LeBron James has officially moved on from the Los Angeles Lakers. But what does that mean for Bronny James?
James made his intentions clear on June 30, 2026. Nearly a month later, the four-time MVP announced that he was joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
He thanked Los Angeles and the Lakers for his eight-year tenure in a social media post.
Bronny James, LeBron’s son, remains on the Lakers’ roster.
James just finished his second season with the organization, but there’s been an ongoing conversation in the basketball community about whether he will end up in Philly with his father.
Will Bronny James be traded?
James recently had his contract fully guaranteed by the Lakers for the upcoming season.
James will make $2.3 million this upcoming season, the third year of a four-year deal that he signed in 2024. The Lakers have a team option for the fourth year of James' deal for the 2027-28 season.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that agent Rich Paul made it clear that Bronny and LeBron “are not a package deal” and there was no plan in place to reunite them in Philly.
What is Bronny James’ status with Lakers?
There’s a strong sense of support for Bronny James when it comes to the Lakers’ organization.
James was drafted during the second round by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick in 2024.
He will have an opportunity to build off his second season in the league.
James saw an increase in games played, indicating a stronger sense of belief from coach J.J. Redick.
“He’s gotten significantly better,” Redick said previously about James. “Our staff has confidence in him.”
As a rookie during the 2024-2025 season, he played just 6.7 minutes per game and averaged 2.3 points in 27 games played. James saw the floor in more games this past season, participating in 42 games. He averaged 2.9 points per game and 1.2 assists.
“I really believe Bronny wants to play here (in Los Angeles),” Mychal Thompson, a broadcaster with the team, said on ESPN LA radio. “... I say keep him here and let Bronny branch out on his own. He is a grown man now. … I think he is good enough to play in this league for years to come.”
James played in just two playoff games as a rookie for a combined total of four minutes. He did not average any stats. The second-year player averaged 1.5 points, an assist and 5.3 minutes in eight games played this past postseason.
The USC product did not participate in the NBA’s Summer League as a member of the Lakers earlier this month, but he was seen around the team in Las Vegas.
Lakers depth chart
PG: Luka Doncic, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Draymond Green smiles before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Erin Chang/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
When Draymond Green opted out of his $27.7M salary for next season, it was purely to give the Golden State Warriors the financial flexibility to pursue his good buddy LeBron James. Now that James has chosen the Philadelphia 76ers, it appears that the Warriors are simply going to give him the salary he gave up.
The Warriors are expected to re-sign Draymond Green to a nearly $28 million deal, per @joevardon
There were reasons for the Warriors to give Green an extension to lower his salary cap number for this season. The team would clear space under the first luxury tax apron, where the Warriors are hard-capped, and get a chance to use the money they freed up to pay another premium free agent. However, the Warriors’ wish list seems to have consisted of a single player: James.
Despite rumors he might follow James to his new team, Green was never going anywhere. He was willing to opt out and sign for less, likely with some extra protection like a player option in 2027-28, if the team could get James. If not? The team lets him hit the “Whoopsie” button and get the same deal he gave up. Which is completely fair! If Green’s going to play for less money, the team should actually be spending it on something besides Icy-Hot and Metamucil for the veterans.
It also means Green becomes a free agent next summer, just like the majority of the Warriors roster. Only Gui Santos, Moses Moody, Al Horford, and Yaxel Lendeborg are under contract past this season at the moment, with De’Anthony Melton holding a player option and Kristaps Porzingis owed a $3M buyout if the Warriors cut him loose.
Of course, Steph Curry is quite likely to sign another contract extension next month. But the absence of James means the Warriors have a nearly clean slate after this season. Does that justify an offseason where they’ve so far only added rookies? It probably does to management, who had an offseason to-do list that read:
Bring back everyone from last year’s 10th place team
LeBron (?!?) LOL
One more year (at least!) of Draymond Green. Maybe one more addition — DeMar DeRozan? Mario Hezonia? Bradley Beal? — but otherwise the main roster drama will be sorting out who gets the two-way deals.
