Category: Basketball

LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, went on his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman and broke down which teams are in contention for the 41-year-old superstar.

It’s highly unusual for an agent to publicly discuss his client’s active free agency, especially for someone as high profile as James. 

But we got a glimpse into James’ thinking in the episode that aired Friday. 

There were 10 teams on Paul’s whiteboard, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. 

At times, Paul was surprisingly candid. 

“If the Knicks hadn’t have won [the championship], there wouldn’t even be no board,” Paul said. “He’d be going to the Knicks.” 

Other times, Paul played coy, such as when he was asked why the Warriors, who are presumed to be one of James’ top destinations, were in a corner of the whiteboard as opposed to being featured front and center like the 76ers, Heat, Timberwolves, Nuggets and Cavaliers. 

“You can think whatever you think,” Paul said. “This is my board. You decide what you want to think.” 

Paul also revealed a few tidbits on James’ thinking about a reunion with the Cavaliers, who James spent two stints with from 2003-10 and 2014-18, including carrying them to their only championship in 2016.

Paul referred to assistant general manager Brandon Weems as “basically LeBron’s brother.” He also intimated that Darius Garland (who’s also represented by Klutch Sports) no longer being on the team is a drawback for James.

“No offense to Harden, but no Garland, because he loves Garland like he loves [Tyrese] Maxey,” Paul said. 

Paul made it clear that there has been overwhelming interest in James, adding that aside from “one organization, maybe two” he has heard from every team in the league. He said that next season won’t necessarily be James’ final one in the NBA.

Paul added that James’ wife, Savannah, and 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, gave him “the green light” to go anywhere.

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The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t let LeBron James’ exit keep them from adding players to their roster, as they’ve re-signed star guard Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million deal and agreed to a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz that’ll bring 7-foot-2 center Walker Kessler to LA.

But many feel like this isn’t enough to atone for James’ absence, as the Lakers have received a lot of criticism in recent days by those who believe they need to build a better roster around star guard Luka Dončić.

Despite any external criticism Los Angeles has received, Dončić approves the moves the Lakers have made up to this point, as he was quoted saying he was “excited” about the Lakers’ signings in a July 2 article from Dan Woike of The Athletic.

It’s not surprising to hear Dončić share this sentiment. For one, he’s a low-maintenance star who probably wouldn’t voice his displeasure in public, even if he felt like the Lakers hadn’t built enough around him yet.

Plus, bringing Reaves back and adding Kessler are objectively solid moves that put the Lakers in a solid position to start the offseason, which Dončić is right to feel excited about.

Now the question becomes whether these moves are enough to make the Lakers a true championship contender, or whether they’re an acquisition or two away from cementing themselves as Western Conference contenders in their first season after the James era.

If the Lakers do manage to secure one more star, Dončić’s opinion will be even more earned, and LA fans will feel more at ease without James being on their roster as the 2026-27 season approaches.

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The Washington Wizards are FINALLY in the news for reasons other than AJ Dybantsa, Anthony Davis or Trae Young. Maybe Russell Westbrook as well?

On Friday, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Wizards will acquire Deandre Ayton from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two of the Wizards’ second round draft picks in 2031 and 2032.

Ayton, a center, averaged 12.5 points and 8 rebounds per game in 72 appearances for the Lakers. His most notable reign was from 2018-23 when he played for the Phoenix Suns, his first team where they made the NBA Finals but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. With the exception of his lone season with the Lakers, Ayton has averaged a double double in points and rebounds every season he played.

Hardy, who now would be with LA, averaged 9.2 points per game in the 2025-26 season starting with the Dallas Mavericks and later the Wizards.

With Ayton now in DC, it will be interesting to see how or whether he, Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr will fit together.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Deandre Ayton’s tenure with the Lakers has come to an end.

On Friday, the Lakers traded the 7-foot center to the Wizards on Friday for Jaden Hardy and a pair of Washington’s second round picks (2031 and 2032).

