Category: Basketball

Somewhere in a war room at Chase Center, someone looked at Jaylen Brown’s name on a trade sheet and said no thanks. A 29-year-old Finals MVP, a two-way wing who just averaged career highs across the board, and the front office that’s supposed to be building Steph Curry’s last great chapter took a pass. FASCINATING.

According to Logan Murdock, the front office wasn’t sold that Brown could be the guy to carry this franchise once Steph rides off into the sunset. Shams Charania backed that up, reporting the price tag sat somewhere around four first-round picks, and the Warriors and Celtics did talk, but Golden State walked away from the table.

The Warriors decided not to trade for Jaylen Brown because they felt he wouldn’t be able to carry the franchise after Steph Curry retires, per @loganmmurdock

“Should they have gotten in on the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes? The Warriors had an opportunity to trade for the former… pic.twitter.com/TQ5CMmJzEi

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 29, 2026

.@ShamsCharania on the Warriors 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

"The Warriors could've got in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up 4 first round picks-ish, in that range. They decided not to from my understanding. Those 2 teams, the Warriors and Celtics did talk about a Jaylen Brown… pic.twitter.com/g3otTKXsyo

— Chef (@CurryForGame) July 27, 2026

And here’s the part that may raise your eyebrows up to the back of your neck if you’ve been riding with Dub Nation: Boston still moved him, just not to Golden State. The Celtics flipped Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and four total picks, two first-rounders and two seconds. Brad Stevens got a return that, by most measures, was worse than what the Clippers got for an oft-injured Kawhi under investigation for cap shenanigans. Somebody was going to get a reigning Finals MVP and one of the league’s premier two-way wings entering his prime for pennies on the dollar. The Warriors had a seat at that table and stood up.

I don’t believe the real story here is that the Warriors missed on a star. It’s that their internal grade on Jaylen Brown sits noticeably below the market’s. Philadelphia looked at the exact same player and saw a co-star worth building around while Golden State looked at him and saw a question mark. Everyone can’t be right, and that gap in evaluation is the actual headline. Is the rest of the league overvaluing Brown, or are the Warriors the one team seeing something everyone else is missing? That’s the question worth sitting with, more than any grade on the trade itself.

Bill Simmons says Jaylen Brown is now the fourth-most important player on the Sixers

“He’s basically going to have to be their Derrick White.”

(h/t @TheNBABase ) pic.twitter.com/cSAgsdzy5W

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 29, 2026

Shoutout to Jaylen Brown. He complained so much about being a second option that he became a fourth option instead 😭😭😭

— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) July 24, 2026

Steve Kerr has known Jaylen Brown for years, even driving him to Oracle Arena when Brown played his one season at Cal alongside Kerr’s son Nick. This wasn’t a stranger they were projecting from afar. I’d bet the Warriors knew him better than almost any organization could. Passing on stars is part of the job and every front office has a list of players it didn’t believe in. But passing on a star without an obvious answer waiting behind door number two is where the fanbase’s anxiety starts. So what is the actual plan? If Jaylen Brown wasn’t the bridge from the Curry era to whatever comes next, who is? Right now nobody in that building has given Dub Nation a name.

Every front office gets remembered for the players it acquires AND for the ones they decided weren’t worth the price. The Warriors just made one of those bets. Time will decide whether they protected the future, or passed on it.

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.

LeBron James has left the Lakers, but his legacy will remain for years.

He spent eight seasons with the Lakers and took them from a team struggling to find an identity and brought them back to the top in 2020, when they won a title.

As a Laker, besides the championship, LeBron also had eight All-Star appearances, made an All-NBA Team seven times, broke the all-time scoring record, and helped the transition from his era to Luka Dončić’s be a smooth one.

So, now that LeBron’s Lakers journey has come to a close, we ask in our SB Nation Reacts survey this week: what are your thoughts on his era in Los Angeles?

NBA reporter Brian Windhorst has a saying that goes, “When you win, it means never having to say sorry.” If you believe in that, then LeBron’s time in Los Angeles was a smashing success.