For the record, the funniest possible outcome is the Warriors striking out on Super Mario and signing Jonathan Kuminga, with him wearing a University of Michigan sweatshirt at the signing to troll Draymond. And if you’re wondering, Jaden Ivey is much more likely to catch on with the San Francisco Giants bullpen than the Warriors.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob wants to prove the organization can remain successful once Curry is no longer leading the franchise, according to longtime Bay Area reporter Tim Kawakami.
Joe Lacob reportedly wants to build beyond Stephen Curry, raising questions about whether the Warriors are still all-in on another title. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“What Lacob wants to do, and this might get Warriors fans mad, but he wants to build the next team after Steph Curry,” Kawakami said on The TK Show. “I don’t know how possible that is, but Lacob has a very keen interest in ‘This organization is going to show what it can do with Steph Curry and then after Steph Curry.’ I don’t think it’s going to be as good myself, but that’s what he wants to do.”
That ambition is understandable for an owner responsible for the franchise’s long-term health. It may be harder for fans to accept while Curry remains capable of chasing a fifth championship.
Golden State Valkyries and Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob claps during the third quarter against the Washington Mystics IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Golden State previously attempted a two-timeline plan built around Curry, Green and Klay Thompson while developing James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Wiseman became one of the most costly draft misses in franchise history, while Kuminga was eventually traded without becoming the foundational star the organization envisioned.
The Warriors still control most of their future first-round picks, giving them enough assets to pursue another established player. But holding those selections also protects Lacob’s effort to construct a post-Curry roster.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors brings the ball up court during the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers Getty Images
That creates an uncomfortable question: Is Golden State doing everything possible to win now, or is it already limiting its spending power and trade flexibility to prepare for the future?
Curry is expected to sign a two-year extension that could keep him with the only franchise he has ever played for through the end of his career. He will enter next season at 38, while Green and Jimmy Butler are also nearing the final stages of their careers.
Lacob may eventually get his chance to prove the Warriors can win without Curry.
Warriors fans would probably prefer he wait until Curry is finished before making that the priority.
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Draymond Green created financial flexibility for the Warriors to chase LeBron James. Now that James is headed to Philadelphia, Green must decide whether Golden State still represents his best option.
NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor laid out the dilemma after James agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers.
“Draymond Green has a big decision to make next,” O’Connor wrote on X.
Kevin O’Connor says Draymond Green faces a major choice: stay loyal to Stephen Curry or test the market after the Warriors’ LeBron miss. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Green can return to Golden State, collect another substantial salary and remain beside Stephen Curry. He would also be rejoining an organization that reportedly explored trading him only five months ago and could revisit that possibility as Curry’s championship window narrows.
The alternative would be testing a market that may offer less money but greater control over where he finishes his career.
O’Connor floated several possibilities, including following James to Philadelphia on a minimum contract or becoming part of a sign-and-trade. Green’s defense, passing and postseason experience would still appeal to contenders despite his age and limited scoring.
The most likely outcome, however, remains a Warriors reunion.
The Athletic reported that Golden State is expected to re-sign Green for nearly $28 million, roughly matching the player option he declined. Green reportedly opted out at the last minute to maximize the Warriors’ flexibility in their pursuit of James and a possible Anthony Davis trade.
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Kevin O’Connor says Draymond Green faces a major choice: stay loyal to Stephen Curry or test the market after the Warriors’ LeBron miss.
Neither move happened.
Returning would allow Green to continue a partnership with Curry that has produced four championships. He has spent his entire career with Golden State and remains the team’s defensive organizer and emotional center.
But loyalty now comes with uncertainty.
The Warriors have already demonstrated that sentiment will not prevent them from discussing a Green trade if they believe it improves the roster. After missing on James, they may again explore major moves involving Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant or other available stars.
Green is expected to stay, but O’Connor’s question remains relevant: Does he take the money and continue beside Curry, knowing he could be moved later, or choose his next team before the Warriors choose it for him?
One of the biggest winners of this entire LeBron James saga was Rich Paul’s “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman. Paul became the best source of information on LeBron's decision process, and while that was certainly spin, it was about the only thing of real substance out there.
