Philadelphia 76ers stars Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown have actively contacted LeBron James to convince the 41-year-old to sign with the franchise in free agency.
The four-time NBA champion has entered the second week of his free agency deliberation.
Philadelphia remain one of the primary destinations for the veteran forward, alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.
Player-led recruitment drive
Maxey is reportedly spearheading the communication efforts between the roster and the highly coveted free agent.
The 25-year-old shares representation with James under Klutch Sports and views the basketball icon as a mentor after training together during recent off-seasons.
Embiid brings existing chemistry to the pitch, having won a gold medal alongside the former Los Angeles Laker for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Brown also shares a mutual respect with the forward, receiving a strong endorsement from him for the Most Valuable Player award earlier this year.
“He’s playing great basketball, man. This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well.”
The veteran star has previously praised the Philadelphia fan base, noting their fierce loyalty and respect for the game.
Executives outline championship vision
The franchise’s leadership has actively reinforced the players’ recruitment efforts with public appeals.
Bob Myers, president of the ownership group Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, recently appeared on a podcast hosted by James’ agent, Rich Paul, to outline their case.
“If he was here I’d say, ‘I honestly believe this is your best chance to win. You have to decide all the other things that are equally important.'”
Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey confirmed the team has maintained an ongoing dialogue with Paul since acquiring Brown via trade.
“LeBron and his camp have kept quiet, and there has been speculation for different teams. But we’d obviously love to have LeBron.”
Gansey added that he respects the veteran immensely, describing him as the greatest player of all time.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has signed a record-breaking $180m contract and is preparing to lead a reshaped roster following the departure of LeBron James.
The undrafted guard agreed to the four-year deal, which stands as the most lucrative of its kind in NBA history.
He opted to take slightly less than the initial $185m on offer, affording the historic franchise crucial financial flexibility to pursue future signings.
Adjusting to life without James
The most glaring change for the upcoming season will be the absence of James, who departed in free agency following an eight-year stint in California.
“I don’t know if I’ve honestly processed it yet,” Reaves said of his former team-mate’s exit.
“Starting the season without him being on the team is going to be different for me.”
The shooting guard admitted the four-time NBA champion had been a constant presence throughout his professional career.
“He’s kind of all I’ve ever known. Just him being around, joking around, acting like he’s 15, but that’s his decision and I got nothing but love and respect for him.”
A new partnership with Doncic
Following a massive roster overhaul, the offensive burden will now fall heavily on the newly-paid star and marquee team-mate Luka Doncic.
The pair have developed a strong bond off the court, frequently discussing their shared passion for golf.
“Luka is one of my best friends on this planet,” Reaves added.
“He sends me videos of his golf swing and asks me what he can do to get better, and I tell him I’m not a coach.”
Rebuilding the supporting cast
The Lakers’ front office has completely revamped the supporting cast, moving on from established playoff starters including Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura.
A fresh group of recruits has already gathered in Las Vegas to scrimmage, featuring Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, and centre Walker Kessler.
“The pieces that are coming in, I’m very excited about and I’m happy to get started today and see where it goes,” Reaves said.
The playmaker is particularly familiar with the 7ft 2in Kessler, having previously played alongside the imposing big man for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup.
“He’s a big, goofy dude that just enjoys life and has fun. Obviously, you see what he does basketball-wise and how he impacts the game.”
Caitlin Clark successfully returned from a back injury as the Indiana Fever secured a dominant 109-75 victory over defending WNBA champions the Las Vegas Aces.
The emphatic 34-point win marked the second time in just eight days that Indiana has defeated the title holders on their home court.
Clark, who missed two recent games due to back spasms, played 24 minutes and contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Mitchell continues stellar scoring streak
While the returning rookie point guard drew the pre-match spotlight, it was team-mate Kelsey Mitchell who anchored the offensive masterclass.
The veteran guard poured in a game-high 27 points, marking her sixth consecutive appearance reaching at least the 25-point milestone.
Frontcourt duo Aliyah Boston and Sophie Cunningham also dominated proceedings, scoring 19 and 20 points respectively in a highly efficient shooting display.
The visitors hit the 100-point mark for a league-leading eighth time this season, shooting a clinical 56% from the field.