With LeBron on the Lakers, they raised a banner, reached the Western Conference Finals twice and won 50-plus games on three separate occasions.

Given that this era is known for its parity and that during LeBron’s tenure as a Laker, we had eight different champions, if he failed, then so did every single player in the league.

Also, LeBron’s stats as a Laker were great. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game in Los Angeles. With the Heat, he averaged fewer rebounds and assists and just one more point per game.

However, if you drink from the pool of Lakers exceptionalism, then maybe you wanted more from LeBron. Forget the context, Kobe Bryant won five titles, Magic Johnson got six and Shaquille O’Neal earned three in a purple and gold uniform.

James winning one championship just doesn’t compare to other Lakers greats. His time in LA will be known for the moments they fell short more than the 2020 ring.

In the end, LeBron is an elite player, but it’s disappointing to only win once, especially since this was also his longest single stint anywhere.

Had he won another title with Anthony Davis or stayed and tried to raise a banner with Luka Dončić, then he would’ve had a successful run in the City of Angels.

Okay, those are the cases for LeBron’s tenure in LA being considered either a success or a failure. Now, it’s time to vote on the poll and make your voice heard. Also, feel free to comment below and provide additional context for why you voted the way you did.

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

For one reason or another, the Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t able to lure LeBron James back home for one final run. James chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers instead after nearly a month of free agency.

The Cavs handled free agency as if they were going to get LeBron. Now we know why. On the most recent episode of the Game Over podcast, Rich Paul — James’s agent — and ESPN’s Shams Charania disclosed that James met with Cleveland’s front office and ownership group at the beginning of July in Akron.

“The Cavs front office group, Koby Altman, Brandon Weems, the Gilbert family… meeting with LeBron in Akron in early July,” said Charania.

“In real time, the integrity matters more than anything; this was something I was told off the record. Ethically, I couldn’t report it because it wasn’t told to me in a way where I could have a reporter double and triple-check.”

The Cavs entire ownership group and front office met with LeBron James in early July, according to @ShamsCharania and Rich Paul. pic.twitter.com/X77DwDk3uy

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 29, 2026

This latest news confirms earlier rumblings. There were whispers that James had met with the Cavs around this time. It appears that was completely true.

What went down in that meeting is unknown, but you can read this two ways. Both would be justified.

There’s an interpretation of this that the Cavs blew it. After all, Cleveland was the only team that got a complete meeting with James. There was clearly interest in a reunion back home, but something that transpired here made LeBron have second thoughts. Maybe it was due to the roster. Maybe LeBron had other demands.

In this reading, the Cavs didn’t make those guarantees, played hardball, and lost. Now, not only do they have limited resources to fill their hole at small forward. But they also will have to go through James and the Sixers in a loaded Eastern Conference.

The second reading of this is that LeBron was never seriously interested in going to Cleveland, but at least wanted to hear his hometown team out to retain plausible deniability. James could’ve made unrealistic demands, knowing that the Cavs either wouldn’t or couldn’t acquiesce. That way, he could always say he wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, but the Cavs weren’t willing to make the moves necessary to make it happen.

However you want to read this is up to you. It’s difficult to speculate on what James was thinking.

What we can say with certainty is that if LeBron wanted to end his career in Cleveland, he certainly had an opportunity to do so. The Cavs are an extremely talented group that has proven they can win multiple playoff series. Even if James didn’t like all aspects of the roster, there was something there to work with.

Instead, LeBron chose a different path. He decided to live in New York and play for their suburban market, setting up a rivalry between him and his former team.

Luka Dončić’s leadership is on full display this summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is hosting the entire roster in Slovenia for a four-day minicamp in August, according to a source close to Dončić. Over the four days, the squad will be working out, playing pick-up games, golfing, and exploring Ljubljana.

“Luka’s extremely excited to be hosting them in his hometown and having time for the team to bond ahead of the season,” a source close to Dončić told the California Post.