On the latest episode of the podcast, Paul said LeBron made his decision around 1 a.m. and announced it the next day (hat tip Philadelphia Inquirer). He added that Cleveland, Miami and Golden State also made very strong pitches, but LeBron decided to go to Philly.
What led to LeBron’s decision?
In his series of posts on X explaining his decision, LeBron said that he had to decide if he still truly loved the game enough to come back for one more season. Rich Paul echoed that on his podcast.
"Nobody at this level is this accomplished, this successful at life, still wanting to play the game. I don't know what else you can say about it besides someone being very obsessed with the game of basketball."
James did indeed contemplate retirement after the Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round. But he felt "incomplete," the source said, in assessing the season.
On his podcast, Rich Paul added that the Lakers beating the Rockets in the first round in a series where LeBron was the best player on the court at age 41 also played a role in his return.
"That series, in my opinion, [convinced him to return]. I think if they somehow get swept or lose 4-1 in that series, it could be different. I think that gave us another ride."
What LeBron chose was a potential path back to the Finals in Philadelphia, but also a tough road — there are questions about fitting a group of ball-dominant players (Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and LeBron) together, questions about defense, and questions about how he feels playing for a passionate and demanding fan base in Philly. Except, he may not have to live in Philadelphia, reports Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
The fact that James could live in New York City and commute to Camden for practices and Philadelphia for games, as ESPN's Shams Charania reported is a possibility, only added to the appeal.
That's the kind of thing 76ers fans are going to bring up if — really, when — LeBron and this team struggle for a stretch of games.
What is LeBron doing now?
Working out to get ready for next season, of course. And it's not really an offseason workout unless there is evidence on social media.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 12: Julian Phillips #4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots a free throw during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 12, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets continue to fill out their roster in anticipation of training camp, as it was announced yesterday that they signed free agent forward Julian Phillips to a non-guranteed deal.
The 6’8” Phillips is still just 22 years old, and he was the 35th pick ouf of Tennessee in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. He played two and a half seasons for the Bulls before he was traded this past year to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who subsequently declined to pick up his option. That brings Phillips to Houston.
He carries career averages of just 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds for his career, averaging about 11 minutes per night. He is considered an elite athlete, but raw from a skills standpoint. It’s possible a change of scenery and some time with the Rockets, who have a plethora of young talent hoping to keep developing, could change things a little bit for Phillips, who has been an underachiever to this point in his career.
The signing of Phillips brings the Rockets to 19 players on their training camp roster. An NBA team can have up to 21 players for its camp roster, which it must get down to 15 before the start of the season. Here’s how things look right now:
Guaranteed contracts (12)
Kevin Durant
Fred VanVleet
Alperen Şengün
Amen Thompson
Jabari Smith Jr.
Tari Eason
Reed Sheppard
Marcus Smart
Clint Capela
Steven Adams
Bogdan Bogdanović
Bruce Thornton
Non-guaranteed / Partially guaranteed standard contracts (4)
Jae’Sean Tate (partially guaranteed)
Isaiah Crawford (non-guaranteed)
JD Davison (non-guaranteed)
Julian Phillips (contract details indicate he’s competing for a roster spot rather than holding a fully guaranteed deal).
Two-way contracts (3)
Quadir Copeland
Tristen Newton
David Roddy
Exhibit 10 / Camp deals
Oscar Tshiebwe (contract designation has not yet been officially announced, but it’s widely expected to be an Exhibit 10).
The Warriors went all in on LeBron James. But the 41-year-old megastar chose Philadelphia, where he believes he has his best shot at winning his fifth ring.
The Warriors’ Steph Curry (right) made a pitch for LeBron James on “Good Morning America,” but it didn’t sway The King.
The Warriors pulled all the stops to lure James onto their roster.
Steph Curry made a pitch for him on “Good Morning America.” Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option for the 2026-2027 season to create more money for James.
