The race for LeBron James is over.

James is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 41-year-old’s decision was shocking given James had already won NBA championships with two of the four finalists in the sweepstakes: the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.

There was already some familiarity with the 76ers as James spent the last five offseasons working out with Philadelphia star Tyrese Maxey, who helped convince the NBA’s all-time leading scorer to join the organization.

But according to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, Joel Embiid was also a “heavy figure” in recruiting James. The 76ers big man kept in contact with James throughout his unique free agency process and reportedly vowed to get his body in playing shape, per Jones.

Philadelphia was aggressive in its recruitment process for LeBron as he was essentially the missing piece for a title run.

The 76ers were never regarded as the favorite in the sweepstakes for James, but the veteran began to view the team in a different light once the team acquired Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. It was the blockbuster trade that propelled Philadelphia to the forefront of James’ list.

As he shared on social media, James believes joining the 76ers would make the organization a championship team. On paper, the new look Philadelphia squad will certainly be a lethal powerhouse in the East.

Philadelphia now boasts a starting five including James, Embiid, Maxey, Brown and VJ Edgecombe.

The already illustrious legacy for James can reach new levels by bringing an NBA championship to Philadelphia. It has been 43 years since the city last won an NBA Championship, headlined by Dr. J and Moses Malone.

The superstar has brought a title to every franchise he’s played for — will he do it again?

LeBron James had heard the pitches, studied the rosters and decided the 76ers gave him the best chance to chase another championship.

Before he could say yes, however, he needed approval from the people whose lives would be affected most.

“The last step was getting the family all on board and talking to everyone, from Savannah, Zhuri, Bronny James, who’s playing for the Lakers, to Bryce James at Arizona,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said.

That family meeting was more than a courtesy.

James’ move to the 76ers ends an eight-year run in Los Angeles, where his family built a life that now extends well beyond his basketball career.

Bronny remains with the Lakers, Bryce is beginning his college career at Arizona and Savannah has established her own business and media projects.

Then there is Zhuri, the youngest member of the family and potentially the person facing the biggest adjustment.

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James previously revealed that he pulled his daughter aside before making his decision public. He told her he would not return to the Lakers and acknowledged that playing elsewhere would mean spending less time at home.

“I pulled her to the side and I was like, ‘Baby, I’m letting you know. I don’t want you to hear from nobody else, but I won’t be playing for the Lakers next year. I will be playing somewhere else,'” James recalled.

“‘I won’t be home all the time. And you may not have an answer right now. You can give me an answer now. We can wait; we can write it down. I just want to know how you felt about it because you mean a lot to me. Me being away from you means a lot.’ So, the family portion is a big thing, too.”

James has always made his family part of his basketball journey. He spent years talking about his dream of playing alongside Bronny before the two finally became teammates in LA. Savannah and their children have also been present for nearly every major career milestone, including his record-breaking night as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Philadelphia will make that closeness harder to maintain.

James will now play across the country from Bronny, while Bryce remains in Tucson. Savannah and Zhuri have not publicly indicated whether they will relocate, creating the possibility the family keeps Los Angeles as its primary home while James lives in Philadelphia during the season.

James’ two-year, $8 million deal was ultimately about basketball happiness and one more championship opportunity.

Getting his family comfortable with the sacrifice appears to have been the final — and most important —part of the decision.

LeBron James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency as he looks to chase another NBA title before calling it a career. The 22-time All-Star took a significant pay cut to do so.

After making nearly $53 million with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, James accepted a two-year contract worth the veteran minimum. The decision allowed Philadelphia – which already has two of the NBA's eight highest-paid players for 2026-27 in Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown – to be able to afford the 41-year-old superstar.

James' new deal with the 76ers will be worth just under $8 million over two years. He is set to make just under $3.9 million in the first year of his contract, which will mark the least he has earned during a single NBA season, coming in just short of the $4.02 million he made during his rookie season in 2003-04.

Just how cheap is James' deal for his first season in Philadelphia? A total of 292 NBA players will be making more than him during the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, making James one of the best values league-wide.

Here's what to know about James' contract and where it ranks league-wide:

Full list of players making more than LeBron James for 2026-27 season

Below is a full look at the list of players who will make more than LeBron James during the 2026-27 NBA season, according to data from Basketball Reference.

