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Report: LeBron James sweepstakes are down to 2 teams

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LeBron James appears to be narrowing down his list in short order.

The former Los Angeles Lakers star James is now down to two teams in free agency, Nick Friedell of The Athletic reported Wednesday in an appearance on 95.7 The Game. Those two teams are the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I’d say it’s about 50/50 right now,” said Friedell.

“It’s between Cleveland and Golden State,” Friedell added.

Now 41 years old, the four-time NBA MVP James informed the Lakers earlier this week that he intends to continue his playing career elsewhere. The Cavaliers are obviously James’ beloved hometown team whom he has already played two separate stints with, and a recent report also claimed that the Cavaliers were eyeing the potential of a reunion as well.

Meanwhile, the Warriors (who can offer James an opportunity to play with his friends Steph Curry and Draymond Green) have been hot on The King’s trail for well over a year now. We even learned last week that Golden State was attempting a semisic trade in an effort to lure in James as a free agent.

James is opening up his recruitment for the time being, and some other teams besides those two have also been mentioned in connection with the 22-time All-Star. But at this point, it is looking like a two-horse race between a pair of star-studded teams in the Warriors and the Cavaliers.

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Stephen A. Smith makes racist comments about the Lakers’ free agent signings

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Stephen A. Smith is sparking yet another unsightly controversy this week.

The ESPN personality Smith received backlash on Wednesday with his comments about the Los Angeles Lakers’ free agent signings. Earlier in the day, the Lakers signed center Walker Kessler and forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili among some other notable names as well.

In response to the moves, Smith went on his self-titled podcast and made some racist remarks. Smith questioned whether the Lakers would succeed with so many “white dudes” on the roster.

“Where the hell the Los Angeles Lakers think they’re going with a bunch of white dudes?” said Smith. “Your three top players are white dudes? Really? This ain’t golf. This ain’t baseball. Hell, it ain’t even soccer.

“This is basketball,” Smith added. “In NBA history, when have you seen your three most prominent players on a basketball player be white? And that takes you to the promised land?”

Here is the full clip of Smith’s remarks (which he even posted prominently onto his X page).

Prior to Wednesday’s signings, the Lakers were already being led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as their two top stars. Meanwhile, Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht are among the other players on the Lakers’ roster who are of white or European descent.

Still, Smith is judging the Lakers’ players based on the color of their skin rather than their ability to play basketball. That is an inherently racist opinion but one that has unfortunately been expressed before in other corners of sports media as well.

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Folarin Balogun gets the softest red card of the World Cup

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Folarin Balogun experienced every high and low that there was to offer during Wednesday’s World Cup match.

Balogun and the United States played Wednesday against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Round of 32 knockout game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. In the 61st minute, the star striker Balogun went in for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemović and ended up coming down on Muharemović’s foot.

Muharemović twisted his ankle awkwardly as a result and was down on the pitch in total agony. Upon a VAR (video assistant referee) review, Balogun was given a red card and sent off, bringing the U.S. down to just 10 men.

Here is the video.

While the contact with Muharemović’s foot was undeniable, that looked like an unbelievably soft red card given that Balogun was going for the ball and that the contact was neither intentional nor reckless. Fans felt that Balogun should have been given a yellow card at worst there as red cards are usually reserved for the most serious foul plays.

Balogun was the hero for the U.S. in the early going of Wednesday’s match as he scored in the 45th minute and proceeded to hit a popular basketball celebration. Though the U.S. was unfazed by the controversial red card and scored again in the 82nd minute via a Malik Tillman free kick to effectively seal the win, Balogun will now be suspended for his team’s Round of 16 matchup against Belgium, barring an unlikely successful appeal.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo could reunite with 1 former All-Star teammate in Miami

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Giannis Antetokounmpo could be having a reunion (that does not involve any of his brothers).

The Miami Heat are eyeing former All-Star forward Khris Middleton as a free agent target, veteran NBA writer Marc Stein reported to Substack this week. Stein adds that Middleton is one of several veterans whom Miami has on their radar (along with Bradley Beal and Gabe Vincent).