The trade is a continuation of the Lakers’ roster reconstruction around superstar guard Luka Dončić, who recruited Ayton to LA last summer.

Ayton joins LeBron James (next team to be determined), Marcus Smart (Houston Rockets), Luke Kennard (Phoenix Suns) and Jaxson Hayes (Utah Jazz) as players from the 2025-26 squad who’ll be on another team next season.

Rui Hachimura also remains an unrestricted free agent, with multiple teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves expressing interest in signing the 6-foot-8 forward. 

In pursuit of building a more complementary roster to Dončić as the top priority of the offseason, the Lakers have re-signed Austin Reaves (four years, $185 million), agreed to a sign and trade with the Jazz for Walker Kessler (four years, $130 million) and agreed to deals with Quentin Grimes (four years, $60 million), Sandro Mamukelashvili (four years, $52 million) and Collin Sexton (two years, $19 million). 

Every deal the Lakers have agreed to have a player option at the end of the contract. 

Ayton exercised his $8.1 million player option for 2026–27 earlier in the week as part of the two-year, $16.2 million contract he signed with the Lakers last July to forego unrestricted free agency.

His decision was one of the biggest X-factors of the Lakers’ offseason considering the team’s desire to find a new starting center and his impact on their cap space.

Ayton, the 2018 No. 1 draft pick who’ll turn 28 in July, averaged 12.5 points and 8 rebounds in a career-high 72 regular games. He was instrumental to the Lakers’ first-round playoff victory against the Rockets, averaging 11.8 points (60.4% shooting) and 10.8 rebounds in the six-game series.

But Ayton was also a polarizing player because of his inconsistent motor and his play style not fitting the archetype the Lakers need. Dončić has long craved a rim-running, rim-protecting center who he can dominate with in the pick-and-roll — two things Ayton isn’t.

Despite his talents, which have been evident since he entered the league, it was clear he wasn’t going to develop into the kind of big man the Lakers needed him to be. 

The type of center that Kessler already is, with room to go into an annual All-Defensive team caliber player. 

The Lakers are searching for another backup big man, with Andre Drummond, Kevon Looney and Nick Richards all viable options. 

In Hardy, the Lakers are acquiring a 23-year-old guard who fits into the team’s desires to get younger and more athletic.

The 6-foot-3 Hardy, the No. 37 pick in the 2022 draft out of the now-defunct G League Ignite, averaged 12.6 points in 23 games with the Wizards after being traded to Washington midseason. 

He’s averaged 8.4 points on 38.6% shooting on 3-pointers in his NBA career. 

Hardy was teammates with Doncic in Dallas for 2 ½ seasons before Doncic was traded to Los Angeles, with the Mavericks trading Hardy to Washington in February. It isn’t clear what role Hardy will have if he stays on the roster since the Lakers already have several backcourt players ahead of him on the depth chart. He has two years and $12 million (team option for 2027-28) left on his contract.

The trade netted the draft-pick depleted Lakers two second rounders, which can be included in a trade for along with their own 2033 second-round pick and 2032 first-round pick swap as they look to more roster improvements.

With Hardy’s 2026-27 salary ($6 million) $2.1 less than Ayton’s ($8.1 million), the Lakers will create more financial flexibility for themselves as they continue to search for a backup big and wing defender.

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The Lakers’ roster shuffling has continued with another trade that also lands them some sorely-needed draft capital.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, LA is trading Deandre Ayton to the Wizards for Jaden Hardy and two second round picks.

Finally, Rob Pelinka got Anthony Davis his center.

This deal will only open up about an extra $2 million in cap space for the Lakers. Hardy is making $6 million this season with a team option for $6 million next season. Ayton was set to make $8.1 million this season.

The likely aim of this deal was to acquire draft assets to move other contracts. The Lakers are still looking to add depth on the wing with Jonathan Kuminga among the most heavily mentioned names. Rui Hachimura also has not signed and could still be an option.