Ever since the Lakers traded for Dončić last February, the organization signaled it had landed its newest franchise star. Since then, the team pivoted to a new era, one with Dončić at the helm.

In many ways, LeBron James not returning to the Lakers was the final domino to fall. The departure of James cemented Dončićas the new Lakers leader as he helped general manager Rob Pelinka and front office construct the roster this summer.

There are looming questions about the current roster, all that will have to be answered by the team’s performance on the court. Initial reactions to the Lakers’ signings this summer have wondered whether the team will jell on the hardwood.

The Lakers’ headlined the offseason by signing center Walker Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal. Pelinka directly fulfilled Doncic’s request of landing an A-list big man.

Aside from Kessler, free agent signings such as Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili will have to prove they can play together seamlessly. Thus, the Lakers face immense pressure from the start of the 2026-27 season.

Dončić knows this and his decision to host a minicamp in his home country is a direct result of that understanding. The veteran’s teammates will get a chance to know the 27-year-old’s homeland, but more importantly, players will have the chance to build chemistry ahead of training camp.

Dončić has dealt with injuries the last two seasons. So, the superstar will have to prove himself not only in his performance but also with his durability throughout the year.

It is officially a new era in Los Angeles and the full weight of the city is on Dončić’s shoulders.

There was a version of me, years ago, who spent way too many nights doing something I’d never admit to the average person walking down the street. I’d hop from team blog to team blog under the infamous blogboi moniker of Goldbloodedking, deep in enemy territory, soaking up whatever fear and doubt was leaking out of the comment sections.

I was skulking through Pounding the Rock during the Spurs’ slow fade. I was hanging around The Dream Shake when the Rockets were still convinced they had one more run in them. I took kerosene and matches to Fear the Sword, back when Cleveland fans were bracing for whatever came after LeBron’s first go-round. I’d show up uninvited and declare, with the full confidence of a visionary who had one drink too many on a Friday night, that their franchise had been chosen for one purpose: to be the next team the Warriors dynasty flattened on its way up the mountain.

The Warriors hadn’t won anything yet when I started saying this. I wasn’t reacting to a trophy case. I had a feeling, and I said it loud enough and often enough that the other blogs got sick of me. Pounding the Rock banned me. The Dream Shake hated my guts. Fear the Sword ran me out of town before the ink was even dry on the first banner. I didn’t care. I believed it before it was true, and then it was true, and I got to be right in front of everybody who told me to sit down.

This week I found myself reading a Warriors headline that sounded exactly like the conversations I used to have with everybody else, except this time I couldn’t laugh it off: “Warriors are just fine running back this old team”.

“[The Warriors are] just fine running back this kinda older 37-win core and understanding they’re not necessarily a part of the title conversation.” 👀@anthonyVslater details Golden State's mindset this offseason ✍️ pic.twitter.com/WyepV6obys

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 28, 2026

Slater’s reporting paints a surprisingly clear picture. The Warriors are comfortable bringing back essentially the same veteran core, a team that won 37 games, and the front office isn’t pretending that group is part of the title conversation this season. Reading it, I couldn’t help thinking about all those nights on Pounding the Rock and Fear the Sword. Only now the dynasty everybody was quietly writing around was the one in my backyard.

The moves themselves tell you why nobody’s expecting a leap. Draymond Green came back on the same one-year, $27.7 million deal he’d previously turned down. LeBron picked Philadelphia over everybody, including Golden State. The free agent market was about as thin as it’s been in years, and the Warriors filled the rest of the roster out with minimum deals because that’s all the cap situation allowed.

The Warriors are positioning themselves for next summer instead of this one. Draymond and Butler both come off the books after this season, Curry becomes extension eligible on August 29, and once the current contracts are finalized, the Warriors are projected to have some of the cleanest cap space in the league by next summer. They’re trying to get to next summer with as much flexibility as possible, betting that the next disgruntled superstar eventually becomes available once the books actually clear.

