LAS VEGAS -- In June, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo who dominated the NBA world. Now, it's LeBron James. The 41-year-old superstar has yet to decide where he wants to play next season, and it's affecting more than just the teams interested.
Guys like James Harden and Draymond Green are waiting to sign their new contracts in hopes of luring James to their respective teams. But on top of that, the NBA itself is holding off on some things. Adam Silver says the league hasn't finalized its schedule because it's waiting to see where James lands.
"We have to finish up the schedule and where LeBron plays affects the schedule ... opening week, Christmas. So I need him to make a decision."
Based on all recent reports, the list of teams has been whittled down to six: The Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Denver Nuggets. Though some teams seem to have a bigger edge than others.
During an appearance on the All-NBA Podcast, Marc Stein of The Stein Line noted that teams around the league view Cleveland as the frontrunner. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald also mentioned that the list may be down to the Heat, Cavaliers, and Sixers.
At this point in his career, it makes a lot more sense for James to join a team in the Eastern Conference. The top-end talent just isn't as stiff. He wouldn't have to go through the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs en route to the NBA Finals.
The only exception to that may be the Warriors. He has a great relationship with Draymond Green, and he's expressed a desire to play with Stephen Curry in the past. However, of all the teams he could join (the six listed), Golden State probably has the worst roster on paper.
In my opinion, if the goal is to win a championship, James should join the Nuggets or Cavaliers. A duo of Nikola Jokic and James would be incredible on the offensive end, and the Cavs have the talent -- they're just missing an extra offensive engine.
However, the most likely scenario at this point -- again, in my opinion -- is the Cavaliers. And not just because of Stein's reporting. It's because of everything this final chapter could mean to James.
Where did James go after winning his first championships? Back to Cleveland. Where is home for James? Ohio. Where would James want to finish his career, if not with the Los Angeles Lakers? Home.
It all just makes too much sense. A lineup of Harden, Donovan Mitchell, James, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen would be one of the best in the East. It could contend with anyone. The Cavs would have a real chance to make it out of the East. And that's all James needs. A chance.
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Alex Karaban
1. Summer League standouts
I've been in Las Vegas for over a week now, and let me tell you, the heat never feels normal. Walking outside into an oven never gets normal. However, I've been lucky to watch some fun basketball games while I've been here.
One of the guys who has stood out is a Massachusetts native: Alex Karaban. When the Celtics were trying to run up the score on Wednesday night for point-differential purposes, Karaban shut them down. He led the Sacramento Kings on a run to spoil Boston's party.
He can shoot the ball, he can rebound, and he can defend. Karaban just has the instincts for winning basketball. He knows how to play, and more importantly, he knows how to lead. That's rare for a rookie.
An under-the-radar standout for me has been Detroit Pistons guard Drake Allen. He spent six years in college, but now, he's trying his luck in the NBA. Allen doesn't score a lot. He's not a big box score guy. But the way he plays mimics Alex Caruso. He's a defensive pest, and he always seems to get his hands on the ball, whether it's on the glass, in the passing lanes, or while hustling as a point-of-attack defender. Keep an eye on Allen.
I was in Cox Pavilion on Monday watching those same Pistons play, and Chaz Lanier drained eight triples. He couldn't miss. His 3-point shot alone should earn him a chance at NBA minutes.
Meleek Thomas is another name to watch. I may have mentioned him in a previous article, but he deserves the publicity. He's been incredible out here in Vegas. The scoring just comes easy to him. He could be a stud for the Cavs.
Lastly, I wanted to shout out Trevon Brazille. He absolutely lit up the Oklahoma City Thunder, pouring in 19 first-half points, including a buzzer-beater from near half-court with 0.6 seconds left in the half. The Denver Nuggets already signed him to a four-year deal, and he's making them look smart for doing so.
2. Kawhi Leonard drama
The Kawhi Leonard trade to the Toronto Raptors has yet to be made official, and that's intentional. According to Stein, the Raptors have chosen not to make the deal official yet as they await the decision of the NBA's investigation into the Aspiration scandal.
Toronto fears a reality in which the league voids Leonard's contract as a result of his and the Clippers' attempt to circumvent the cap through brand deals. Pablo Torre's reporting on the matter broke last summer, and it's been a hot-button topic ever since.
In the meantime, however, the players involved in the trade have been acting as though the deal is official. Leonard was at Summer League and Kyle Lowry's retirement, and Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick were sitting courtside with other Clippers players in Vegas.
That said, both teams still believe the trade will go through. However, the league is still finalizing its investigation into the matter, so anything could happen at this point.
3. The Gary Trent Jr. contract
The Milwaukee Bucks signed Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million contract. It was a deal that immediately raised eyebrows across the league, as it doesn't match the production he's put up over the past few years.
This past season, Trent appeared in 65 games for the Bucks, playing 21.2 minutes per contest. He averaged 8.1 points (the lowest since his rookie campaign), 1.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 38.7% from the field and 36.0% from deep (both lows since his rookie year) on 5.3 3-point attempts per contest.
Since the deal was reported, the NBA has announced it will investigate the contract. The theory is that Trent signed minimum contracts with the Bucks so they could remain flexible, but he had a handshake agreement with the team to sign a larger deal once they could afford it.
Obviously, that type of thing is not allowed. And if the NBA concludes that (or something like that) is what happened, Milwaukee could face some significant penalties.
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Tom Dundon
4. Jalen Duren and Peyton Watson
According to Stein, the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren and the Nuggets and Peyton Watson are both far apart in contract negotiations. Both players are restricted free agents this summer who have yet to sign new deals.
Watson has been thrown into some sign-and-trade rumors, though the Nuggets could also try to shed some salary to bring him back. However, there were rumblings that they wanted a package similar to the one the Utah Jazz received from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Walker Kessler.
The Duren situation, on the other hand, is a whole lot weirder. Adam Mares of the All-NBA Podcast noted that Duren seemingly wants out of Detroit. Yet Zach Lowe of The Ringer mentioned that he believes the Pistons have played the situation perfectly and will match any offer Duren receives. He thinks Duren will be back in Detroit.
Contract negotiations can get ugly very quickly. Duren is important to the Pistons' success, no matter how poorly the playoffs went last year. Losing him for virtually nothing would be a disaster, and even if they re-sign him, these negotiations could stick with Duren. This is definitely a situation to monitor.
5. Tom Dundon's Portland drama
Recently, rumors began circulating that Tom Dundon -- the new owner of the Portland Trail Blazers -- may want to build a new arena. However, according to Silver, that idea may have fallen off the rails a bit. Both the Blazers and the city have accused each other of slowing down the process, as the team requested money from the city, and the city clapped back. Here is a list of the city's asks:
- A binding 20-year non-relocation commitment from the team.
- Requirements for labor-peace agreements to support a stable workforce.
- Financial protections that outline clear caps on public funding, limits on eligible expenses, and safeguards for the City, State and County against cost overruns.
- A $3 million annual payment for property tax offset payment from Rip City Management, escalating over time, with proceeds shared among the City, County, and Portland Public Schools.
- Requirements for community event access, local hiring, sustainability standards, and partnerships with Albina-based organizations.
Rumblings of relocation have heated up. Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective noted that Dundon kept 20% equity in the Blazers. Relocation could help boost the value there. There are plenty of potential cities that would love to add a team.
However, the City of Portland loves basketball. It loves the Blazers. In the sports world, it's the Blazers and the Timbers, Portland's MLS team. Losing the Blazers would be a complete and utter disaster. A fitting one, considering how heavily criticized Dundon's short time as owner has been.