To do that, they will need to clear contracts off the books, which the addition of the two second round picks should help them do. In short, this feels like a precursor to another trade and then a free agent signing.

Ayton’s season in LA was underwhelming, but largely because he did not establish himself as the team’s center of the future. He still showed he can be a reliable rotation player and a starter on some teams, but he was not the rim-running, lob-catching center the team needed and certainly did not want to be Clint Capela this season.

He did provide some memorable moments mostly off the court, though, including stories about crunk juice and talking about watching LeBron James on the court like it was a movie. He was also a big reason the Lakers beat the Rockets in the first round with his defense on Alperen Şengün.

Hardy averaged 12.6 points per game on 42% shooting in 23 games with the Wizards in the second half of last season. He did spend time in Dallas with Luka Dončić. However, as a guard in an already crowded backcourt, Hardy is likely going to be on the outside looking in.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

As the Knicks are enjoying their summer as reigning champs, NBA free agency and the rumor mill that comes with it is already in full swing.

And apparently, if New York didn't beat the San Antonio Spurs to win their first title since 1973, they'd be the top choice for the biggest free agent on the market -- LeBron James.

James' agent Rich Paul told Max Kellerman on the Game Over podcast that James would have chosen to sign with the Knicks if they didn't win the 2026 NBA Finals. 

"I think it's difficult, right? Because the last thing you want to do is mess up something like that. The Knicks has a good thing going. If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks," Paul said.

Paul shared a whiteboard of potential destinations for James with reasoning for each, showing that he's mainly considering the Philadelphia 76ers, Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, and Cleveland Cavaliers as his next team. The secondary teams shown include the Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and Spurs.

While the idea of James playing for New York has been rumored multiple times since 2010 (when James infamously made "The Decision" to go to the Miami Heat), Paul made it sound like it would have happened this summer.

"Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say, 'Hey man, there’s no issue with me.' And I'm not saying that would make his decision... They (Knicks) have checked in," Paul said. "The one thing for sure, you want to respect what those guys have built. And also, it's Jalen Brunson's show. You want to respect that. He's earned that right, he's performed well, you want to respect that."

Although, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reported late Thursday night that the Knicks "should not be seen as a potential destination for James" and are "very happy with the core of their roster." Begley notes that the Warriors, Heat, Cavaliers and Sixers are viewed as teams with serious interest in the future Hall of Famer.

James, who will turn 42 at the end of December, announced on June 30 that he'll be leaving the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons and choose a new team for the 2026-27 season. He is expected to play at least one more year in the NBA, but where that will be remains to be seen.

Rich Paul on LeBron James to the Knicks 😳

“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board. He’d be going to the Knicks…. Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone and say ‘hey man, there’s no issue with me.’ They (Knicks) have checked in.”

(Via Game Over) https://t.co/iFyuJgEBt8pic.twitter.com/hpy1PnVU1Q

— Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 3, 2026

The Lakers were already Luka Dončić’s team, but now that LeBron James has departed, he is, without question, their biggest star.

This makes pleasing him with the franchise’s direction the highest priority. Given that this is an offseason where a ton of cap space could be created and the Lakers had few players guaranteed to return, the pressure was on the front office to deliver quality moves to improve the team.

According to a report by Dan Woike of The Athletic, Luka has liked what’s happened so far, particularly the reported trade for Walker Kessler and the team’s ability to keep Austin Reaves.

According to league sources, Luka Dončić was “excited” about the Lakers’ signings, with the team addressing his biggest desires for the roster by keeping Austin Reaves and getting an elite rim-protecting center in Kessler.

Those sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals have not been completed, said the Lakers kept in regular communication with Dončić and his team despite a significant time gap, with the star guard spending his summer in Europe.

Getting these two deals done for the Lakers came at a hefty price.

Trading for Kessler required giving up multiple first-round picks and agreeing to a four-year, $130 million deal. And to keep Reaves will reportedly cost $185 million across four years. Still, if it means Luka is happy, maybe that’s all that matters.