A three-time career All-Star, Middleton is of course the most interesting of those three names. That is all because of his history with the new Heat superstar Antetokounmpo.

Middleton and Antetokounmpo played together in Milwaukee from 2013-25. They formed a fearsome 1-2 punch that changed the game on both ends of the floor and eventually helped the Bucks win the NBA title in 2021.

These days though, Middleton, who turns 35 next month, does not have as much to offer. He has struggled with injuries and a shrinking role in recent years and averaged a modest 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last season combined between the Washington Wizards and the Dallas Mavericks.

The Heat are trying hard right now to fill out the rest of their roster after the blockbuster trade for Antetokounmpo, 31, and managed to land another veteran sharpshooter to kick off free agency. Now Antetokounmpo himself will probably be hoping that his longtime Milwaukee co-star Middleton is the next one to land in Miami.

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LeBron James reacts to Folarin Balogun doing his celebration after scoring for US in World Cup

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Folarin Balogun has The King’s seal of approval.

The USMNT star striker Balogun found the back of the net in the 45th minute of his team’s World Cup game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun opened the scoring in the Round of 32 knockout game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. with a left-footed strike after a lucky deflection off a Malik Tillman pass.

After scoring, Balogun ran past the edge of the penalty area and proceeded to hit LeBron James’ “silencer” celebration. Here is the video.

That led to a response from James himself over X. “LFG!!!!!! THE [silencer emoji] HAS [landed emoji] at the World Cup!” James wrote. “Helluva goal there Young [king emoji].”

Now 41 years old, James popularized the “silencer” celebration over a decade ago when he was still a member of the Miami Heat. James would usually save the celebration for times when he would hit a particularly clutch shot at the end of a game.

As for Balogun, who had an earlier goal in the 31st minute disallowed for offside, he continues to show out at this year’s World Cup. The 24-year-old New York native has now scored three times in the competition and also had one crucial assist of a referee during the group stage.

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Everyone made the same joke about Paul George getting traded to Celtics

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Paul George has still got it (when it comes to being the butt of jokes).

The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown in a shocking trade on Wednesday. In return, the Celtics are getting back the nine-time All-Star forward George and some additional draft capital.

In response to the news, everybody made the same joke over social media. They joked that George on the Celtics would be like the meme of Shaquille O’Neal on the Celtics.

O’Neal played for the Celtics during the final season of his NBA career in 2010-11. But he was little more than a ghost of his former self at that point, averaging 9.2 points per contest over 37 appearances before announcing his retirement at the end of the year. Now “Celtics Shaq” has become a popular Internet meme used to denote a player who is way past his prime.

George might not be quite that miserable for the Celtics after averaging 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game for the 76ers last season. But he is now 36 years old, has played in just 78 total games over the last two seasons combined, and is owed a brutal $54.1 million for next season with an additional $56.6 million player option for 2027-28.

Fans universally agreed that the Celtics got fleeced in the trade for Brown, an All-NBA selection last year who averaged a monstrous 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game (all career highs). The underwhelming reality of a washed-up George headlining the return for the Celtics is a big reason why that is the case.

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Fans had the same reaction to the Jaylen Brown trade

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Jaylen Brown on Wednesday was traded by the Boston Celtics to the Philadelphia 76ers, and many fans had the same reaction to the deal.

Brown was traded to Philly for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks. Fans all thought that the Celtics got fleeced by Philly in the trade.

Brad Stevens is widely recognized as an excellent executive, so the thought of him getting the short end of a trade is a surprise. Many people feel that the perception of Brown around the league was down, which is why they got back an aging George and four draft picks in return for him. There was one report saying that analytically-oriented teams do not regard Brown so highly, which helps explain the market for him. Additionally, once the Celtics’ trade efforts for Giannis Antetokounmpo fell through, the Celtics may have felt pressed to move Brown, which led them to lose leverage.

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Jaylen Brown traded to Eastern Conference team

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Jaylen Brown is on the move.

The Boston Celtics on Wednesday agreed to trade Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. Boston is receiving Paul George plus two first-round picks and two second-round picks as part of the deal, according to a report.