The one thing the franchise wasn’t willing to do was mortgage its future for Wizards big man Anthony Davis, whom James reportedly wanted on the team. Davis would’ve cost them Jimmy Butler, along with multiple first-round picks and first-round pick swaps.
If securing Davis would’ve meant securing James, the Warriors made a mistake by not partially emptying their treasure chest. Yes, he’s often injured. Yes, he’s 33 years old.
But they should’ve pulled the trigger. They owed it to Curry to not waste a season in which he’s about to turn 39 years old. Curry, Green, James and Davis could’ve given teams fits in the playoffs if they were healthy.
But it’s unclear whether James would’ve definitely gone to the Warriors if they had gotten Davis. We don’t know the details of those conversations. Or if any guarantees were given.
What we do know is the Warriors aren’t in a great position now.
Butler (torn right ACL) and Moses Moody (torn left patellar tendon) will miss the start of the season.
There aren’t any franchise-bending moves for them left to make. They’re ultimately standing pat. They didn’t make any big trades.
They’re expected to re-sign Green, who was willing to sacrifice money out of his pocket to try to transform a team that won four championships in eight years from 2015-2022 into winners once again.
But who else is left for them to go after?
Gary Payton II, a spark plug who’s a good asset but isn’t going to catapult them into the next sphere by any means? Mario Hezonja, who has recently played in Europe?
Neither of those guys is going to move the needle.
Last season, the Warriors didn’t even make it out of the play-in tournament.
It’s hard to expect much will change for them this time around, especially in the very crowded Western Conference with the Thunder and Spurs vying to be atop the league.
The Warriors will make some moves around the margins.
Curry hopes to add another NBA title before he calls it a career. Getty Images
But their only hope for a competitive season is if Butler returns quickly and has the type of impact he did when he joined the team in February 2025, and they went 23-7 the remainder of the season. (There wasn’t proof in concept last season. Before Butler suffered the injury in January, the Warriors were inconsistent at best.)
They need to hope Kristaps Porzingis can stay healthy. After acquiring him last February, he only played 15 games because of various health reasons.
They need to hope Lendeborg is able to make an immediate impact as a jack of all trades. He impressed during the Las Vegas Summer League by averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists while winning the MVP Award, but is the 23-year-old ready to be a difference-maker on a veteran team?
All of those things need to perfectly coalesce or else the greatest shooter of all time and a Hall of Fame defender are going to languish amid basketball mediocrity yet again.
It’s too bad James didn’t choose the Warriors. They would’ve been the most fun show in town.
It was thrilling to imagine James and Curry sharing a court after their gold medal-winning Olympic run together, in which James was named MVP and Curry played hero in the final games.
But alas, that was nothing but a tease. A figment of our imagination. An unrealized fantasy.
Curry is going to get no such help in the twilight of his career.
Once again, he’s playing against a stacked deck. The Warriors dropped the ball. They didn’t give their franchise hero a chance to soar in his final act.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 16: William Hickey #66 of the Los Angeles Lakers wears Nike Kobe green grinch sneakers on the court in the first half of the 2026 NBA Summer League game between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 16, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Louis Grasse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 14: PJ Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks helps up Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 14, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before making the incredibly sensible and reasonable trade to send Luka Dončić to the Lakers, the Mavs have pieced together a formidable roster that made the Finals.
For LA, there would be sound rationale, then, to potentially pick off some of the players that had success in Dallas with Luka and bring them to California. However, the front office looks to be set on building things out their own way.
Reports about a hesitancy to bring in PJ Washington have already existed and, during a recent show on Bleacher Report, Jake Fischer reiterated the Lakers’ lack of interest in both Washington as well as center Daniel Gafford.
“I know Lakers fans want to keep drawing a line to a trade with Dallas for either PJ Washington or Gafford because of their success with Luka Dončić. I really don’t have any inclination that the Lakers have had trade talks about either of those guys of real consequence this offseason.”
However you feel about Washington’s fit on the Lakers, the team clearly feels his contract, which runs through the 2029-30 season, is not worth trading for. On paper, he fills a need for the team, but that deal is guaranteed longer than anyone currently on the Lakers’ roster, including Luka, Austin Reaves or Walker Kessler.
