![[Stein] Based on where we are as of 12:08 Eastern on Monday, the Sixers, the Timberwolves, the Heat, your Nuggets, based on everything I've been told all weekend, they all still believe they're in with a chance (for LeBron)](https://external-preview.redd.it/9W30zrAhPeKJajlZ5EdEdMyfCVSKJ4b0-pGnWcUZncY.jpeg?width=140&height=78&auto=webp&s=eaa372634be9498f4d6dbaf6cd9e30c68c4c494c)
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THERE ARE, BY one recent count, 46 items banned from the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club during the two-week tournament from Wimbledon. Among them are selfie sticks, which left superagent Rich Paul with a dilemma as he tried Tuesday afternoon to co-host the "Game Over" podcast he does with Max Kellerman from the venue.
Cell phones must be placed on silent during matches, and no calls are permitted from the stands. So earlier in the day Tuesday, when Paul needed to call Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka to inform him that his star client, LeBron James, would be continuing his basketball career elsewhere, he stepped into the Polo by Ralph Lauren store in the Southern Village to make the call.
For a week, neither James' camp nor the Lakers had exchanged formal or even informal offers, according to sources on both sides of the situation.
Nor had they discussed a vision for a future together, or even met face-to-face -- in person or virtually.
The Lakers called Paul a week before free agency, when teams could approach their own free agents, to try to arrange a videoconference with James and were told he wasn't available.
Paul didn't say why at the time, but he told ESPN it was because James had already decided he didn't want to return to the Lakers and that there was no need for a call.
The Lakers had approached all of their free agents in a similar manner. After an initial videoconference with Austin Reaves, an elaborate pitch meeting was scheduled at the team's facility.
Customized pillows and blankets were designed and presented to Reaves. Steaks were ordered in. His favorite country music was played. Soon afterward, he agreed to a new four-year, $185 million deal.
James didn't want any of that. After the season, sources close to James said the most important factor in him re-signing would be how the Lakers approached him.
He might have been willing to take a pay cut from the $52.6 million he'd made the season before, sources said, if the Lakers explained how they planned to reallocate the money.
They never did, and James never made himself available to meet. He had been a priority enough times in his career to know when he wasn't one.
By the time Los Angeles called a week before free agency, Paul said James was already "a thousand percent" certain he was ready to move on from the Lakers. That, Paul knew, was a significant shift from just a few weeks prior, when James told Paul he was "80%" sure he'd play another season with the Lakers.
Paul said he didn't press James for the reasons his thinking shifted over the course of the month, but he has some guesses.
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Just one year after the Houston Rockets acquired Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a historic seven-team trade, the future Hall of Famer has once again become the subject of trade speculation.
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Rockets do not view Durant as an untouchable player despite acquiring him to accelerate their championship timeline.
“Whether or not the Rockets look to continue their partnership with Durant is the big question at large, especially since they don’t view him as an ‘untouchable’ talent in trade talks on their roster,” Siegel wrote. “Houston viewed the opportunity to acquire Durant as a way to upgrade from Jalen Green and bridge the gaps in their lineup to contend in the West, but by no means was this addition viewed as a long-term commitment.”
Siegel added that several executives around the league believe Houston could consider moving Durant before the expiration of his contract, which runs through the 2027-28 season.
“Many around the league are skeptical of the Rockets wanting to keep Durant through the end of his current contract running through the 2027-28 season,” Siegel wrote. “It isn’t a secret to anyone that there were tensions between Durant and the Rockets’ locker room last season after reports of an alleged burner account came to light and frustrations were mounting internally about the team not taking a step forward with the former league MVP at the helm.”
Pistons expected to pursue Kevin Durant again if Rockets reopen trade talks
According to the report, the Detroit Pistons are expected to be among the first teams to pursue Durant if Houston makes him available.
“If Durant becomes available in any capacity or the Rockets look at possible trades involving him either now or in the near future, the Pistons are fully expected to be at the front of the line to bid on his services,” Siegel wrote.
Siegel also revealed that Detroit previously explored avenues to acquire Durant before he landed in Houston.
“Two league sources with knowledge of the situation told ClutchPoints that the Pistons were set on figuring out a path to land Durant, but nothing ever materialized in this three-team idea, nor did anything appear possible in brief discussions with only Houston,” Siegel wrote. “Perhaps the greatest detail to emerge from all of these rumors is that Durant has interest in playing alongside Pistons star Cade Cunningham, sources said.”
“Durant has always had high praise from the young superstar guard early in his career and has been on the record multiple times calling him a ‘special talent.’”
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-trade-155251765.html
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Could LeBron James wind up in the Mile High City? It seems unlikely, if only because of the conventional wisdom surrounding his free agency situation, but that doesn’t mean the Denver Nuggets won’t try.
A league source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect sensitive conversations, confirmed that the Nuggets have indeed reached out to James’ camp to formally register interest, as was first reported by The Denver Post’s Bennett Durando.
And now, as we all wait to see what the 41-year-old James has in mind for the final chapter of his legendary career, it’s worth taking a look at the reasons why he should give this option serious consideration.