The franchise has gone all in on him, and the two most important things are his happiness and the team’s competitiveness.

Reaves has max talent, and now his money matches his basketball ability. Kessler is a clear upgrade in the frontcourt compared to what LA has played with over the last two seasons.

So not only can the basketball argument be made that these are good moves, but with Luka also wanting them, the choices the Lakers have made are no-brainers.

The Lakers have always been a superstar-friendly team.

They made sure Magic Johnson was happy with the head coaching situation in the 80s. During the Kobe Bryant era, they found him a big so he could win a pair of titles. And even if things ended with LeBron, the Lakers certainly made big moves for him, including trading for Anthony Davis and later, Russell Westbrook in an attempt to win it all.

It’s no surprise Luka is getting the same treatment.

Dončić is happy that the Lakers have the pieces he’s asked for. Once the roster is finalized, he’ll have the ingredients he needs to cook up a title run in LA.

For now, it’s summertime and good vibes are all that’s needed. Dončić is happy, the Lakers should be pleased with their moves and we have plenty of time to see how it all looks in reality in the fall.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Tatum breaks silence on Jaylen: ‘Nothing but love and respect for you' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It was at least a little noteworthy that Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum had no public reaction or message to this week’s shocking trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia. Considering the duo has been one of the best one-two punches in the NBA for close to a decade, the silence raised a few eyebrows around Boston.

Yet almost 48 hours after the news broke, Tatum has chimed in.

Tatum posted a photo of himself with Brown in their earliest NBA days, with a message attached to his former teammate:

Tatum was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in 2017, a year after Brown was taken at No. 3 by Boston. They forced Cleveland to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals in their first year together, reaching at least the third round of the playoffs in five of their first seven seasons together.

Jayson Tatum on IG: pic.twitter.com/aamksqhYD4

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) July 3, 2026

Aside from their work together on the court, they also shared a memorable moment in 2023, when the All-Star Game took a back seat to their impromptu one-on-one matchup.

Tatum was named the MVP of that game, while the pairing of course won a championship for Boston a year later.

That All-Star Game showdown was notable because it was the first chance for anyone to really watch the two Celtics stars play against each other on both ends of the court. With Brown heading to Philly, though, it’s a sight that’s going to become a lot more common.

The San Antonio Spurs’ first order of business was re-signing their own, but they didn’t stop there.

Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes, who shared the Spurs’ power forward spot most of the year, were locked down in Day 1 of the NBA’s free agency period. The Silver and Black rewarded Champagnie with a new 3-year, $45 million contract and brought back Barnes on a 1-year, $8 million deal.

Though Champagnie supplanted Barnes in the starting lineup last season, time will tell who starts in 2026-27 because … Tobias Harris joined the Spurs on a 2-year, $31 million deal after helping Detroit earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference last year. Harris ranked second on the Pistons in scoring with 18.1 points per game while grabbing a team-high six defensive rebounds per game.

His 30 points (including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc), 9 rebounds, and 3 steals were crucial in Detroit’s Game 7 win over Orlando in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.

Harris has been a double-figure scorer in all but his first two seasons in the NBA. He’s started every game in the last nine years, despite bouncing from the Pistons to the Clippers to the 76ers and back to Detroit in that span.

Of course, Barnes had his own nine-year starting streak before Champagnie’s skill set and effectiveness moved him to the bench the second half of last season.

The Spurs still have their full bi-annual exception (about $5.5 million) remaining for the last two full roster spots. From last year’s Western Conference championship roster, Bismack Biyombo, Jordan McLaughlin, Kelly Olynyk, Mason Plumlee, and Lindy Waters III remain unsigned as unrestricted free agents.

Guard David Jones Garcia and forward Harrison Ingram have two-way qualifying offers, making them restricted free agents. The Spurs can have up to three players on two-way contracts.

Outside the lines, the Spurs made a splash Thursday night by signing “free agent” coach Billy Donovan as the team’s lead assistant following Sean Sweeney’s departure for the head job in Orlando.