Gafford, meanwhile, is a player who made more sense prior to the team acquiring Kessler. Gafford’s injury woes in recent seasons limit how much he can be counted upon. He also has a contract guaranteed through 2028-29 and is set to make over $18 million per season in the final two years of the deal.
The Lakers have more pressing issues, as well, than the center position. While the center depth isn’t great, trading the limited assets they have for Gafford might not make the most sense.
For now, the Lakers aren’t revisiting a trade with Dallas. But if the hole remains at the forward position or the team’s depth at center becomes an issue, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them linked to the Mavericks down the road again.
Injuries forced Spencer Jones into a much larger role last season in Denver, he started 37 games for them. However, most fans may best remember him as the guy who dropped 20 in Game 5 against the Timberwolves in April, keeping the Nuggets' season alive another game.
20 points on 78% shooting for Spencer Jones in Game 5 of the first round,
Oklahoma City was impressed enough with all of it to sign the restricted free agent to a two-year, $12 million offer sheet, a story first reported by Michael Scotto of Hoopshype and confirmed by other reports. Both years of this offer sheet are fully guaranteed.
Denver now has 48 hours to match. That might seem like a no-brainer for the Nuggets, who have struggled with depth issues — you keep a 6'7" wing who is a strong on-ball defender and shot 39.6% from 3-point range last season. Except, because the Nuggets are in the repeater tax (and still have to work out a deal with their other restricted free agent, Peyton Watson), bringing back Spencer on even this reasonable a deal hits the bottom line hard.
Denver still should match this, but if they don't, we know why.
If Denver lets Jones walk, the Thunder will be hard-capped at the second apron and be about $842,000 below that number (with a full roster of 15 guaranteed contracts), as noted by Keith Smith of Spotrac. The Thunder are only able to offer this deal — for the taxpayer mid-level exception — because they were far enough under the second apron to do it after the Lu Dort trade.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 11: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 11, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In 2013, the Sixers brought on Sam Hinkie as general manager. The Daryl Morey protege took a sledgehammer to the roster, hoping to pull the franchise out of NBA purgatory and into perpetual relevancy.
You could liken the next decade-plus to getting on a rollercoaster that never stops and is on fire. Sure, there have been thrilling moments, but sometimes, you just really wanted to get off the ride.
Now, 13 years later, LeBron James is a Philadelphia 76er. You did it, Sixers fans. You trusted the process. It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was downright tortuous at times, but you’re here. Like Andy Dufresne, you crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side.
It feels like every so often I write a column and wind up rehashing everything you went through. Nearly securing the worst single-season record in NBA history — a record held by this very organization. Having a nepobaby executive foisted upon you only for him to be embroiled in a Twitter scandal which led to his ouster. The draft pick injuries, including Zhaire Smith nearly dying from a sesame seed allergy. And if I had a nickel for every time the Sixers took a guy No. 1 overall who couldn’t shoot … well, I’d have two nickels, but super weird that it happened twice!
Even as the franchise took steps forward, it felt like a step back was coming.
The best example is making blockbuster trades for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, then choosing Harris over Butler in free agency (or pissing off Butler enough to make him not want to re-sign, whatever you want to believe). Nearly trading for James Harden, Ben Simmons’ brutal playoff stretches — culminating in The Pass — then actually trading for Harden, being minutes away from the Eastern Conference Finals, choking that away, and then Harden calling Morey a liar. That led to the cap space plan … which did lead to signing Paul George, which led to trading for Jaylen Brown, which led to signing LeBron James.
All those Joel Embiid injuries and procedures. All the roster, coaching and front office upheaval has brought you here.
Of course, there are no guarantees. On paper, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid looks like one of the most talented starting fives the sport has ever seen. That doesn’t mean the Sixers get to skip steps along the way. It’s an overabundance of talent, which beats the hell out of the alternative. It’s fair to wonder how these stars coalesce — but it’s equally fair to wonder who the hell is going to stop them?