1. Stephen Curry, Warriors: $62,587,158
2. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: $59,033,114
3. Anthony Davis, Wizards: $58,456,566
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Heat: $58,456,566
5. Jayson Tatum, Celtics: $58,456,566
6. Joel Embiid, 76ers: $58,100,000
7. Devin Booker, Suns: $57,078,728
8. Jaylen Brown, 76ers: $57,078,728
9. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: $57,078,728
10. Jimmy Butler, Warriors: $56,832,773
11. Paul George, Celtics: $54,126,380
12. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers: $50,300,000
13. Cade Cunningham, Pistons: $50,105,628
14. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: $50,105,628
15. Evan Mobley, Cavaliers: $50,105,628
16. Jamal Murray, Nuggets: $50,105,628
17. Bam Adebayo, Heat: $49,800,000
18. De'Aaron Fox, Spurs: $49,800,000
19. Luka Doncic, Lakers: $49,800,000
20. Trae Young, Wizards: $49,488,300
21. Jaren Jackson Jr., Jazz: $49,000,000
22. Zach LaVine, Kings: $48,967,380
23. Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves: $48,924,624
24. Pascal Siakam, Pacers: $48,924,624
25. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers: $48,924,624
26. Lauri Markkanen, Jazz: $46,113,154
27. Domantas Sabonis, Kings: $45,472,000
28. Kevin Durant, Rockets: $43,902,439
29. OG Anunoby, Knicks: $42,500,000
30. James Harden, Cavaliers: $42,317,307
31. Darius Garland, Clippers: $42,166,510
32. Ja Morant, Trail Blazers: $42,166,510
33. Zion Williamson, Pelicans: $42,166,510
34. Franz Wagner, Magic: $41,754,690
35. Scottie Barnes, Raptors: $41,754,690
36. Chet Holmgren, Thunder: $41,500,000
37. Jalen Williams, Thunder: $41,500,000
38. Paolo Banchero, Magic: $41,500,000
39. Austin Reaves, Lakers: $41,240,250
40. Michael Porter Jr., Nets: $40,806,150
41. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: $40,806,150
42. LaMelo Ball, Timberwolves: $40,770,520
43. Tyrese Maxey, 76ers: $40,770,520
44. Brandon Ingram, Raptors: $40,000,000
45. Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: $39,491,282
46. Desmond Bane, Magic: $39,446,090
47. Jalen Brunson, Knicks: $37,739,521
48. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: $36,500,000
49. Jalen Green, Suns: $36,251,166
50. Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers: $35,915,403
51. Alperen Sengun, Rockets: $35,642,202
52. Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers: $34,800,000
53. Jerami Grant, Grizzlies: $34,206,898
54. Jordan Poole, Pelicans: $34,044,642
55. Aaron Gordon, Nuggets: $33,658,037
56. Mikal Bridges, Knicks: $33,482,145
57. Julius Randle, Nets: $33,333,334
58. Tyler Herro, Bucks: $33,000,000
59. Dejounte Murray, Pelicans: $32,785,071
60. Immanuel Quickley, Raptors: $32,500,000
61. Jalen Suggs, Magic: $32,400,000
62. Derrick White, Celtics: $30,348,000
63. Walker Kessler, Lakers: $30,232,558
64. Andrew Wiggins, Heat: $30,169,644
65. Jalen Johnson, Hawks: $30,000,000
66. RJ Barrett, Raptors: $29,616,071
67. Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers: $28,000,000
68. Draymond Green, Warriors: $27,678,571
69. Devin Vassell, Spurs: $27,000,000
70. Trey Murphy III, Pelicans: $27,000,000
71. Myles Turner, Bucks: $26,584,164
72. Jaden McDaniels, Timberwolves: $26,200,001
73. Dyson Daniels, Hawks: $25,000,000
74. Fred VanVleet, Rockets: $25,000,000
75. Josh Giddey, Bulls: $25,000,000
76. De'Andre Hunter, Kings: $24,910,714
77. Jonathan Kuminga, Hawks: $24,300,000
78. Keegan Murray, Kings: $24,137,936
79. Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets: $23,643,411
80. Naz Reid, Hornets: $23,275,862
81. Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder: $23,148,148
82. Nic Claxton, Bulls: $23,147,727
83. Cameron Johnson, Nuggets: $23,062,500
84. Coby White, Hornets: $22,839,506
85. Miles Bridges, Suns: $22,826,087
86. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Grizzlies: $21,621,500
87. Christian Braun, Nuggets: $21,551,726
88. Norman Powell, Bulls: $21,500,000
89. CJ McCollum, Hawks: $21,000,000
90. Josh Hart, Knicks: $20,923,760
91. Kyle Kuzma, Bucks: $20,345,152
92. Ivica Zubac, Pacers: $20,342,140
93. Malik Monk, Kings: $20,190,035
94. Shaedon Sharpe, Trail Blazers: $20,089,287
95. Dillon Brooks, Suns: $19,992,727
96. P.J. Washington, Mavericks: $19,813,044
97. Alex Caruso, Thunder: $19,550,160
98. Andrew Nembhard, Pacers: $19,550,160
99. Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors: $19,512,195
100. Jakob Poeltl, Raptors: $19,500,000
101. Ayo Dosunmu, Timberwolves: $19,310,345
102. Luguentz Dort, Hawks: $18,222,222
103. Grayson Allen, Hornets: $18,125,000
104. Wendell Carter Jr., Magic: $18,102,000
105. Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers: $18,080,358
106. Patrick Williams, Bulls: $18,000,000
107. Keldon Johnson, Spurs: $17,500,000
108. Klay Thompson, Mavericks: $17,460,317
109. Daniel Gafford, Mavericks: $17,263,584
110. Santi Aldama, Mavericks: $17,007,043
111. John Collins, Pistons: $17,000,000
112. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: $16,868,246
113. Max Strus, Cavaliers: $16,660,836
114. Nikola Jovic, Heat: $16,200,000
115. Onyeka Okongwu, Hawks: $16,120,000
116. Duncan Robinson, Pistons: $15,992,957
117. Terance Mann, Nets: $15,500,000
118. Gary Trent Jr., Bucks: $15,200,000
119. Brandon Miller, Hornets: $15,104,626
120. Mitchell Robinson, Celtics: $15,044,000
121. Tobias Harris, Spurs: $15,044,000
122. Isaiah Stewart, Grizzlies: $15,000,000
123. Obi Toppin, Pacers: $15,000,000
124. Herbert Jones, Pelicans: $14,898,786
125. Caris LeVert, Bucks: $14,809,200
126. Dennis Schroeder, Cavaliers: $14,809,200
127. AJ Dybantsa, Wizards: $14,748,000
128. Josh Green, Timberwolves: $14,679,012
129. Bobby Portis, Heat: $14,521,414
130. Cooper Flagg, Mavericks: $14,517,480
131. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks: $14,403,710
132. Grant Williams, Hornets: $14,265,750
133. Jock Landale, Hawks: $14,100,000
134. Tari Eason, Rockets: $14,051,724
135. Rui Hachimura, Clippers: $14,000,000
136. Corey Kispert, Hawks: $13,975,000
137. Robert Williams, Trail Blazers: $13,968,254
138. Quentin Grimes, Lakers: $13,953,489
139. Julian Champagnie, Spurs: $13,888,889
140. Zaccharie Risacher, Mavericks: $13,826,040
141. Scoot Henderson, Trail Blazers: $13,585,523