Steph Curry gotta demand a trade 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/rRbEErrGfo

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) July 28, 2026

I don’t know how else to read it. Does the organization already believe this probably isn’t the group that’s winning another championship? I get keeping themselves flexible until another real opportunity walks through the door, but is there truly know way to improve this team this season externally?

I spent a decade telling other fanbases to make peace with their ending. I never thought I’d be the one hearing it being told back to me by the Warriors themselves.

LeBron James is a Sixer.

Some variation of that sentence might be the lede for all of our foreseeable articles.

With James in the fold, the Sixers will have one of the most immensely talented starting groups in NBA history. Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, James and Joel Embiid are five incredibly gifted players. The four veterans have all been All-NBA picks and it’s not crazy to suggest Edgecombe could join them one day.

The issue with many “super teams” is depth. Hell, the top-heavy Sixers of 2025-26 had debilitating depth issues that were exposed in a big way by the eventual champion New York Knicks in the second round. You need guys to pitch in on load management nights or hit big shots while the stars get the attention.

But when you look at the Sixers’ roster for 2026-27, depth isn’t really an issue — despite what some national folks would have you believe.

Before free agency began, the Sixers selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick. Philon could prove to be a capable lead ball-handler at the NBA level, which should take a serious burden off Maxey and even Edgecombe, who was basically the team’s de facto backup point guard last season. Philon’s impressive summer league only adds to the belief he can be an immediate contributor.

Mike Gansey and company didn’t have much time to relax as free agency began mere days later — and they were aggressive from the jump.

On the first night of free agency, it was reported that Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade would be signing a four-year deal. The next day, the team made a move that surprised some, giving New York Knicks big man Ariel Hukporti a deal above the minimum. As Gansey noted after the selection of Philon, this team needed a little bit of everything. Adding versatile forward depth in Wade and another option behind Embiid in Hukporti struck those notes.

Of course, nobody saw what was coming next as the team shipped Paul George and draft picks to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown. Without sacrificing any rostered players, Brown’s acquisition also improved the team’s depth because of the 2025-26 All-NBA pick’s availability compared to George’s.

One of the most surprising and perhaps underrated moves by Gansey this offseason was acquiring guard Anfernee Simons. Simons is an elite offensive player, with the ability to score and make threes at a high level on high volume. How many times did the Sixers just need any type of scoring punch off the bench in the postseason? The only game they really got it was Game 5 in Boston when Quentin Grimes had by far his finest game in the playoffs. For context — Gansey signed Wade and Simons for the same amount of money Grimes got from the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s strong value.

The Brown trade set the stage for signing LeBron, which also led to the eventual signing of veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and trading of Johni Broome. With that, the Sixers should have 14 players signed to standard deals who can help them win games.

Wade and Simons will be the top options while Hukporti and the incumbent Adem Bona battle it out to back up Embiid. Caldwell-Pope and third-year player Justin Edwards will likely battle it out for minutes on the wing.

And don’t forget about Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker. Both players started last season on two-way deals before being converted to standard contracts. Barlow gave the Sixers meaningful minutes, even starting 59 games. Walker isn’t a world-beater, but he’s an ideal 14th guy on your roster who will give you high effort and make open threes against the Brooklyn Nets on a Tuesday night in January.

The depth chart looks legit:

PG: Maxey/Philon
SG: Edgecombe/Simons
SF: Brown/KCP/Edwards
PF: LeBron/Wade/Barlow/Walker
C: Embiid/Hukporti/Bona

All teams are going to have holes going into the regular season. Even the defending champion Knicks lost Mitchell Robinson and are attempting to replace him with old friend Andre Drummond. So, if you have concerns about the Hukporti-Bona duo being the primary plan behind Embiid, that’s fair, but there will be time to address the position ahead of the deadline.

Because they’re hard-capped at the first apron, their 15th roster spot will need to remain open for now. But by early January, they’ll be able to bring in players on 10-day contracts. Maybe one of those guys pops. Perhaps an interesting player will be available around the deadline. While first-rounders will be tricky to use because of the Stepien Rule, the Sixers will have plenty of second-rounders still at their disposal. They could also look into the buyout market once the deadline passes.