Let the folks in Cleveland and Miami consume the sourest of grapes. Allow the national folks to twist themselves into a Philly soft pretzel over LeBron’s decision. It truly does not matter.
Today is not the day for the detractors and naysayers. They’ve had their fun for the last decade or so. It’s your time, Sixers fans.
They all took their big swing — Cleveland, Miami, Golden State and Minnesota were all in the chase for LeBron James. All of their big swings missed.
Now what do they do?
The how varies a bit team to team, but the overall theme is they get back to work and pivot to look at the next guys on their list.
Cleveland Cavaliers
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the next step means re-signing James Harden — who opted out of $42.3 million and, while he may take a small short-term haircut, is expected to sign for two years and well north of $60 million — and taking a look at Jonathan Kuminga, reports Joe Varden at The Athletic.
Cavs officials maintained contact with Kuminga and his Cleveland-based agent, Aaron Turner, throughout James' free agency, and there is mutual interest, multiple league sources told The Athletic. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal team and player deliberations...
Basically, Cleveland could comfortably offer Kuminga roughly $6 million this season — the same amount the Cavs would have likely given James. Theoretically, the Cavs could offer Kuminga $15 million under an exception to the salary cap, but doing so would greatly reduce the amount they could pay unsigned veteran star James Harden... Kuminga, though, is more interested in a sign-and-trade deal involving Atlanta because he could earn more money that way. Kuminga is seeking a salary much closer to what he would have earned had the Hawks picked up his option, in the neighborhood of $20 million to $23 million.
The salary cap makes it unlikely either Cleveland or Atlanta is interested in the kind of sign-and-trade Kuminga wants. For Cleveland, a sign-and-trade hard caps it at the first apron, a number the Cavs are about $25 million below. It becomes very hard to re-sign Harden at a fair number, bring in Kuminga at the money he wants and round out the roster and stay under that cap. Cleveland would at least have to trade away Max Strus and Dennis Schroder, is Kuminga really worth that?
From Atlanta's perspective, it currently sits $4.9 million below the luxury tax with 17 players on the books, meaning Atlanta already must trade or waive two players before the season starts — and Kuminga is not one of the guys on the books. For example, if the Hawks sign-and-traded Kuminga for Strus and his $16.7 million, that puts the Hawks at 18 players on the books (only one of those is a partial guarantee) and $11.8 million into the tax. The Hawks aren't going into the tax for Strus or any other role player.
Bottom line, unless Kuminga wants to take the roughly $6 million, Cleveland feels like a long shot.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are going to focus on re-signing Draymond Green — who declined his $27.7 million player option to give the team flexibility to chase LeBron and others — as well as officially finalize the two-year, $11 million contract with De'Anthony Melton.
After that, how will GM Mike Dunleavy fill out the rest of the roster? While the Warriors could technically sign someone to the mid-level exception of $15 million, then finalize the deals with Green and Melton and go into the tax, the more likely path is to get their two guys re-signed, then round out the roster (two or three spots, depending on if they want 14 or 15 players) with veteran minimum guys, which keeps the Warriors out of the tax.
Would DeMar DeRozan accept the minimum? The Warriors are interested, but that might be all they have to offer.
Miami Heat
After sign-and-trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat are hard-capped at the first apron ($209 million) and, with that, are limited in next moves. They have 12 players on the roster and can offer one player the remaining $7 million of their mid-level exception, then offer one player a veteran minimum (they will leave the 15th roster spot open to start the season).
DeMar DeRozan has been linked to the Heat, and while he is not the classic playmaker that Pat Riley has talked about wanting, he is a bucket. DeRozan averaged 18.4 points per game last season in Sacramento, and he's durable, playing in 77 games. He could be worth some or all of the remaining mid-level exception.
Bradley Beal was another name mentioned by ESPN's Shams Charania, who added they will keep their eye on Klay Thompson, who may get bought out by Dallas. Another couple of names to watch are Seth Curry and, if he gets bought out by Atlanta, Buddy Hield.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota had already been aggressive this offseason, shifting from a defense-first roster with size all along the front line, to a more offense-first roster with LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards in the backcourt (leaving Rudy Gobert to try to be the ultimate backstop in the paint who keeps the team's defense respectable). LeBron would have been plug-and-play at the four, filling a hole in the Minnesota roster (the Timberwolves moved on from both Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason).
