyhir Hope. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not official.

At least three people were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting Saturday at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, authorities said. Twin Falls police received a call around 2:30 p.m. local time about an active shooter inside the dining area at the In-N-Out Burger restaurant on Blue Lakes Boulevard, said Josh Palmer, a city spokesperson. The suspected shooter is dead, Twin Falls police Chief Matthew Hicks said during a news conference Saturday.

Vincent Pastore, a character actor who specialized in playing Italian American tough guys, most notably the foot soldier turned FBI informant Salvatore Bonpensiero, known to his friends as Big Pussy, on the classic HBO series "The Sopranos," has died at his home in New York City. He was 80. His manager, Robert Attermann, said that Pastore's body was discovered by friends Saturday.