142. Dorian Finney-Smith, Hornets: $13,335,000
143. Darryn Peterson, Jazz: $13,195,320
144. Deni Avdija, Trail Blazers: $13,125,000
145. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Lakers: $13,000,000
146. Steven Adams, Rockets: $13,000,000
147. Dylan Harper, Spurs: $12,989,040
148. Donte DiVincenzo, Timberwolves: $12,535,000
149. Moses Moody, Warriors: $12,500,000
150. Jarred Vanderbilt, Lakers: $12,428,571
151. Davion Mitchell, Heat: $12,400,000
152. Alex Sarr, Wizards: $12,370,680
153. Amen Thompson, Rockets: $12,258,609
154. Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies: $11,849,760
155. Isaac Okoro, Bulls: $11,814,814
156. Mark Williams, Suns: $11,728,395
157. VJ Edgecombe, 76ers: $11,663,880
158. Isaiah Joe, Pistons: $11,323,006
159. Ausar Thompson, Pistons: $11,117,925
160. Reed Sheppard, Rockets: $11,108,880
161. Aaron Nesmith, Pacers: $11,000,000
162. T.J. McConnell, Pacers: $11,000,000
163. Royce O'Neale, Hornets: $10,875,000
164. Sam Hauser, Celtics: $10,848,215
165. Collin Gillespie, Suns: $10,714,286
166. Caleb Wilson, Bulls: $10,683,720
167. Jusuf Nurkic, Jazz: $10,576,923
168. Kon Knueppel, Hornets: $10,516,560
169. Derrick Jones Jr., Clippers: $10,476,190
170. Luke Kornet, Spurs: $10,450,000
171. Anthony Black, Magic: $10,106,316
172. A.J. Green, Bucks: $10,044,644
173. Stephon Castle, Spurs: $10,015,920
174. Caleb Martin, Mavericks: $10,001,493
175. Day'Ron Sharpe, Nets: $10,000,000
176. Keaton Wagler, Clippers: $9,674,760
177. Buddy Hield, Hawks: $9,658,536
178. Ace Bailey, Jazz: $9,523,080
179. Jalen Smith, Bulls: $9,428,571
180. Naji Marshall, Mavericks: $9,428,571
181. Collin Sexton, Lakers: $9,366,000
182. Bilal Coulibaly, Wizards: $9,240,012
183. Aaron Wiggins, Hawks: $9,224,300
184. Ty Jerome, Grizzlies: $9,220,050
185. Brook Lopez, Clippers: $9,187,500
186. Sam Merrill, Cavaliers: $9,160,715
187. Ron Holland, Pistons: $9,069,600
188. Dean Wade, 76ers: $9,000,000
189. Mikel Brown Jr., Nets: $8,787,000
190. Keon Ellis, Nets: $8,780,488
191. Tre Johnson, Wizards: $8,649,600
192. Jarace Walker, Pacers: $8,478,542
193. Kevin Huerter, Pistons: $8,333,333
194. Zach Collins, Bulls: $8,292,683
195. Max Christie, Mavericks: $8,285,714
196. Quinten Post, Grizzlies: $8,285,714
197. Tidjane Salaun, Hornets: $8,237,880
198. Deandre Ayton, Wizards: $8,104,000
199. Kelly Oubre Jr., Pacers: $8,050,000
200. Darius Acuff Jr., Kings: $8,021,640
201. Harrison Barnes, Spurs: $8,000,000
202. Tre Jones, Bulls: $8,000,000
203. Tre Mann, Hornets: $8,000,000
204. Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans: $7,896,240
205. Taylor Hendricks, Grizzlies: $7,805,900
206. Jaylin Williams, Thunder: $7,774,648
207. Payton Pritchard, Celtics: $7,767,857
208. Goga Bitadze, Magic: $7,608,696
209. Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers: $7,519,920
210. Zeke Nnaji, Nuggets: $7,466,667
211. Cason Wallace, Thunder: $7,420,806
212. Kingston Flemings, Hawks: $7,348,680
213. Dereck Lively II, Mavericks: $7,239,131
214. Egor Demin, Nets: $7,233,720
215. Gradey Dick, Raptors: $7,131,511
216. Clint Capela, Rockets: $7,035,000
217. Jordan Hawkins, Pelicans: $7,021,895
218. Isaiah Jackson, Clippers: $7,000,000
219. Rob Dillingham, Bulls: $6,889,320
220. Al Horford, Warriors: $6,822,000
221. Morez Johnson Jr., Mavericks: $6,754,800
222. Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors: $6,649,560
223. Keyonte George, Jazz: $6,563,925
224. Tim Hardaway Jr., Heat: $6,500,000
225. Saddiq Bey, Pelicans: $6,440,678
226. Brayden Burries, Bucks: $6,417,360
227. Zach Edey, Grizzlies: $6,332,760
228. Khaman Maluach, Suns: $6,316,680
229. John Konchar, Jazz: $6,165,000
230. Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors: $6,096,240
231. Luke Kennard, Suns: $6,064,000
232. Marcus Smart, Rockets: $6,064,000
233. Cody Williams, Jazz: $6,015,600
234. Cedric Coward, Grizzlies: $6,001,080
235. Anfernee Simons, 76ers: $6,000,000
236. Jaden Hardy, Lakers: $6,000,000
237. Jake LaRavia, Lakers: $6,000,000
238. Jaxson Hayes, Jazz: $6,000,000
239. Josh Okogie, Jazz: $6,000,000
240. D'Angelo Russell, Grizzlies: $5,969,250
241. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Bucks: $5,939,141
242. Nicolas Batum, Clippers: $5,881,680
243. Jordan Goodwin, Suns: $5,864,198
244. Aday Mara, Thunder: $5,791,680
245. Ousmane Dieng, Bucks: $5,750,000
246. Matas Buzelis, Bulls: $5,715,360
247. Noa Essengue, Bulls: $5,701,200
248. Kris Dunn, Clippers: $5,684,800
249. Brandin Podziemski, Warriors: $5,679,459
250. Paul Reed, Pistons: $5,602,689
251. Khris Middleton, Wizards: $5,591,122
252. Nate Ament, Bucks: $5,502,000
253. Precious Achiuwa, Kings: $5,477,000
254. Cam Whitmore, Wizards: $5,458,310
255. Nikola Topic, Thunder: $5,429,760
256. Derik Queen, Pelicans: $5,416,080
257. Noah Clowney, Nets: $5,414,034
258. Kevin Porter Jr., Bucks: $5,390,700
259. Landry Shamet, Knicks: $5,357,143
260. Kris Murray, Grizzlies: $5,315,004
261. Jordan Miller, Clippers: $5,300,000
262. Hannes Steinbach, Hornets: $5,227,200
263. Marcus Sasser, Mavericks: $5,198,983
264. Devin Carter, Hawks: $5,158,080
265. Carter Bryant, Spurs: $5,145,360
266. Ben Sheppard, Pacers: $5,031,669
267. Kenrich Williams, Thunder: $5,000,000
268. Dailyn Swain, Bulls: $4,965,480
269. Bub Carrington, Wizards: $4,900,560
270. Thomas Sorber, Thunder: $4,887,720
271. Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz: $4,862,237
272. Julian Strawther, Nuggets: $4,826,931
273. Bennett Stirtz, Thunder: $4,717,320
274. Kel'el Ware, Bucks: $4,654,920
275. Yang Hansen, Trail Blazers: $4,643,520
276. Gui Santos, Warriors: $4,629,630
277. Jose Alvarado, Knicks: $4,500,000
278. Josh Minott, Nets: $4,500,000
279. Ebuka Okorie, Pistons: $4,481,280
280. Jared McCain, Thunder: $4,422,600
281. Joan Beringer, Timberwolves: $4,411,200
282. Christian Anderson Jr., Hornets: $4,257,480
283. Dalton Knecht, Lakers: $4,201,080
284. Walter Clayton, Grizzlies: $4,190,520
285. Allen Graves, Raptors: $4,065,720
286. Nolan Traore, Nets: $4,002,000
287. Daniss Jenkins, Pistons: $4,000,000
288. Ryan Rollins, Bucks: $4,000,000
289. Tristan Da Silva, Magic: $3,991,200
290. Miles McBride, Knicks: $3,956,523
291. Javonte Green, Pistons: $3,943,679
292. Jayden Quaintance, Spurs: $3,902,760