Here are the terms of the draft picks that are included in the trade:

Brown being shipped out to Philly ends an offseason that was full of speculation he would soon be leaving the team. His name was included in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks, even though the Greek Freak ended up dealt to Miami. From that point on, it seemed like Brown would eventually be traded. He was sent to Philly a week and a half later.

Brown played 10 seasons for the Celtics after they drafted him No. 3 overall in 2016. He was a five-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA player, and he helped the Celtics win the 2024 NBA championship.

Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game last season, all of which were career-best marks. The 29-year-old has three years left on his current $285 million contract.

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2-time NBA All-Star makes public recruiting pitch amid free agency

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With the NBA free agency negotiation period underway, some major moves have already been agreed to. However, former NBA player Victor Oladipo is reportedly trying to make a comeback.

Oladipo, who last played for the Miami Heat in the 2022-23 season, posted a message on social media expressing his desire to return to the league.

“I’m a free agent. I don’t have an agent right now just me and my family. I know I have a lot left, and I genuinely love this game. I’d rather show you I’m ready than spend my time trying to explain why or flood you with analytics to prove it,” Oladipo wrote.

The Orlando Magic selected Oladipo at No. 2 overall in 2013 after he starred for the Indiana Hoosiers. Oladipo also had stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets and Heat, where he played the final three seasons before missing all of 2023-24 due to an injury.

Oladipo suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2023 postseason.

Oladipo made the All-Star team in back-to-back seasons towards the end of his Pacers run. In 2024, Oladipo joined ESPN as an analyst, but he attempted a comeback last season.

The former Pacers All-Star had a short stint with the Wisconsin Herd, the G League affiliate for the Bucks.

Oladipo averaged 13.5 points per game across 15 appearances for the Herd, but he is hoping an NBA team takes a flier on him. He just turned 34 years old in May.

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Jazz agree to deal with Lakers player after Walker Kessler trade

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The Utah Jazz traded away center Walker Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers, and not even six hours later, Utah has agreed to a deal with a former LA big man.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Jazz and center Jaxson Hayes agreed to terms of a two-year deal worth $12 million, via Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

With the Lakers acquiring Kessler, Hayes’ time in LA felt like it was coming to an end. This also adds to the long list of Lakers players to leave in free agency.

Marcus Smart agreed to a deal with the Houston Rockets, Luke Kennard went to the Phoenix Suns, and LeBron James informed LA that he would play elsewhere in 2026-27.

Rui Hachimura is likely headed out of LA after the Lakers agreed to deals with three other players shortly after the Kessler trade.

Hayes was the eighth overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2019 NBA Draft, although he began his career with the New Orleans Pelicans due to a draft night trade. He then came to LA in 2023-24. Despite a limited role, he signed a one-year deal last offseason, and Hayes played in 66 regular-season games.

Now, Hayes goes to Utah in what will likely be another reserve role.

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Spurs agree to $31 million deal with former first-round pick

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The San Antonio Spurs fell short of an NBA Finals win with a loss to the New York Knicks in five games.

However, the Spurs aren’t sitting around, but they agreed to a two-year, $31 million deal with Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris on Wednesday.

Harris was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He spent time in his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. He had two separate stints with the Pistons, including the past two seasons, as he was a key part of their earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

With the Pistons set to match any offer sheet for center Jalen Duren, and a $51 million deal for John Collins, that ultimately meant the end of the road for Harris.

The Spurs have a lot of their core intact, and they agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with forward Julian Champagnie. Now, Harris comes to San Antonio in a big splash for the reigning Western Conference champions.

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Aaron Judge has a blunt assessment amid the Yankees’ struggles

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The New York Yankees entered July having lost six straight games, and nine of their last 11 games of June. This included a four-game sweep against the Boston Red Sox, and two losses against the Detroit Tigers entering Wednesday’s series finale.

Ahead of the game on Wednesday, Yankees star Aaron Judge did not hold back on the team’s effort, although the reigning American League MVP has missed time due to injury.

“Well, it’s not great,” Judge said, via Gary Phillips of The New York Daily News. “Just a little lack of focus. We just gotta dial it in.

“Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys gotta remember that every single day they show up here. We’re here to win a World Series. So that’s your motivation every single day you step on that field,” Judge added.

Despite the recent skid, the Yankees still have the second-best record in the American League, but they are 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays.

Judge has been out since the last day of May due to a stress fracture on his first right rib. The Yankees star revealed the injury occurred in late April.

Still, Judge is letting it be known that the effort from the Yankees is not encouraging, especially with World Series hopes in the Bronx.

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Rival MLB executives identify frontrunner for Tarik Skubal

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is set to be the biggest name on the market at this year’s MLB trade deadline.

It is still uncertain whether or not the Tigers will trade Skubal, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2025. Detroit is just 6.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, but rival executives do believe Skubal will be traded. In turn, the Atlanta Braves have emerged as the favorite, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

“Skubal will go, with Atlanta being the favorite according to rival executives, but this decision likely will go down to the final days, if not hours, before the deadline,” Nightengale wrote.

The Tigers reportedly want a lot for Skubal, even though he is in the final year of his contract, but he is the top pitcher on the market if Detroit decides to deal him.

Buster Olney previously named the San Diego Padres as the favorite for Skubal, but it remains to be seen if San Diego buys or sells, given the record.

Not even two weeks ago, Nighengale named the Braves as a sleeper team for Skubal, and Atlanta has the prospects in the system in order to make an appealing offer to Detroit.

Skubal is 4-4 on the year with a 3.15 ERA and 75 strikeouts, along with a 0.91 WHIP, and he would be a huge boost to any team hoping to make a World Series run this season.

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ESPN insider names 1 intriguing ‘outlier’ team for LeBron James in free agency

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LeBron James is officially a free agent after he decided not to return to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat are obvious landing spots for James. The Minnesota Timberwolves were floated as another team that is expected to have interest in James.

On Wednesday, however, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst named one intriguing team as an “outlier” in the James sweepstakes: The Denver Nuggets.

“An outlier team for LeBron was Denver,” Windhorst said. “During the year he was overly effusive with Jokic.”

Windhorst added that James has a relationship with Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke, so that could also be an interesting selling point for Denver.

To add more fuel to the fire, Bennett Durando of the Denver Post also reported that the Nuggets had reached out to James.

James has reportedly instructed his agent, Rich Paul, to gauge interest from across the entire NBA, and all signs point to the future Hall of Famer taking some time before he decides on where he will play in the 2026-27 season.

If LeBron James does end up alongside Nikola Jokic in Denver, the Nuggets would almost immediately be viewed as an NBA Finals favorite.

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Lakers invest $131 million just minutes after Walker Kessler trade

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Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers are suddenly throwing money around left and right.

On Wednesday, the Lakers acquired star big man Walker Kessler in a trade with the Utah Jazz and came to an agreement on a four-year, $130 million deal.

Not even one hour later, the Lakers agreed to terms with three other players, beginning with Toronto Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, who is coming to LA on a four-year, $52 million deal.

Right after that, Charania reported that the Lakers are bringing in Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes on a four-year deal worth $60 million.

Then, Pelinka and LA agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with Chicago Bulls guard Collin Sexton.

All in all, it’s a total of $131 million invested for the three players, and it comes not even one hour after the acquisition of Kessler.

Both Grimes and Mamukelashvili were linked to the Lakers, and the roster is starting to take shape after LeBron James’ decision not to return to LA.

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Knicks lose Mitchell Robinson to Eastern Conference contender in free agency

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The New York Knicks entered NBA free agency with some questions, and the NBA champions just lost a big piece of the puzzle.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that center Mitchell Robinson agreed to a three-year deal with the Boston Celtics. The new contract for Robinson is worth a total of $47.4 million.

Robinson spent his entire NBA career with the Knicks after being selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. The Knicks were initially expected to make it a priority to keep Robinson, but things changed on that front.

The Brooklyn Nets were another team with interest in Mitchell Robinson, but the big man cashed in on a heavy payday from the Celtics.