‘We got our butts kicked’
For the hosts, it was a drastic reversal of fortune following a gruelling schedule of three games in four days.
The defending champions entered the contest fresh from a 48-point demolition of Phoenix on Saturday, but suffered a historic 82-point swing in point differential overnight.
“Maybe we just didn’t have the juice today,” admitted Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon.
“Every team has a rough patch in the schedule where it’s just difficult.”
Aces star A’ja Wilson, who recently returned from her own leg injury, registered 20 points and 12 rebounds but offered no excuses for the heavy defeat.
“We got our butts kicked tonight,” the two-time MVP conceded.
“We just didn’t show up as ourselves. We are the standard in my eyes, but when you have to show up and be excellent every single night, it gets hard.”
Fever build crucial momentum
Indiana’s commanding performance tied their largest ever margin of victory against the Aces franchise, matching a record set back in 2003.
Head coach Stephanie White praised her squad’s resilience following a demanding four-game West Coast road trip.
“I thought our team was tough-minded,” White noted.
“We’re building consistency to these types of efforts. We’re not always going to shoot the ball the way that we did, but I thought we found the best shot on the floor.”
The Fever will now return to Indianapolis for a critical four-game home stand ahead of the WNBA All-Star break.
Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson says the decision to trade star guard LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves was made to secure sustained success and build a championship-contending team.
Peterson addressed the media at the Las Vegas Summer League on Saturday to explain the departure of one of the franchise’s most popular players.
The blockbuster four-team deal saw the Eastern Conference side send the 22-year-old playmaker and Josh Green to Minnesota.
In exchange, Charlotte received center Naz Reid alongside an unprotected 2033 first-round draft pick, three second-round picks, and three first-round pick swaps.
Focusing on long-term goals
Peterson described moving the former All-Star as arguably the most difficult choice of his two-year tenure in North Carolina.
However, the executive stressed that the organisation must aim higher than merely fighting for a brief postseason appearance.
“These decisions are challenging at times, but when you look at the totality of the season and everything of where we were, it’s important to take an honest look in the mirror of where you guys are as a team,” Peterson said.
“I’ve said it plenty of times since I’ve been here in Charlotte: the goal is to get to the playoffs and stay there for a long time.”
Peterson added that acquiring a player of Reid’s calibre, combined with future draft flexibility, achieved multiple strategic objectives in a single transaction.
Ending the NBA’s longest playoff drought
The massive trade surprised many fans after the dynamic guard helped engineer the NBA’s second-best turnaround last season.
Following a dismal 19-win campaign, the franchise surged to 44 victories and boasted the league’s top-ranked offence from January onwards.
Despite beating the Miami Heat in their opening play-in game, a subsequent crushing defeat to the Orlando Magic eliminated them from playoff contention.
The team has not reached the NBA playoffs since 2016, which stands as the longest active drought in the league.
While keeping their young core of Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel intact alongside their departing star seemed logical, Peterson prioritised an objective evaluation of the current roster.
“It’s my job to not just look at half of last season or two thirds of last season,” he explained.
“Just making an objective decision in terms of just the timing and being honest with myself of where we really are as it compares to the rest of the league.”
Two-time All-Star guard Ja Morant says his off-season trade to the Portland Trail Blazers offers a “fresh start” to clear up misconceptions about his character.
The 26-year-old spoke publicly on Saturday for the first time since his June move from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Addressing reporters at the Las Vegas Summer League, the former second overall draft pick expressed a clear desire to move past his previous controversies.
“I’ve done what I’ve done in the past, but it’s been addressed and handled already,” he stated.
“I get to show the fans in Portland a different Ja. It’s like starting all over again.”
Turbulent final years in Memphis
Morant spent seven seasons in Tennessee, leading the Grizzlies to four play-off appearances.
However, his tenure was overshadowed by disciplinary issues, including two significant league suspensions in 2023.
He served bans of eight and 25 games after displaying a firearm on social media livestreams.
A further one-game suspension followed in November after a heated altercation with Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo.
A crowded Portland backcourt
Portland acquired the South Carolina native in exchange for forwards Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
He joins a heavily stocked guard rotation featuring Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
Despite the fierce competition for minutes, the new arrival confirmed he is willing to either start or come off the bench.