Donovan spent the last six seasons as Chicago’s head coach. Despite never claiming a Central Division title and making just one playoff appearance with the Bulls, he brings championship pedigree with his back-to-back national championships at Florida in 2006 and 2007.

After a college coaching career that also included a national runnerup finish, another Final Four, and three more Elite Eight appearances, Donovan made his way to the NBA in 2015-16. He led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a Northwest Division championship and the Western Conference Finals.

Now, he’ll be helping Mitch Johnson and the Spurs as they try to keep the Thunder from advancing no further than that in the years to come.

No bias on Tobias

Fan reaction to the Tobias Harris signing was mixed on social media, but the Spurs earned generally good reviews from around the league.

Sports Illustrated’s Dan Lyons rated the Harris signing an A-, recognizing him as “one of the few Pistons to elevate his game in the postseason” and calling him “a rock-solid signing” for the price.

Bleacher Report said the full mid-level exception seemed a little high for Harris at his age (soon to be 34). But BR’s staff still gave the signing a B due to Harris’ veteran presence and playoff experience.

Zach Harper from The Athletic also weighed in with a B, calling Harris a “very good short-term option” who the Spurs just need to “consistently knock down outside shots.”

Looking at the offseason as a whole, Kurt Helin from NBC Sports gave the Spurs an A-. He said Harris is “a good role player who can catch-and-shoot corner 3s and put the ball on the floor when needed; he’s a good veteran fit for them at a position of need.” Helin also praised the re-signing of Champagnie and the Spurs’ focus on bigs in the draft.

Harris video makes the grade

One thing we can all agree on … Tobias Harris brought it with his free agent announcement video:

Wemby World Cup vibes

And speaking of videos, this clip of Victor Wembanyama’s pinpoint free kick is making the rounds on social media. His French countrymen are on the short list of World Cup favorites, but if they end up needing any help …

Another day, another Mike Gansey move.

Albeit this one a level tamer than what we have seen from the Sixers new president of basketball operations in the past 48 hours.

The 76ers signed 22-year-old Rayan Rupert to a two-way deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Rupert averaged 5.2 points per contest last season, appearing in 64 games and getting heavy minutes once being acquired by the Memphis Grizzlies at the trade deadline.

He has more to show as a shooter considering he went only 39% from the field last season, but his 33-10-10 night against the Bucks (on April 5, 2026) showcased how his 6-foot=7 frame can be a triple-threat option offensively. He followed up that performance with back-to-back 12-rebound games to close out the season.

He is a handsy defender who will make the ball-handler pay for lazy drives. He picked up nine steals combined in the final three games of the season. The level of competition he saw in those games, however, renders a two-way deal realistic. He will be able to grow consistent and develop as a shooter with the Delaware Blue Coats and be called up as needed.

Rupert is the first reported player the Sixers have signed to a two-way deal this offseason. They still have two other slots to fill. It seems likely Rupert will also be a part of the Sixers’ summer league team in Vegas. We’re still awaiting the release of the roster for those games.

Rupert is an ideal player to take a flyer on with a two-way deal. We’ll see what else Gansey has in store for the other two-way spots.

There are few surprises on the Detroit Pistons’ roster for the upcoming NBA Summer League, and that’s just fine. The team will be headlined by first-round pick Ebuka Okorie, a quick-scoring guard from Stanford. The No. 17 overall pick is used to having the ball in his hands, creating his own shot, and getting to the rim. Those are the kinds of prerequisites that allow you to star in Summer League.

The team will also feature college basketball’s reigning shot-block leader and Detroit’s second-round pick Ugonna Onyenso from Virginia. Having a dominating presence at the top of the key and near the rim should at least make for some enjoyable games for Pistons fans.

Elsewhere on the roster, you will find last year’s second-round pick Chaz Lanier. The sharpshooter from Tennessee didn’t get much run in his inaugural season in Detroit so it will be nice to dust him off and see what he can do when given plenty of shots.