Boston also agreed to a one-year deal with veteran Mike Conley Jr. on Wednesday, and right now, Jaylen Brown is also on the roster despite his name swirling in trade talks.

The Celtics made a run at acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, and although that pursuit failed, they are piecing together a roster in hopes of returning to the NBA Finals.

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Pistons make $51 million splash in NBA free agency

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The Detroit Pistons are waiting to see what happens with restricted free agent Jalen Duren, but that didn’t stop them from making a big splash in free agency.

On Wednesday, the Pistons and big man John Collins agreed to a three-year deal worth $51 million.

Collins was selected at No. 19 overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2017 NBA Draft. Collins spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with Atlanta before joining the Utah Jazz via a trade in July 2023. Collins was then traded to the Los Angeles Clippers last July as part of a three-team deal with the Utah Jazz that saw Norman Powell end up in Miami.

Collins played in 69 games for the Clippers, averaging 13.6 points with 5.3 rebounds per game, and he has now landed a big deal with the Pistons.

The Pistons, meanwhile, are trying to get things done with Duren, and reports state that the team is expected to match any offer sheet the young center receives during free agency.

Nonetheless, the Pistons don’t sit around, and instead make a big splash by adding Collins.

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Lakers land star big man in blockbuster trade with Jazz

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It was only a matter of time before the Los Angeles Lakers made a splash during free agency, and that happened on Wednesday.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers are acquiring center Walker Kessler in a blockbuster trade with the Utah Jazz. The Lakers are sending two first-round picks and a pair of pick swaps in exchange for Kessler.

Kessler is also signing a massive four-year deal worth $130 million to be running mates with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Kessler’s future with the Jazz was in question going into free agency, and the Lakers were immediately identified as a target for the Jazz star. LeBron James also announced on Tuesday that he would play elsewhere next season, which freed up money for the Lakers to explore other free agents on the market.

Kessler turns 25 years old in July, and he was a first-round pick in 2022 who has spent his entire NBA career with the Jazz up until now.

The Lakers needed to add a big man and Doncic made it clear that he wanted a center who could fit alongside him, and Kessler fits that mold perfectly.

Kessler played just five games last season due to undergoing season-ending surgery for a torn labrum, but if he can stay healthy, this could be a major move for LA.

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Celtics bring in veteran guard on verge of historic 20th NBA season

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The Boston Celtics have made a move during the NBA free agency period, and it is not a trade involving Jaylen Brown.

On Wednesday, the Celtics and veteran point guard Mike Conley agreed to terms on a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. With the new deal, Conley will be playing his 20th season in the NBA, making him just the 14th player to reach that milestone.

Conley was selected fourth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2007 NBA Draft, and he spent 12 years in Memphis before spending the next four with the Utah Jazz.

Conley then played for the Minnesota Timberwolves for the past four seasons and was a key part of the rotation. Conley played a reserve role this past season, starting just 15 of the 54 games he played, but he still proved to be productive.

Minnesota traded Conley to the Chicago Bulls at the recent trade deadline, but he agreed to a buyout and didn’t land with another team for the rest of the season.

Conley had been a player linked to the Miami Heat after the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade, but instead, he joins the Celtics in hopes of making the NBA Finals.

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Bulls agree to $45 million deal with All-Star guard

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Not even 24 hours after NBA free agency opened, the Chicago Bulls have made a big splash.

On Wednesday morning, the Bulls and All-Star guard Norman Powell agreed to a two-year deal worth $45 million.

Powell, who was a second-round pick in 2015, spent the first six seasons of his career with the Toronto Raptors. He then spent time with each of the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers before joining the Miami Heat via a three-team deal with the Utah Jazz and Clippers.

In his lone season in Miami, Powell started 52 games, averaging 21.7 points per game en route to his first-ever All-Star nomination.

Once the Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, it was expected to be difficult to keep Powell due to financial reasons, so it’s not a surprise to see him sign elsewhere for a big payday.

Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press added that the Detroit Pistons were the other “primary suitor” for Powell.

Powell joins a Bulls team that drafted North Carolina star Caleb Wilson and acquired Brooklyn Nets big man Nic Claxton in a trade.

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