For starters, league sources close to James have made it very clear that the chance to truly contend — yes, for a title — is his top priority. The Nuggets, who still employ one of the baddest big men in the history of the game in Nikola Jokić and an elite guard in Jamal Murray (who earned his first All-Star berth last season), check that box. Secondly, those same sources indicate James is truly open to considering any and all options around the Association.
So while Golden State, Cleveland and Miami are widely seen as James’ unofficial top three suitors, the fact remains that James has told his agent, Rich Paul, to field all of the offers and then they will go from there. If you’re James, who is somehow still playing All-NBA level basketball at this unprecedented late stage, you’re probably very curious to see what Paul ultimately comes back with in terms of the possibilities.
(As an aside, most of this logic also applies to the known interest that was lodged from the Minnesota Timberwolves, as reported by our Jon Krawczynski).
There’s this part of the Nuggets pitch as well: As has been reported previously, James is close friends with Nuggets team president/governor Josh Kroenke. The two reportedly vacationed together in the summer of 2016 after James led Cleveland to the title, and Kroenke even gifted James a retro Nuggets jersey in 2018 as part of a summertime attempt to land him in free agency (that’s when James signed with the Lakers). The two men have shared interests in the soccer world, too. Kroenke is co-chair of Arsenal and the Colorado Rapids in MLS (which are both owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, headed by his father, Stan Kroenke). James, meanwhile, is an investor in Liverpool FC and AC Milan.
Last but not least, James’ recent choice to become a golf addict is a fringe factor as well (and that might be selling it short). For what it’s worth, Golf.com ranked Colorado the 10th-best state in America for golfing back in 2015, while highlighting all sorts of courses in the Denver area.
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Steven Gansey shared a throwback photo of his brother Mike, the 76ers' new president, alongside LeBron James from their high school basketball days in Ohio.
In the photo, Gansey is standing beside LeBron with his arm around the superstar's shoulder.
From this cryptic post made, fans can only be left intrigued about the possibility of LeBron taking his talents to South Philly.
In the aftermath of the stunning acquisition of Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers made noise yet again as they were linked as another interested team for LeBron James.
Now an unrestricted free agent, James has formally informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not be signing with the franchise to rejoin them.
James and Mike Gansey share a deep, long-standing relationship rooted in their Ohio basketball history. They were both top-tier high school stars in the state wherein back in 2001, Gansey was actually the runner-up to LeBron for the Ohio Mr. Basketball award.
After playing professionally, Gansey transitioned to an executive role in 2011 and gradually rose as a prominent front-office figure in Cleveland. During LeBron's historic second stint with the franchise, Gansey was running the Cavaliers' G League operations and ultimately became an assistant general manager in 2017 under Koby Altman.
After spending more years as the Cavs' general manager since 2022, Gansey joined the 76ers as their new president, succeeding the dismissed Daryl Morey.
Gansey's well-documented ties with LeBron can only be an interesting element that could bring the 41-year-old superstar to the rising 76ers squad.
photo: https://imgur.com/a/PVYnwk1
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One of the most connected basketball reporters, who has long covered The King, has listed the Nuggets as “an outlier team” for James. Brian Windhorst said on his Hoop Collective podcast on Wednesday morning, “if I were Denver, I would kick the tires.”
Former ESPN voice and now of The Ringer, Zach Lowe listed Denver as his favorite James destination, saying, “just plop him in Denver, and oh, you want two of the all-time genius passers in history to play off of each other, and LeBron respects Joker… Denver again looms to me as the most interesting team remaining on the board in the offseason for we got to change something, and it’s got to be a big change kind of thing.”
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Tuesday reports shared that James wants to canvas the league before deciding on what’s best for him. And he’ll “be seeking happiness not money.”
James is still an incredible player, an All-Star last year who averaged 21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists on 52% shooting, 32% from deep, in 33 minutes a game over 60 contests. Anyone in the league would be happy to have that guy let alone what his trophy case brings in cachet and his name brings in marketing.
But unless there is some major maneuvering the Nuggets won’t be able to offer James anything other than the veteran minimum. Despite the reporting, it’s hard to see James going from making $49 million last season to making $4 million in 2026-27.
“I have long thought, and I refuse to bring it up, because I just didn’t want the headache during the year of having to defend this, but I have long believed that if there was an outlier team for Lebron, if he was willing to take sort of some exception was Denver,” Windhorst said. “The idea of playing, if you noticed during the year this year, he was overly effusive with Jokic, might be the two most brilliant basketball minds in the league join forces, and they’re complementary, where him and Luka was kind of a who’s got the ball in his hands…
“Joker’s all about having a guy who he can run pick and roll, either way, can cut off them, all those kind of things. Also, let’s just be honest, if Lebron is playing with Ant and LaMelo for a year like that, there’s a lot of gray in that beard now, he’s going to look like Santa Claus by Christmas,” Windhorst joked about the Wolves. “So I’ll just point out that he has a relationship with Josh Kroenke and the Kroenke family, the owners of the Nuggets…
“He, I believe, was a guest a couple of times on their yacht in the Mediterranean in the summer. Before Lebron was focused on only playing golf in the summer, he used to go, like, be on a boat, like the Magic Johnson, where he went on a boat for, like, a week to 10 days,” he said. “So he has some connection there, and so I never probably even said too many words about even now, but like, if I were Denver, I would kick the tires…
“I will say, also the people are saying, Draymond Green might get taken care of, and in Golden State with the Klutch connection, and Anthony Davis Klutch connection,” he said. “I’d like to point out that Peyton Watson, the Denver Nuggets restricted free agent, is also a Klutch client, not that I think he has anywhere near the level of the relationship with P-Wat that he does with those other guys, I just think I should put it on the record, but more Lebron James’ speculation reporting and drama, I’m sure to come in the coming days, and I’m afraid to say maybe coming weeks.”