Current two-way player Isaac Jones, acquired in a trade with the Sacramento Kings last season, will be at Summer League for Detroit, as will players from Detroit’s G League team, the Motor City Cruise. Dawson Garcia and Brice Williams will suit up. Former Atlanta G League player for the College Park Skyhawks Basheer Jihad will also play for the Pistons in Vegas. Latavious Mitchell played overseas in Ireland.

The rest of the roster comprises college players looking to turn heads and secure two-way spots or contracts overseas. That includes Roddy Gayle Jr. of the University of Michigan and Corey Stephenson of Florida International University.

Detroit Pistons Summer League Schedule

The Pistons will play at least five games at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which kicks off on July 9. Four games have already been announced.

The slate is as follows (all times Eastern):

• July 9 at 5:30 p.m.: Pistons vs. 76ers (Prime Video)
• July 12 at 4 p.m.: Pistons vs. Cavaliers (Prime)
• July 13 at 4 p.m.: Pistons vs. Knicks (Prime)
• July 15 at 6 p.m.: Pistons vs. Suns (ESPN U)

Read more about Detroit’s Summer League schedule.

Full Detroit Pistons Summer League Roster

The full roster for the Detroit Pistons Summer League team is as follows:

• Drake Allen, guard, Utah State
• Dawson Garcia, forward, Motor City Cruise
• Roddy Gayle Jr., forward, Michigan
• Jaden Henley, guard, Grand Canyon
• Isaac Jones, forward/center, Detroit Pistons
• Basheer Jihad, forward/center, Arizona State
• Chaz Lanier, guard, Detroit Pistons
• Latavious Mitchell, forward, Ballincolig
• Ebuka Okorie, guard, Stanford
• Ugonna Onyenso, center, Virginia
• Corey Stephenson, guard, Florida International
• Orlando Thomas, guard, Langston
• Brice Williams, guard, Motor City Cruise

Spicy day around the Association on Thursday as everybody from Twitch streamers to Import Beantowners had plenty to say about everything. Here’s a bunch of links to keep you entertaining as we enter Day 4 of this new and weird No-Centers Knicks Era.

• Mitchell Robinson leaving for Boston already hurt enough, but Mitch made it sting a little more on Instagram, replying to an OG Anunoby sad-face comment.
• Does Robinson know he still owes us an explanation himself? Get ready, Mitchie.
• Finer gentleman Ariel Hukporti (who as a new Sixer we now hate too, don’t get it twisted) also sent his goodbyes.
• The Knicks keep trying to fix the unfixable and sign/trade for some center, but so far, they’ve had no luck. In the latest round of bad news, New York has been trying to replace Mitch by going after New Orleans’ Yves Missi, but the Pelicans have made their stance on that very clear. Looks like the Knicks are doomed to settle for one or two of Looney, Drummond, Plumlee, Powell, Biyombo, Richards, or any other warm and aging body.
• SNY’s Ian Begley heard a similar message around the draft, but decided to wait more than a week to report it. Weird.
• Newsday’s Steve Popper attempted to breakdown some of the remaining options for the Knicks. Usual names on top of Mousa Cisse, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Moussa Diabate. The background:

“The Knicks are still waiting, searching and letting the prices settle down — for the math to work and for a player to decide that filling the role that Robinson occupied is for him. The Knicks have approximately $8.5 million left to fill out the roster if they want to remain below the second apron, an edict that Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan voiced just days after the championship was secured. That money isn’t just for a backup center but to finish off the last spots on the roster. The Knicks have 11 players under contract and must have 15 — or at least 14, a number they can roster for 14 consecutive days and 28 days total in a season.”