And don’t forget about the two-way spots. Rayan Rupert and Caleb Love are interesting lottery tickets. The third spot remains open. Maybe an intriguing big will take that final slot and force their way into minutes like Barlow and Walker a year ago.

The overall point is the Sixers have depth — plus avenues to add things they might need.

LeBron is joining a star-studded starting five.

He also has plenty of help coming off the bench.

HeraldCeltics rumors: Boston ‘expressed interest’ in LeBron James before 76ers signing

GlobeDraymond Green agrees to a 1-year, $27.7M contract to remain with the Warriors, AP source says

Court Sense: The East gets tougher for the Celtics ☘️

CelticsBlogSam Hauser—The Players in Green

Who is your way-too-early favorite to win the 2027 NBA Championship?

CLNS MediaCan The Celtics Compete With LeBron’s 76ers?

NBC Sports BostonMoving on: Four reasons for optimism about what comes next for Celtics

NESNCeltics Named Top Landing Spot for NBA’s 18th All-Time Leading Scorer

Mass LiveJaylen Brown viewing LeBron James joining Sixers with renewed mindset

Celtics pursued LeBron James in free agency amid Jaylen Brown trade

Celtics proposed Jaylen Brown trade to Warriors at NBA Draft

Celtics WireBreaking down film: What Chris Cenac Jr. Summer League play tells us

Celtics reportedly reached out to LeBron James in free agency

Will new Boston Celtics big man Chris Cenac Jr. play the 4 or 5? Houston coach says both

Celtics history: Bremer, Sundov traded, Wedman, Duerod, Hertzberg born

Celtics have big questions to answer next season

What does the Celtics Jordan Walsh extension say about their future?

The AthleticRegardless of current feelings, let’s appreciate what the Tatum-Brown duo achieved

Boston Sports JournalCan the Celtics actually trade for Stephen Curry?

Hardwood Houdini Mike Conley may just be in his Celtics-Blake Griffin era, unfortunately

Brad Stevens tried to bring LeBron James to the Celtics this summer

Celtics could fill out roster with Russell Westbrook or Bradley Beal — should they?

Jayson Tatum’s golf tournament gives proof of life for former Celtics big man

Forgotten gem Celtics trade may justify Jaylen Brown-less approach

Celtics have a complex minutes puzzle for Joe Mazzulla and his staff to solve

76ers better hope that Celtics motivated Jaylen Brown to sacrifice in Philadelphia

CLNS Media/YouTubeDid Celtics try to Deal Jaylen Brown to Rival at Trade Deadline? | Still Poddable

Locked on Celtics Jayson Tatum READY to Dominate for Boston Celtics Without Jaylen Brown

Hoops HabitJayson Tatum is about to show the NBA what Celtics fans knew all along

Bleacher ReportJaylen Brown Reportedly Recruited LeBron to 76ers, ‘No Ego’ Approach Detailed in New NBA Rumors

Predicting the 5 Biggest Regrets From the 2026 NBA Offseason

SI .com Why This is Jayson Tatum’s Best Chance at an MVP, and What it Would Take to Win

Report Details Why Warriors Didn’t Trade for Jaylen Brown, Anthony Davis

Empire Sports MediaKnicks now have to deal with Mitchell Robinson in Boston

Barstool SportsAccording To Shams, Brad Stevens Reportedly Tried To Trade Jaylen Brown All The Way Back At February’s Trade Deadline

The Warriors Reportedly Decided Not To Trade For Jaylen Brown Because They Didn’t Think He Could Carry The Franchise After Steph Curry Retired

Basketball Network Charles Barkley says Boston’s Jaylen Brown trade still makes no sense: “I have no idea what the Celtics are doing”

Good Morning It’s Basketball NBA owners won a hard cap. They will not stop clawing for more