LeBron James' career earnings

Of course, one of the reasons James was able to take such a massive pay cut is because he has already made a boatload of money during his career.

Across his first 23 NBA seasons, James has made nearly $581.4 million in on-court earnings, per Spotrac.com. A majority of those earnings came across his eight years with the Lakers, during which he made $347.5 million.

James also has numerous lucrative endorsement deals off the court, including with Nike and AT&T, among others.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 292 players will make more than LeBron James this NBA season. Here's the full list

The offseason isn’t technically over – we’re all waiting on pins and needles for the Mario Hezonja decision – but the transactions have slowed substantially, and it looks like the Jazz have the majority of their roster set for the 2026-2027 season. We’ve consistently been told that this past season was the last in terms of tanking in Salt Lake, so high expectations were placed on the offseason – what would the Jazz do to finalize the roster destined to lead the organization back into relevancy?

For the most part, the national media has been favorable to the choices the Ainges and co. have made thus far. Here’s a quick round-up of the grades the Jazz have been assigned for their offseason moves;

ESPN: A

Bleacher Report: A

The Athletic: B+

CBS Sports: B+

NBC Sports: B

These publications tended to applaud Utah’s selection of Darryn Peterson and the return they received for Walker Kessler, but those who assigned a lower grade worried that losing Kessler will be an unfillable hole for a team trying to be formidable this coming season.

However, these huge websites that cover the league as a whole sometimes struggle to accurately understand the minutia of a teams offseason, which is understandable – it’s impossible to watch every game for every team, so a perfect comprehension of how important Jusuf Nurkic is in Will Hardy’s offense may be difficult to achieve.

Today, we’ll be setting aside the national consensus to grade every single Utah move (trades, signing, draft picks, everything) this offseason from a Jazz fan’s perspective, before assigning a cumulative grade for this pivotal offseason.

June 23 – Selected Darryn Peterson at #2: A+

While selecting Darryn Peterson at #2 wasn’t some novel idea, the Jazz still deserve tons of credit for sealing the deal and choosing the best player on the board. It required a bit of luck and more than a bit of credit given to the late-season Sacramento Kings, but jumping up to #2 and having the opportunity to put a truly special prospect in Utah-Purple is the type of move that immediately changes the trajectory of a franchise. All of the team building moves from the course of the rebuild (selecting Keyonte George, trading for Jaren Jackson Jr., and all of the tanking) post hoc bumps to their letter grades, because, with Darryn, they were all justified – trust was given to a process that, in hindsight, looks to be genius.

June 29 – Signed Jusuf Nurkic to a 2 year, 22 million dollar contract: A

This is, by my money, the most underrated and underdiscussed move of the offseason. There was about a week in June where I was sure that Jusuf would prove to be too expensive for Utah to retain – after rehabilitating his career, he would collect his payday and potentially finish his career on some bottom feeder with extra cash. However, Jusuf proved he was being honest in saying the Jazz have been the best organization he’s played for in his 12 year career by resigning on a rather team-friendly deal. The Jazz have a roster built on crisp off-ball movement – Peterson, Bailey, Markkanen, and Jackson are all best being set up by a creator – and Nurkic proved to be the perfect fit for this system, averaging a career high in assists per game with 4.8. Utah couldn’t afford to lose this level of passer, and ensured their offense will continue to run smoothly in 2027 by bringing back the Bosnian Beast. While there’s a chance that this past year was only a temporary blip from the downward trend that it appeared Nurkic was on, this deal was a huge win for a team in need of playmaking and (after the Kessler trade) big man depth.