The explosive playmaker was restricted to just 20 appearances last season due to injury, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 assists.
He insists his body now “feels great” after spending the past four months getting into peak physical condition.
Embracing the Pacific Northwest
Already familiar with Oregon through his endorsement deals with Nike, the former college standout is embracing his new surroundings.
“I don’t know if you all have been paying attention to me lately, but I’ve been kind of into nature,” he explained.
“I’m not hiking, but I go walking, ride a bike, I’ve been kayaking.”
“Just being grateful for being alive and the things I do have and my family. And to now have a fresh start. It’s just mind clearing.”
San Antonio Spurs have secured the future of NBA star Victor Wembanyama after the France centre agreed a five-year maximum rookie extension worth £188m ($252m).
The 22-year-old committed his long-term future to the Texas franchise by signing the lucrative agreement.
He reportedly holds a player option for the fifth season of the historic contract.
The towering 7ft 4in defender consciously chose not to demand additional financial clauses, affording the organisation greater salary cap flexibility.
Defensive dominance and historic recognition
This monumental extension follows a stellar 2025-26 campaign where the former first overall pick established himself as the premier rim protector in the sport.
He became the youngest athlete in history to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, sweeping all 100 first-place votes.
His formidable presence yielded a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game across 64 regular-season appearances.
The two-time All-Star also proved lethal offensively, averaging career highs of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Championship ambitions remain
Those commanding performances propelled the Western Conference outfit all the way to the NBA Finals last season.
However, their ultimate championship dreams were dashed following a 4-1 series defeat to the New York Knicks.
Anticipation of the new agreement was high after the generational talent addressed supporters directly online.
“Spurs family, I’m here to stay. Whatever it takes.”
Paige Bueckers scored 34 points as the Dallas Wings defeated expansion franchise the Toronto Tempo 108-95 in front of a WNBA regular-season record crowd of 20,996 in Montreal on Friday.
The historic attendance at the Bell Centre surpassed the previous regular-season benchmark of 20,711, which was set during a clash between Washington and Indiana in September 2024.
Only two WNBA Finals games in Detroit during 2003 and 2007 have ever drawn larger overall crowds.
Bueckers shines in historic Canadian showcase
The former UConn standout delivered a clinical offensive performance by shooting 13-of-22 from the field while adding six assists and six rebounds.
Her scoring masterclass was supported by Arike Ogunbowale and Jessica Shepard, who both contributed 20 points for the visiting side.
Azzi Fudd also reached double figures with 13 points to ensure the Texas-based franchise completed an undefeated four-game road trip.
Expansion franchise struggles continue despite Mabrey effort
Marina Mabrey tried to keep the Canadian outfit competitive with an impressive 34-point display that included six made three-pointers.
Laura Juskaite offered strong secondary scoring for the hosts by adding 25 points to the tally.
However, the offensive output was not enough to prevent a fourth consecutive defeat for the league’s newest team.
The Toronto squad will have an immediate opportunity to bounce back when they face the New York Liberty at the same venue on Sunday.
Miami Heat centre Bam Adebayo struck former teammate Tyler Herro during a physical altercation at a Las Vegas hotel practice court on Friday morning.
The confrontation reportedly escalated after the All-Star big man approached the guard regarding critical comments made recently on social media.
Those online remarks surfaced shortly after the conclusion of their successful seven-year partnership in South Florida.
Trade fallout sparks tension
The sharp-shooting guard was recently transferred to the Milwaukee Bucks as a key piece in the blockbuster trade involving two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Following the off-court incident, the Miami franchise released a brief official response.
“We are aware and not commenting.”
Officials from the Milwaukee organisation similarly declined to provide any statement regarding the morning clash.
Courtside appearance follows dispute
Despite the physical dispute, the newly acquired Bucks player attended Friday’s Summer League fixture between his current and former employers.
He was spotted sitting courtside at the Thomas & Mack Center throughout the exhibition contest.
The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year greeted his Milwaukee teammates and conversed amicably with Miami forward Jaime Jaquez Jr on the hardwood.
He subsequently departed the arena without addressing the awaiting media personnel.