HeavyCeltics Get Telling Jaylen Brown Report After LeBron James Deal

Celtics Get Unexpected News After LeBron James Decision

Clutch PointsNBA rumors: Celtics confirmed as failed LeBron James suitor

Celtics RoundtableBoston Celtics’ Rival Now Looking at C’s Reported Free Agent Target

USA TodayBreaking down the best offseason move by all 30 NBA teams in 2026

The Celtics ChronicleWinners of the Jaylen Brown trade

Fan RecapBrad Stevens May Have Just Pulled His Most Belichick Move Yet

TalkBasket 2026 NBA Summer League Reaction: Sophomores

For the WinThe 1 key reason Warriors opted out of Jaylen Brown trade before 76ers move

The LeadThe Boston Celtics Should Retire Jaylen Brown’s No. 7 Jersey

Focus on the Prop/YouTubeWhy Celtics Fans Should Be Excited About Paul George

Fadeaway World Bill Simmons Claims Jaylen Brown Went From Being A Franchise Star To Fourth Option With The 76ers

BasketNewsWhy Warriors did not trade for Anthony Davis, Jaylen Brown revealed

I’m sitting here looking at the Phoenix Suns’ depth chart, and I have to admit, my imagination is starting to run wild. Maybe that’s what all of us do during the offseason. We stare at a depth chart and begin imagining all of the possibilities for the upcoming season. This is the time of year built on hope and optimism because we haven’t seen anything play out on the court yet. We can spend all day hypothesizing about everything that could go right.

At the same time, realism has to live alongside those expectations. As I sit here in the same chair, staring at a different depth chart than I was a summer ago, I realize I didn’t have this same level of optimism. I didn’t feel the number of lineup combinations the Suns could deploy was nearly as expansive. I also didn’t know what kind of coach Jordan Ott would be or what kind of culture this team would ultimately establish.

A year later, we have those answers. And understanding what the Suns can be is part of why I’m so excited. From a roster construction standpoint, this team has optionality. Just look at it.

Where it really gets fun is when you start exploring the different lineup combinations the Suns can throw at opponents because they finally possess the roster versatility they haven’t had in years. You want a “tough son of a bitch” lineup? Give me Gillespie, Goodwin, Brooks, Bridges, and Maluach. You want size? Give me Booker, Brooks, Peat, Fleming, and Maluach. You want rebounding? Give me Goodwin, Green, Fleming, Bridges, and either Mark Williams or Maluach. You want experience? Give me Booker, Green, Brooks, Bridges, and Williams, which is probably the starting five when the season opens.

That’s what intrigues me most about this roster. There are answers for different situations. There are lineup combinations built to solve different problems. And that’s something the Suns simply haven’t had at their disposal in recent seasons.

My point? The Suns have options. Plenty of them. We’ll probably spend the rest of the summer talking about all of the lineup combinations available to Phoenix. 

But there’s a downside to that optionality, one that will reveal itself every time the Suns lose. I’ve talked at length in the past about the disease of “what if.” When you have this many options at your disposal, it’s easy to focus on the lineup that wasn’t used rather than the one that was. Every loss will invite questions about what Jordan Ott should have done differently. 

That’s human nature. We like to imagine what could have been more than accept what actually happened. On nights when the Suns end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, this roster’s optionality could become more of a curse than a blessing. My hope is that simply acknowledging it now serves as a reminder not to fall prey to that inevitable conversation. At the same time, we have to remain objective. If the Suns are consistently losing and there’s a clear trend showing that certain lineups are underutilized, then the inexperience of the head coach has to be part of that discussion.

I know it probably sounds like I’m preparing everyone for disappointment before a game has even been played. I’m not. What I’m saying is this roster gives Jordan Ott more options than the Suns have had in years. That’s exciting. It’s also going to require a delicate balance between experimenting with different combinations and settling on the situational lineups that consistently produce results. That won’t be easy.

Think about all of the lineups I mentioned above. I didn’t even include Ryan Dunn, and he’s someone who absolutely needs meaningful minutes this season because the organization has an important decision to make on him next offseason. You can’t evaluate what you have if you don’t let him play. 