July 1 – Signed Jaxson Hayes to a 2 year, 12 million dollar contract (2nd year team option): C

I understand both the upsides and downsides of the Jaxson Hayes signing. In theory, he fills an archetype that the Jazz need – he’s big and athletic and offers a much different look at center than the Jusuf Nurkic minutes. However, the jury is still out on if he is an actual positive of an NBA player, or if Luka Doncic, perhaps the best player in the league at making big men look better than they are, transformed Hayes into a legitimate center through sheer tyranny of will. Additionally, while I think it is near impossible to give a final verdict on a player’s character without knowing them personally, Hayes’ off-the-court actions are an undeniable aspect of the package a team gets when they bring him in, and it is a stain that I’d rather not have on the Jazz. I expect Hayes eats up regular season minutes without doing too much harm, which is valuable enough…and hopefully all we’re asking him to do; things could look ugly if Hayes is playing a real role in the playoffs.

July 3 – Signed Tamar Bates to a two-way contract: B+

The marginal transactions, while important (champions are built off of strong moves at the margins), are often harder to grade. Just how positive can I be towards a signing of a player that will likely never play meaningful minutes for the franchise? Ultimately, I decided to grade transactions relative to their contract tier and corresponding talent pool – even though it’s a strong possibility that Bates never becomes a household name while playing in Utah, compared to the other players they could’ve signed for this two-way slot, it is still a relative win. I like Bates quite a bit – he’s long, he shoots, he moves with the fluidity of a pro – so even though his natural position (shooting guard) is probably the most stacked on the team, meaning that playing time is exceptionally unlikely, he’s still a net positive signing on a two-way contract.

July 3 – Signed Josh Okogie to a 2 year, 12 million dollar contract: A-

I have my doubts about Josh Okogie – his shooting is volatile, he offers nothing on the ball, and he’s too short to reliably be our answer against bigger wings defensively. However, you can’t complain too much when you obtain a necessary archetype (non-stop hustler who defends tenaciously and has some nasty to his game) on a short term, low risk deal. Okogie isn’t a perfect player, but he still started nearly half the contests for a Rockets team that won 52 games. I lowered the grade a bit because the Jazz have such an overflow of players of his position (Svi, Konchar, and Brice all already had reasonable cases to be the backup shooting guard), but this deal is a big-time win for the Jazz either way.

July 7 – Signed Trey Alexander to a two-way contract: A-

We weren’t able to see much of Alexander in Summer League before his unfortunate injury, which has tainted the deal a bit, but, nonetheless, the Jazz once again made a good choice in selecting a player for a two-way slot. Alexander isn’t the most explosive point guard, and he’s had a habit of over dribbling all the way back to his time at Creighton, but he’s been exceptionally productive in the G-League, fills a position of need, and is immediately one of the better passers on the roster. This is a low risk signing of a player who is likely one injury to either Keyonte or Collier away from getting real minutes (I hope you’re all knocking on wood).

July 8 – Traded Walker Kessler to the Lakers for 2 1st-round picks and 2 1st-round pick swaps: A

The word surrounding Kessler and the Jazz before the trade was that the Jazz wanted him and needed him and were going to keep him no matter what. But, when the Lakers sent the Jazz brass their sign-and-trade offer, they proved once and for all that everyone has a price. Utah ultimately came away like bandits – they saved money for when the young core starts demanding their big contracts and got paid immense amounts of draft capital to do it. Don’t mistake me, the Jazz will be substantially worse for it this coming season – the Kessler and JJJ front court was poised to finally fix the team’s defensive woes, and it looked like Kessler was ready to make an offensive jump after his first 6 games of the 2025-2026 season. It hurts to lose him, no doubt about it; that’s what keeps this move from being an A+. However, with this trade, the Jazz are having their cake (being relevant this year) and eating it too (maintaining future flexibility). Kessler was good, but this was the right move.

July 10 – Signed Mo Bamba to a 2 year, 7.2 million, partially guaranteed contract: A-

Again, let me clarify – the A- grade I gave to this signing isn’t anywhere close to as impactful to the Kessler trade, which received an A. However, I’m grading this deals relative to what they are, and what this deal is is a a low risk, partially guaranteed bet on a toolsy center who has now spent his fair share of time practicing in Coach Hardy’s system. I’m not sold on Mo Bamba as a legitimate player quite yet, but the structure of the deal is so team-friendly that you can’t get very mad. Bamba has been coming in and out of the Jazz system for a while, and hopefully in that time he has gained a solid understanding of what Hardy asks for from his players. The best case scenario is Bamba finally makes it all click, and is a perfectly acceptable backup center on a steal of a contract. He has the tools to make it work… but that may be all he has. Still, the worst case scenario is the Jazz move on, being no worse for wear, and still have multiple options at the backup center spot. The move is low-stakes, and could be end up being a real win on the margins. The Jazz keep making bets on this player; let’s see if this one works out.

Final Grade: A

At the end of the day, it looks like the national media generally got it right. Each of the Jazz big-time moves (or moves involving players that will be or would’ve been playoff players) were big-time wins – Jusuf is back on a team-friendly contract, Kessler is gone but you couldn’t have asked for more in terms of the return, and obtaining Peterson is such a home-run than maybe nothing else this past month will end up mattering at all. On the margins, the Jazz continued their shrewd ways, crafting deals that, for the most part, filled holes and don’t hurt our long-term books. While I wish more emphasis was placed on obtaining a backup ball handler, the Jazz still built a roster that is worthy of their first season in years with genuine expectations placed upon it. Finally, finally, they have something to compete for, and this offseason shows that the front office understands the gravity of that situation.