Now, Minnesota has an open roster spot and can offer the veteran minimum. Whoever they land at this point is not going to be as impactful as LeBron would have been, but Minnesota can get someone. Then just lean hard into their new identity.
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 28: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers throws chalk in the air before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Rocket Arena reserved one of its loudest roars of the year for a late January 30-point blowout.
That cheer wasn’t for anything that happened on the floor; it was instead for the hometown hero, who was playing possibly the last game on the court he had reigned on for over a decade.
LeBron James doesn’t break composure often, but this was different. The ovation and genuine love moved him to tears.
This stood in stark contrast to everything happening in Los Angeles. Instead of being welcomed as a hero, he was celebrated as merely a good basketball player who had his best achievements come in different uniforms.
After a month of reiterating that the final chapter of his career would be about happiness and his family, LeBron chose to shamelessly ring chase with the Philadelphia 76ers — a city he has no ties to and is far from a sure thing to win a championship.
On its face, this move is surprising if James is looking for appreciation and praise.
Choosing the Cleveland Cavaliers would’ve provided the perfect storybook ending for the local kid who grew up to become the best basketball player of all-time. There would’ve been 82 more opportunities for moments like that one in January to happen. All the while, he would’ve still had a shot at competing for a championship. After all, the Cavs are just two months removed from playing in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Yet, this all operates under the assumption that James and those around him actually understood what made that connection possible in the first place. Maybe they don’t. After all, this is someone who’s spent their whole career trying to craft the greatest narrative, but has ended up weaving a convoluted tale about someone who bounces from city-to-city based on who can provide the quickest short-term gain.
So from that perspective, this move shouldn’t have been that surprising.
America’s capitalist society has long confused money and attention for cultural relevance and artistry. Commercial success is the standard movies, shows, books, and music are judged. Quality and whether there’s an actual message being conveyed through it don’t matter. This is how we find ourselves in the endless cycle of franchise reboots and empty live-action remakes of things we once loved, but have now lost the core of what made them special.
Hollywood isn’t the only one chasing the ghost of once great things.
Winning is the currency of basketball. LeBron has spent his whole career in Michael Jordan’s shadow. That was inevitable with him entering the league a year after Jordan retired. Why he’s still there now, and probably always will be in the court of public opinion, isn’t because of anything he’s done on the basketball court.
Another championship, or even two, wouldn’t change that because it was never about the rings.
People get invested in stories because they want to feel something. Sports, at their core, are just an ongoing narrative that you hope will invest you for the time you put in. Watching players and teams meet, fall, and maybe one day overcome the obstacles in their way is where the entire joy comes from. And it’s also where we get our idea of what makes someone truly great from.
This part is what James and those around him haven’t understood and probably never will. There’s more to this than just winning at all costs.
Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s greatness came from their play, but also the continuity of their stories. The bond between player, team, and city went through peaks and valleys, but it persisted for decades. The endurance of that marriage made their triumphs more meaningful for everyone and easier to appreciate for outside observers.
LeBron and the athletes who followed his lead threw that playbook out the window. Instead of enduring the natural ups and downs of an organization, they took control of their own narratives.
There are benefits to that. James probably doesn’t win consecutive championships in 2012 and 2013 if he doesn’t join the Miami Heat. Kevin Durant isn’t a back-to-back Finals MVP if he doesn’t go to the Golden State Warriors.
Those choices are completely understandable and what I would do if in that position. Taking ownership of your situation instead of leaving it up to people who may not have your best interests in mind makes sense, but that doesn’t mean the general public has to like it. Every choice, even logical ones, has drawbacks.
Everything LeBron has done throughout his career has been calculated. He’s constantly thought one or two steps ahead of everyone else to put himself and his brand in the best position to succeed. That includes surrounding himself with the best teammates and situations on and off the court to lead to winning. But again, even calculated moves have consequences.