That’s the blessing. That’s also the curse. The Suns have built quality depth, but quality depth becomes a challenge if it’s underutilized. Winning cures all. If Phoenix wins, these conversations largely disappear. But overanalyzing sports is part of being a fan, and if the Suns start losing, I’m telling you now that the conversation will inevitably begin with one question. “What if?”

The irony is that this is exactly the kind of problem good teams are supposed to have. A coach would rather sort through too many playable combinations than spend an entire season searching for five players who fit together. Jordan Ott’s biggest challenge won’t be finding options. It’ll be identifying the right ones, knowing when to adjust, and resisting the temptation to chase every possible answer. For the first time in a long time, the Suns’ biggest roster question isn’t whether they have enough pieces. It’s figuring out how to best use them.

LeBron James breaks Fanatics record with Sixers' No. 23 jersey originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

LeBron James is already making history as a Philadelphia 76er.

The King’s No. 23 jersey with the Sixers broke Fanatics’ record for most jerseys sold in the first 48 hours after a player joins a team in any sport, according to NBC10’s partner, the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The previous record was held by Shohei Ohtani after he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, according to the Journal. However, the exact number of jersey sales was not released.

Fanatics has been the e-commerce partner of the NBA since 2015.

James signed a two-year deal with the Sixers last week and said he wants to lead the Sixers, who also have All-Stars Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, to his fifth NBA Championship.

LeBron James breaks Fanatics record with Sixers' No. 23 jersey originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LeBron James is already making history as a Philadelphia 76er.

The King’s No. 23 jersey with the Sixers broke Fanatics’ record for most jerseys sold in the first 48 hours after a player joins a team in any sport, according to NBC10’s partner, the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The previous record was held by Shohei Ohtani after he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, according to the Journal. However, the exact number of jersey sales was not released.

Fanatics has been the e-commerce partner of the NBA since 2015.

James signed a two-year deal with the Sixers last week and said he wants to lead the Sixers, who also have All-Stars Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, to his fifth NBA Championship.

DAZN, the British streaming platform primarily focused on live sports, has entered into an agreement that will make it the exclusive digital home for the MSG Networks and YES Network during the 2026-27 NBA, NHL and MLB seasons.

The partnership announced on Wednesday, July 29 gives DAZN the direct-to-consumer streaming rights to regional broadcasts of games involving the New York Knicks, New York Yankees, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.

"It is a defining moment for us and underscores our commitment to expanding our footprint in the United States," DAZN CEO Shay Segev said in a statement.

NBA: Breaking down the best offseason move by all 30 teams in 2026

Segev confirmed to Sports Business Journal that DAZN is close to acquiring the rights to more NBA teams' games for the 2026-27 regular season. The report cited sources stating DAZN is in talks to get the exclusive local broadcasting rights next season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. It is also negotiating for direct-to-consumer streaming-only arrangements with the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic.

The deal with MSG Networks and YES Network comes as professional sports leagues confront the decline of regional sports networks and look for new distribution models and revenue streams. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month in Las Vegas he expects to have a centralized solution for teams that are currently scrambling to find local carriers for their 2026-27 regular-season games.

DAZN, by virtue of Wednesday's announcement, is now positioned as a potential candidate to helpthe NBA with its local broadcasting issues moving forward.

“We’ll cobble together a series of solutions for this season, but I feel good that we’ll have something on a national basis for the following year,” Silver told reporters.

What is DAZN?

DAZN, pronounced 'da-zone,' was founded in 2016 and has previously carried combat sports events and international soccer programming in the U.S. It has also served as a streaming platform for audiences outside the U.S. to watch American sports, with international rights to NFL, NBA, NHL and college football and basketball games throughout the year.