What have been your favorite moves of the offseason? Least favorite? Sound off below!

Greetings, Panthers fans. Welcome to the weekend.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are bumping into the harsh realities that come with recently being above the second apron. Their main goal this offseason was to add a 41-year-old LeBron James to a contract that is far below market value. With the opportunity of doing so out the window, they’re now left to pivot to imperfect options to fill out the rotation.

If the Cavs want to advance to the conference finals or further next season, they will need some of their young players on cost-controlled contracts to provide meaningful minutes. As of now, Jaylon Tyson is the most likely candidate to do so.

Tyson took a meaningful step forward last year in his second season. He showed that he could be a knock-down three-point shooter who provides great energy on both ends of the court. That was much needed for a team that was often stuck in neutral for the first half of the season due to their wide array of injuries.

The improvement he showed last season has Cavs fans optimistic he can take another step forward. Sixty-two percent of fans surveyed earlier this week believe that he has the brightest future among recent draft picks.

While Tyson was the guy fans think has the brightest future, there were plenty out there that believe in Meleek Thomas.

Thomas was impressive this past month in Las Vegas. He led Summer League in scoring, while earning himself a spot on the All Summer League First Team. Summer League success doesn’t always translate to the NBA, but there’s plenty of reasons to be excited about the incredible scoring display Thomas displayed in Vegas.

We’ll see what kind of impact both can make on the Cavs this upcoming season.

The Eastern Conference is shaping up to be much more formidable this season. According to FanDuel, the Cavs have the sixth-best odds to win the conference at +1200. They trail the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and Detroit Pistons.

President Donald Trump picked Michael Jordan over LeBron James on Friday when asked to weigh in on the debate over the greatest player in NBA history.

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy raised the question after James agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Trump cited his relationship with Jordan and his contentious history with James while explaining his choice.

“Michael Jordan is a guy that’s a friend of mine. I play golf with him. He’s a really good guy,” Trump said. “I think LeBron is maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know. I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”

Trump did not compare the players’ basketball accomplishments.

Jordan won six NBA championships and five Most Valuable Player awards during his career. James has won four championships and four MVP awards and is the league’s career scoring leader. His move to Philadelphia will extend his career to a record 24th season.

Trump and James have publicly criticized each other for nearly a decade.

James endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election and later criticized Trump’s handling of issues involving athletes and professional sports. In 2017, James again questioned Trump after the president withdrew a White House invitation to the champion Golden State Warriors amid Steph Curry’s reluctance to attend.

Their dispute escalated in 2018 after James said during an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon that Trump was using sports to divide the country. Trump responded on social media by insulting James and Lemon before writing, “I like Mike.”

Jordan defended James afterward, saying he supported the NBA star’s work in his community.

Trump also chose Jordan when asked about the debate in 2020. At the time, he said Jordan’s limited public involvement in politics made him more popular.

Trump reached the same conclusion Friday.

The long-awaited decision of LeBron James has now been made, and he is headed to the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year deal with the franchise. With that move, he will now share the court with one of Big Blue Nation’s favorites, Tyrese Maxey.

Also with the organization is Justin Edwards, who is still trying to get his feet wet in the NBA heading into year three. 

Maxey went to Instagram to share his reaction when the news broke Friday morning, and said he is “like Coach Cal” after landing his own prized recruit in LeBron James.

“I’m like coach cal” is such a funny statement by Tyrese Maxey 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/iY31zGWwYz

— Cameron Waddle (@CameronWaddle) July 24, 2026

In all seriousness, what a shocking move! LeBron James will be joining a team that was already viewed as one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference, and now bumps those odds up even more. A team with Maxey and James on it, with Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe and many other talented pieces, is crazy.

LeBron said in his statement today that he “still wants to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.” Well, not many other teams he could’ve joined give him as good a chance as the 76ers do at this point in the offseason. James has decided not to end his career back in Northeast Ohio with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where it all started, but is headed to Philadelphia to end his Hall of Fame career.

This could mean that the streak of Kentucky players winning an NBA championship may continue with a new team and a new face winning it all. In three of the last four years, we have seen a former Kentucky Wildcat win the Larry O’Brien trophy.

The Knicks winning this last one gave Karl-Anthony Towns a ring; the year before, it gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a ring and his teammate Cason Wallace with the Oklahoma City Thunder; then, in 2023, Jamal Murray won one with the Denver Nuggets.

Will we be able to add Tyrese Maxey and Justin Edwards to that list soon?

Editor's note: Get live updates on LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers here.

Having LeBron James as a teammate must feel like winning the lottery.

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe seemed pretty stoked after the NBA's all-time scorer announced he was joining the team with a two-year, $8 million contract on Friday, July 24.

Edgecombe, who won the Rising Stars Challenge MVP award at this year's NBA All-Star festivities, posted the celebration to his Instagram stories shortly after the news broke. He shared a photo of himself holding his hand to his head looking up at the camera smiling in the same way as James' famous "Smiling through it all! Can't believe this my life" Instagram story.

After James made the original post in 2018, the pool photo and caption instantly became a meme. His son Bryce also posted a version of the photo in 2024.

VJ Edgecombe recreated LeBron’s “Can’t believe this my life” meme on his IG stories upon hearing the news that the King was going to be his 76ers teammate 😂🏆 pic.twitter.com/KFoLhNYUWK

— Victoria Hernandez (@LadyViii) July 24, 2026

The four-time NBA champion was reportedly deciding between Philadelphia or a return to the Miami Heat or his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason.

James will join 2022-2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid and 2024 NBA Finals champion Jaylen Brown, who was shockingly traded from the Boston Celtics earlier in the month for Paul George and four draft picks.