If success is just about winning and making money, then there’s no viable criticism for anything LeBron has done, including this move. After all, LeBron’s Sixers jersey has already sold out. His brand will grow in a large coastal market, which will certainly open up new business ventures. On top of that, the Sixers should do plenty of winning on the court. However, winning alone doesn’t buy adoration. If it could, Durant wouldn’t feel the need to continue making burner accounts to defend his honor.
What was supposed to be an expansion of his kingdom ended up being an eight-year footnote. He won a championship, put his name on top of the scoring list, and shared the court with his son. All of those things should’ve been celebrated as once-in-a-generation achievements, but they weren’t. He — predictably — didn’t get the treatment from the fans or team personnel that Kobe did at the end of his two decades spent in one uniform. Not even close, which reportedly influenced him to leave.
James now seems destined to repeat that mistake in another city that has no connection to him. If the Sixers win, the credit will go to Philadelphia’s guys, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. And if they lose, that will fall on LeBron.
By making this entirely about winning one more ring, LeBron has validated the narrative that he’s still chasing Jordan because of the title count. It’s an admission that he isn’t viewed as the greatest, despite being better at basketball than anyone else who’s ever lived.
LeBron doesn’t owe anyone anything. He especially doesn’t owe anything to Northeast Ohio after all he’s done for the community. But viewing things through that prism misses the entire point of why sports matter.
In an idealistic world, you’d like to think the bond between an athlete and a city is what drives decisions. I’m not naive enough to think that it actually does — but there are exceptions to that rule. LeBron and Cleveland seemed to be one in that January moment, and when he yelled “Cleveland, this is for you!” with tears in his eyes after delivering the city’s first championship in over half a century.
This latest decision, and whatever comes down the line, don’t change what happened in the past. Relationships aren’t static. They’re always evolving.
The bond between Cleveland and LeBron will endure past this. He will still return as a hero at some point. Yet, it does complicate things further than they already were.
How James’s last game in Cleveland will look is anyone’s guess. It could come in an inconsequential regular-season game. Maybe this whole summer is swept under the rug, as we do with Jordan’s Wizards jersey. Or, it could come in one of the last games of the conference finals with James trying to end the season in the one place he still calls home. That situation wouldn’t be swept under the rug as quickly.
What we can say with certainty is that moment on that cold January night in Cleveland won’t be replicated again there. At least, not while James is still wearing a jersey. It probably won’t happen at his new home court in Philadelphia either, based on how we’ve seen this story play out in the past. That is the true cost of this last-ditch attempt at one more championship.
EL SEGUNDO, CA - JULY 02: Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka answers a question during the Los Angeles Lakers welcome press conference for their NBA Draft picks on July 02, 2024, at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lakers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The pressure was on Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka this summer to build a roster around Luka Dončić. He didn’t disappoint.
Considering the whirlwind of activity, for our SB Nation Reacts survey this week, we asked fans if their opinion on Pelinka has changed. The results are in, and his approval is up.
This was a good summer for Pelinka. He finally landed an A-list center, a need since before the Anthony Davis trade.
Doing that alone probably makes this a good offseason. When you also add in that the Lakers were able to keep Austin Reaves and added a ton of new young talent, it’s clear why fans are happy with Pelinka.
And it’s not just fans that are pleased with the changes as Dončić is excited about the moves. Considering that he’s the franchise player, that’s good news for Pelinka.
The Lakers didn’t just try to run it back with an old team that was fourth in the Western Conference. Instead, Pelinka made bold moves to shake up the roster.
Another positive for Pelinka, based on this poll, is that only 5% have a worse view of him. That’s a relatively low number and is more evidence that fans have approved of the job he’s done this summer.
In the end, though, what matters most is what ownership thinks of Pelinka and how the Lakers perform this season.
Still, it’s always a plus to have support from the fans. With all the moves Pelinka has made, he is currently in their good graces and that’ll continue to be true if the Lakers play well during this upcoming season.