Source: https://denversports.com/nba/denver-nuggets/espn-voice-links-lebron-james
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How will the Lakers spend the rest of their $40 million-ish in projected cap space? Utah certainly has an idea.
It's perhaps the league's worst-kept secret by now: Jazz restricted free agent center Walker Kessler has been widely presumed to be the Lakers' top summer target.
How do the Lakers pry Kessler away from the Jazz when he's an RFA? How on Earth do they do so when Celtics-reared Danny Ainge still has such a loud voice in the Utah hierarchy? Excellent questions.
Sources with knowledge of Utah's thinking have been steadfast in the belief that the Jazz are determined to match any eventual offer sheet for Kessler. That's even after Utah acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. and his considerable contract from Memphis in February to play alongside Lauri Markkanen.
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PS — The Lakers also made their case to Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren on Tuesday night once meetings with external free agents were officially allowed leaguewide. Duren, for his part, is indeed said to be eager to explore sign-and-trade scenarios with both the Lakers and the Sacramento Kings. Could the Lakers actually shift their focus from Kessler to Duren in the hunt for a top-shelf center? Duren might prove to be even tougher to pry away from Detroit than Kessler is from Utah if you believe what team officials are whispering about A) their determination to re-sign Duren and B) their reluctance to engage in sign-and-trade concepts.
Source: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/lots-more-of-the-nbas-latest-late
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The scenario in which LeBron James and Anthony Davis reunite in San Francisco appears to have died on the vine.
The Warriors are now signaling that Davis isn't in their plans, according to league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations. Conversely, the Washington Wizards, the club that employs Davis, is very against the prospect of trading him to the Warriors (or, for now, anywhere), those sources said.
While I could certainly see James wearing a Warriors jersey next season, a few things have changed on that front in the past day. Beyond the Davis situation, the leverage James had with the Lakers possibility is now gone, which is significant considering what they could have paid him if the two sides were more in sync (newsflash: they weren't).
What's more, the Warriors do not appear to have clarity yet regarding James' plans. Cleveland and Miami are often cited as realistic landing spots as well, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are known to have interest if he felt like shocking the basketball world with that sort of move.
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The Washington Wizards are not interested in trading 10-time NBA All-Star forward Anthony Davis and are not listening to trade offers for him, a source told espn andscape. Another NBA team exec says Wizards GM Will Dawkins is a huge fan of AD.
Source: https://imgur.com/a/jQfTWT1
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LeBron James has instructed Rich Paul to talk to everyone around the league who is interested in playing for them and come back to him with what the options are so he can make his decision, a source familiar with James' thinking told ESPN.
Source: https://imgur.com/a/cb1JaZV
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The Cleveland Cavaliers might be able to pay LeBron James more than the minimum, and James Harden could be the key to making it happen.
On Monday, Harden declined his $42.3 million player option and is now a free agent. He is expected to return to Cleveland on a new contract, but Harden is waiting to sign to give the Cavs the flexibility they need to make a move like adding LeBron for next season, according to a league source who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations.
One of the main factors commonly cited for James not returning to Cleveland is the small salary available for him there due to the league’s salary rules. The Cavs’ roster appeared to be too expensive for them to pay him anything other than the minimum, which is roughly $4 million, and the rules appeared too punitive for them to shed salary to pay him more while remaining competitive.
But if Harden were to accept a salary of $30 million for next season, the Cavs would be right at the NBA’s projected first apron of $209 million in salary. They would need to dip roughly $16 million below that to access the non-taxpayer midlevel exception to the salary cap. If Cleveland can trim that much money, it can offer LeBron that contract — starting at a projected $15 million salary — for next season.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7409939/2026/06/30/james-harden-contract-cavaliers-lebron-james/
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Houston Rockets have significant interest in free agent guard Marcus Smart and are expected to work out a deal in the three-year, $21 million range that would reunite him with head coach Ime Udoka, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.
Smart reached the open market Monday after declining his $5.4 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, lining up one more multiyear deal at age 32. Houston has emerged as the frontrunner in the opening hours of his free agency, with a framework that would pay him well above his option figure on an annual basis.
Source: https://dallashoopsjournal.com/marcus-smart-rockets-free-agency-udoka-reunion/