Edgecombe is among several other notable figures who reacted to James' decision. Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro declared the day LeBron James Day, Philadelphia native and basketball icon Dawn Staley was thrilled, and Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley offered a warm welcome.

The 2026-2027 NBA schedule has not been released yet, but the 76ers open preseason with a game against the Celtics on Saturday, October 10. This past season, Philadelphia made it to the conference semifinals where they were swept by the eventual champion New York Knicks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: VJ Edgecombe celebrates LeBron James joining 76ers with 'Can't believe this my life' meme

Andre Drummond had a curious reaction on Friday to LeBron James’ latest decision.

After James announced he was ending his free agency saga by signing with the Sixers, Drummond — a former Sixer himself — reacted by writing “Oh” and a concerned/sad emoji on X.

Drummond spent the last two seasons in Philly before joining the now defending-champion Knicks in free agency this summer.

Some fans questioned his decision to leave the Sixers, while others appeared to reference his post as being concerned about James joining the Knicks’ division rivals.

Oh https://t.co/w0phIig62z

— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummond) July 24, 2026

However, the veteran center soon cleared things up in another post.

“I’m good where I’m at,” he wrote along with a praying-hands emoji.

Drummond is still one of the better rebounders in the league and will provide the Knicks with some much-needed frontcourt depth after the departure of Mitchell Robinson.

In 19.5 minutes per game last year, Drummond scored 6.4 points and hauled in 8.4 rebounds per contest.

He’ll be part of a Knicks team with big expectations next season, though the Sixers will also be a hugely formidable division rival after the addition of James.

With Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe, Philly will be considered a major threat to make it out of the East and prevent the Knicks from defending their crown.

The rest of the East also figures to be loaded, with Giannis Antetokounmpo teaming up with Bam Adebayo on the Heat and Tyrese Haliburton expected to be back healthy for the Pacers.

Jayson Tatum will also be ready for the Celtics’ opening night after missing much of last year through injury.

The news of the NBA summer came Friday morning when LeBron James announced he would be joining the Philadelphia 76ers.

James is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia after a unique free agency saga that culminated in quite the shocking conclusion.

The 41-year-old spent the better part of a month deciding where he would spend the final years of his career.

The rest of the league watched and waited for James to make the highly-touted decision, which has surely shaken up the Eastern Conference.

Now, the next question to answer is this: Will Bronny James follow his father?

As things stand, there are currently no plans or request for Bronny James to follow the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Rich Paul, the agent of both Jameses, told ESPN that “they are not a package deal.”

As for the impact of LeBron James’ decision on his son Bronny James, Rich Paul, the agent for both tells ESPN that "they are not a package deal" and there's no current plan or request for Bronny Janes to join his father in Philly. 

Bronny James recently had his contract…

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 24, 2026

The latest update falls in line with how the Los Angeles Lakers view Bronny James, as the team reportedly doesn’t view the father and son as an inseparable package.

James informed the Lakers he would not return for the upcoming season in late June. The day prior, Bronny James’ $2.3 million contract became fully guaranteed. It appeared to be a calculated move, but there was speculation the younger James’ future with the Lakers wasn’t set in stone.

Staying in LA would give Bronny James the opportunity to glean from superstar Luka Doncic and other experienced NBA players. The 21-year-old’s performance in the NBA thus far has been modest, but his father’s departure could be an opportunity for him to blossom as a Laker.

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Bronny James has been involved with the team, attending veteran minicamp earlier this month.

There’s still a path for Bronny James to follow his father to Philadelphia, but nothing seems imminent. For now, the guard is a Laker and will continue his career in Hollywood.

The Brooklyn Nets acquired three-time All-Star Julius Randle and the No. 28 overall pick (Joshua Jefferson) from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a multi-team deal for Nic Claxton and the No. 33 pick.

Nic Claxton is officially on his way out after holding the reins as the longest-tenured Brooklyn Net. The big man recently released a message thanking the fans and the organization for his seven seasons in New York. With his departure set, the focus shifts to the future — and what rookies Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. will be working with on the floor.

Enter three-time All-Star and veteran leader Julius Randle. General Manager Sean Marks executed the deal to retool the frontcourt, bringing in Randle’s scoring and physical presence while converting the No. 28 pick into forward Joshua Jefferson, who the Nets are very high on.

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How do Brooklyn Nets fans grade the trade for Julius Randle?

The grade ‘B’ takes a slight edge!

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Fans Deadlocked Over Julius Randle-Nic Claxton Trade

The community sentiment ended in a near-exact 50/50 deadlock between ‘A’ and ‘B’ grades, reflecting a split between those eager for Randle’s veteran stardom and those weighing Claxton’s departure against missed draft opportunities.

Development or Stagnation?

• Comment: “We liked Claxton but never Loved him. Let’s be honest. He never developed; he never matured. He may have some of the most unwarranted and bizarre Technicals I have ever seen. Julius Randle is a flat-out Star and someone that’s going to play hard on both ends. I grew tired of never seeing 20 and 10 games from him. Claxton seemed to check out and give up on us. It won’t be easier in Chicago. PEACE!!!”
  • Reply: “From year one I was saying, he’s going to be a beast when he adds 20lbs of muscle. Kept saying that every year. Never happened.”
    
• Comment: “I give this trade an A for three reasons: 1. We got the best player in the deal 2. We give Sharpe a real shot at being the starter. 3. Randell is a better role model then Claxton. Claxton’s antics and quality of play last season were not a good showing for the team as young as the nets.”

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Draft Assets and Trade Value

• Comment: “More low ambition nibbling around the edges from the Marks-Tsai clown show.”
  • Reply: “What would you like to have done instead? Nets got an all star caliber player for a guy that’s probably not a starter on a good team and a better pick. I guess Minny could’ve thrown in Ant”
    
• Comment“I woulda kept the 33rd pick, was still some good players on the board there like Meleek Thomas and Isiah Evans…”
  
• Comment: “B+, would’ve been A++ for a move up to snag Cenac or take Peat.”