DAZN will also have 24/7 feeds of MSG, MSG Sportsnet and YES Network, in addition to on-demand access to highlights and original programming. Those who currently watch MSG Networks and YES Network through The Gotham Sports App will eventually be migrated onto DAZN's platform, but the exact timing has been not disclosed yet.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DAZN lands MSG and YES streaming rights, eyes more NBA deals

LeBron James stunned the NBA world last week, opting to sign with the 76ers in free agency. But before he did, James took the time to meet with the team that drafted him first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft before making his decision.

In early July, there was a meeting between James and the Cavaliers front office. NBA insider Shams Charania knew of the meeting, but chose not to report on the matter because it was off the record.

On Wednesday, the secret meeting was discussed on the Game Over podcast. Charania surprised Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul when he informed him of the tidbit.

“Now, you tell me Rich if I’m right or wrong. Is it, the Cavs front office group, Koby Altman, Brandon Weems, the Gilbert family, Grant Gilbert, meeting with LeBron in early July in Akron?” Charania said.

“Wait a minute, how did you know about that?” Paul said.

“In real time, the integrity aspect matters more than anything because this was information I was told by multiple people on background, off the record. This was something that, ethically, I couldn’t report,” Charania said.

LeBron James reportedly met with the entire Cavaliers front office in Akron in early July, but Shams chose not to report it because the meeting was off the record

(h/t @NBA__Courtside ) pic.twitter.com/ODtFNXtwr0

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 29, 2026

While many felt James snubbed his former teams — the Cavaliers and Miami Heat — by choosing to sign a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, it appears the 41-year-old took the time to discuss a return to Cleveland earlier this summer.

Paul, James’ agent, has also previously discussed the 76ers were never seriously considered until the team traded for All-Star Jaylen Brown. James took notice of Philadelphia after the blockbuster deal.

James hasn’t publicly discussed why he opted not to return to a franchise he had already won an NBA title with, but Paul has alluded to the idea that a reunion left room for uncertainty.

There were still massive question marks surrounding the Heat’s depth and scoring ability. They lost a ton of assets in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.

But the Cavs did not have that same issue.

Nevertheless, the 2026-27 season will mark an exciting final chapter for James as he attempts to bring a championship to a city that hasn’t seen a trophy in nearly half a century.

At 41 years old, James is perhaps entering the most interesting portion of his Hall of Fame career.

It’s one thing to talk about Tottenham Hotspur player injuries. It’s another thing when Spurs’ primary attacking target picks up a long-term injury. David Ornstein, among others, is now reporting that Bournemouth attacker Eli Junior Kroupi has sustained a metatarsal injury to his foot during preseason training and will miss the next 3-4 months, putting a significant crimp into Spurs’ summer transfer window plans (as well as everyone else’s who were pursuing a move for Kroupi this summer).

🚨 Junior Kroupi expected to be out for 3/4 months with foot injury suffered in pre-season training. 20yo Bournemouth forward flew back from Austria tour & underwent successful surgery today. Departure this summer never countenanced by #AFCB@TheAthleticFChttps://t.co/UWi4BtYQjE

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 29, 2026

OK here’s the point where you can make lots of #jokes about Tottenham’s injury history, including swipes at Spurs’ medical team extending their remit to injuring Spurs targets, resigned quips about how will fit right in on Tottenham’s recovery table, and sensible chuckles about how Ange Postecoglou is at it again — when will he stop getting away with this?

Ready? GO.

…

…

…

Okay, now that we’ve gotten it all out of our system, this is a real shame. Kroupi looked to be the ideal young attacker that could really level up Spurs’ attack. I’d say it’s almost a certainty that Spurs will now move onto other targets (Cody Gakpo is the name coming up most frequently, more on him later). It probably means that all the teams that are after him now will shift their attentions to signing him NEXT summer, or possibly in January if he returns before then.

But it’s a real bummer. There was no guarantee that Spurs would’ve signed Kroupi this summer (even though they were ostensibly in the lead according to several sources), but I like him a lot and was really hoping we’d end up buying him. And let’s also not forget that this is also a serious blow to Bournemouth, who were hoping to keep him and capitalize on his play to improve on their sixth place finish from last season.

Crap.