• HoopsHype reported the Knicks had interest in Marvin Bagley III before he signed a minimum deal with Denver.
• The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy noted some big Knicks extension windows are opening, even if we’re not quite focused on that for now. Those belong to Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride, all of whom can negotiate extensions between now and Aug. 10. Very worth reading in full, and we’ll surely cover it in detail later this week/month/summer. Here’s a snippet:

“All these extensions, if signed, would start in the 2027-28 season. Coming off the franchise’s first championship in 53 years, it would make sense to contractually lock up the key players involved. But as Mitchell Robinson’s free agency underscored, there are sometimes other considerations — like aprons and egos. With KAT and especially Hart, the guess is they’ll agree to extensions before or during next season. McBride’s extension, meanwhile, is the diciest of the three.”

• The LeBron-to-Knicks speculation is growing louder, if not quite likelier. Jake Fischer reported the Knicks showed some level of interest in LeBron while on a livestream, only for SNY’s Ian Begley to pour cold water on it shortly after.
• The unrecognizable Sixers are reportedly lurking too, thanks in part to the arrival of Jaylen Brown and the Tyrese Maxey-Klutch ties.
• At least one thing in the James sweepstakes is clear, ESPN’s Shams Charania believes.
• The NBA will test a one-free-throw rule during Summer League, using the G League model, where one single FT attempt is worth one, two, or three points depending on the foul situation. It won’t apply in the final two minutes or overtime. The league will also test a basketball with an embedded sensor — pause — to help with future officiating applications like last-touch out-of-bounds calls.
• Jaylen Brown (of course) went live on Twitch after the first streamer-for-podcaster trade was confirmed on Wednesday. He talked about a bunch of stuff and made clear he wasn’t thrilled with how Boston treated him.

“I wasn’t thrilled with the amount of respect I was shown during this process. I think there was a bit of a lack of respect. I think it was fine at one point, and then out of nowhere, things just kind of went left. I think Brad is probably getting a lot of the criticism. I wasn’t thrilled the way he facilitated some of the conversations.”

• Sister site CelticsBlog pushed back on a Bill Simmons report about Giannis-to-Boston falling apart over extension demands. Choose your fighter as Boston collapses!
• Kyle Lowry is reportedly set to retire as a Raptor on a one-day contract, and he was pissed about the news being leaked.
• Spain beat Austria 3-0 at the World Cup. Sorry, I had to include it.

You can follow Antonio on Twitter at @chapulana.

The Knicks “checked in” on free agent LeBron James, as stated by his power agent Rich Paul, but a signing is “very, very unlikely,” multiple sources told The Post.

A source said the discussion between Paul and the Knicks was cursory, with Paul later explaining on his podcast why New York actually lost appeal by winning the title.

Either way, a Knicks-LeBron union – which feels decades in the making – is not in the cards. 

“It’s difficult,” Paul said on his “Game Over podcast on Netflix. “The last thing you want to do is mess up something like that. The Knicks have a good thing. … If the Knicks hadn’t have won (the title), there’d be no board (of teams). He’d be going to the Knicks.”

LeBron, who averaged 21 points as an All-Star last season, would obviously be a tremendous fit on the court but adds a different element to the atmosphere.

The defense of the championship would suddenly morph into a different story, replete with distractions – the potential farewell tour of arguably the greatest player of all time. 

 The Knicks, who are trying to avoid the second apron, can also only offer a veteran minimum contract to James, who is looking for a new team after informing the Lakers he wasn’t returning. 

With LeBron out of the mix, the Knicks are still searching for a backup center to replace Mitchell Robinson, who bolted to the Celtics in free agency.

Regardless, a source said that the “core” of the Knicks will remain in place for the upcoming season.

“The Knicks are very happy with the core of the roster,” the source said. 

LeBron has been most linked to three potential destinations in free agency – the Cavaliers, Warriors and Sixers. 

Each presents a unique opportunity.

With the Warriors, James can earn more money while playing with fellow legend Steph Curry. With the Cavs, he can try to complete a storybook ending with his original franchise. With the Sixers, there’d be three star teammates – Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey – and a chance to break a long title drought. 

The Knicks? There used to be a lot of reasons but those don’t apply after a championship.