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Thanks to everybody who voted and/or participated.

This is a sponsored post. Check out the latest lines, futures, and player props by visiting FanDuel.

When Daryl Morey was fired by the Philadelphia 76ers back in May, fans weren’t quite sure what to expect in the organization’s search for its next top executive. When the Sixers hired Mike Gansey out of Cleveland a few weeks later, fans’ reaction was largely a half-nod, half-head tilt and an “OK, let’s see how this goes.”

The Cavaliers had made some decent draft picks and moves during Gansey’s tenure, but not a ton of home runs, and who knows what to attribute to somebody who isn’t at the top of the org chart. As a former D-1 player, he was undoubtedly a “basketball guy,” a dramatic swing from Daryl “Dork Elvis” Morey, like when a baseball team hires a player’s manager right after having a hard-nosed disciplinarian. It all seemed fine, but Gansey was largely a black box and no one really knew what to expect.

Well, we are less than two months into Gansey’s tenure, and the man has already orchestrated the greatest offseason in Philadelphia 76ers history. You never know with late-first-round rookies, obviously, but nabbing Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick looks like a good move so far. Then, Gansey nailed the smaller moves in free agency. Getting versatile forward Dean Wade on a four-year, $39 million deal looks tremendous compared to some of the other contracts being thrown around this summer. Likewise, signing Anfernee Simons for two years, $12.3 million is a steal on the margins.

Of course, alongside the singles and doubles, Gansey wasn’t afraid to swing for the fences and hit a home run. He turned Paul George, who at this time last year was considered one of the worst contracts in the league, into Jaylen Brown, without giving up the full war chest of draft capital. Brown certainly has some holes in his game, but he’s a player who won Finals MVP just two years ago, is still in his prime, and can soak up a ton of usage to alleviate the minutes and ball handling burden on the Sixers’ backcourt. His arrival immediately transformed the franchise from “at least they have a fun backcourt” to “we need to include the Sixers on the short list of contenders.”

That transformation set the stage for the final stroke in Mike Gansey’s offseason masterpiece: the signing of LeBron James. The greatest NBA player of his generation is going to suit up for the Philadelphia 76ers. Now, I’m not going to suggest Gansey is personally responsible for James coming. More than anyone else in the league, LeBron has his own personal agency over how things will unfold in his career. The Klutch connection with Tyrese Maxey played a large part, I’m sure. But you can’t deny Gansey and LeBron being friendly from their Mr. Ohio Basketball days playing some sort of role. And everything else Gansey did with this roster allowed LeBron to view himself as a final missing piece in potentially bringing a championship to Philadelphia. If he was going to set aside personal history with his childhood home in Cleveland or somewhere where he spent a lot of years in Miami, it had to be for basketball reasons. This roster allowed Gansey and Bob Myers and whoever else to make the “basketball reasons” case to LeBron. The Sixers team that get swept by the Knicks in May isn’t snagging King James.

Now, things might not go as well as we might hope. Joel Embiid is still a huge injury risk. LeBron will turn 42 years old in December. Jaylen Brown’s game might not mesh perfectly with Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

But think about where we were a year ago, with the Sixers coming off a 24-58 season. Even two months ago, the Knicks series loss was very dispiriting, and we were having the whole “two timelines” debate. All that has ended. Jaylen Brown is a Sixer. LeBron James is a Sixer!!! In under two months, Mike Gansey has done a 180-degree vibes flip on this franchise. We are about to enter the most highly anticipated Sixers season of at least my lifetime and he is the man to thank.

The biggest question left in NBA free agency was answered on Friday with LeBron James joining the Sixers.

LeBron’s departure from LA was already known, but what does that mean for his son, current Lakers player Bronny James?

Throughout Bronny’s career, he has been linked to his Dad for every grand moment. Will the next move the Sixers make be a trade with the Lakers so the father-son duo can reunite?

Don’t count on it.

NBA insider Ramona Shelburne reports that Rich Paul, the agent for both Bronny and LeBron, says they are not a packaged deal. Currently, there are no plans for a reunion in Philly.

As for the impact of LeBron James’ decision on his son Bronny James, Rich Paul, the agent for both tells ESPN that "they are not a package deal" and there's no current plan or request for Bronny Janes to join his father in Philly. 

Bronny James recently had his contract…

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 24, 2026

Paul saying this so bluntly is certainly interesting. If things were leaning towards Bronny heading to the Sixers, he could have either said so or kept his thoughts to himself.

By Paul stating there is no current plan for a move and considering how late into free agency we are, it seems the most likely possibility then is Bronny remaining a Laker.

For those who have paid attention to Bronny’s career and not focused on narratives, this comes as no surprise.

The Lakers drafted Bronny and he’s gotten better over the last two seasons. A young talent like that doesn’t get moved unless there is a great deal in place.

Bronny has been one of the recent LA draft success stories, and considering they are pivoting towards youth and athleticism, he could be a valuable piece for the franchise moving forward. The Lakers seem to like the idea of keeping Bronny and, considering that his contract for this season is already guaranteed, that’s what’s going to happen unless a trade is executed.

Even after LeBron announced he was leaving LA, Bronny has remained engaged as a Laker. He was at the Las Vegas Summer League watching the Lakers play and participated in a veteran mini-camp.

While speaking at CNBC and Boardroom’s Game Plan Summit at Fanatics Fest, LeBron even referred to Bronny as his former teammate.

LeBron James discusses the family aspect of his decision with Rich Kleiman:

“I have a 22-year-old son who is now a former teammate of mine … which is hilarious” pic.twitter.com/l4X6DRRteN

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 16, 2026

Plenty can still change between now and the start of the season, but so far all indications are that Bronny will be suiting up with the Lakers for his third season and LeBron will be starting Year No. 24 with the Sixers.

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