The initial week of NBA free agency has been largely dominated by a player who isn`t even a free agent: LeBron James.
James actively chose not to enter free agency by opting into the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what`s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.
So, what`s next for James and the Lakers this summer? Let`s delve into L.A.`s ongoing situation and other notable developments from around the league as the first few days of free agency conclude.
Where Do LeBron and the Lakers Stand?
After prioritizing young forward Jake LaRavia in free agency (sources indicate there was a minor bidding war for him), the Lakers were left with around $8 million from their midlevel exception. They watched potential center targets like Brook Lopez and Clint Capela sign elsewhere.
Sources noted that teams possessing available centers maintained high price demands when the Lakers inquired, influenced by L.A.`s willingness to offer a substantial package for Mark Williams in the February trade attempt that was later rescinded. That previous offer included a young player (2024 first-rounder Dalton Knecht), L.A.`s unprotected 2031 first-round pick, and an unprotected pick swap in 2030.
This reflected the Lakers` perceived urgency to acquire a center to complement Luka Doncic. Five months later, they still lacked one until agreeing to sign Deandre Ayton on Wednesday, following his somewhat surprising buyout by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Ayton isn`t without flaws; he was waived by Portland despite being on a max deal for a reason. However, the 2018 No. 1 pick possesses talent and is arguably the second-best center available this summer after Myles Turner. Sources believe Ayton could be a positive addition for the Lakers, providing at least a significant upgrade over last season`s primary center, Jaxson Hayes, who the Lakers subsequently agreed to bring back as Ayton`s backup.
However, all these roster moves take a backseat while the league awaits any signal regarding James` feelings about the situation – something that remains unclear publicly since Paul`s ambiguous statement.
The entire scenario appears to be a peculiar game of passive-aggressive maneuvering. James could have become a free agent by opting out of his contract, which one executive suggested would have truly amplified the situation.
Instead, James chose to secure his salary and, perhaps more importantly, retain his no-trade clause. This decision seemingly indicated an expectation to play his eighth season in a Lakers uniform.
Paul`s statement, however, introduced uncertainty. Since then, there has been no public comment from James, Paul, or anyone within the Lakers organization, including general manager Rob Pelinka, coach JJ Redick, governor Jeanie Buss, or Mark Walter, who recently acquired control of the team.
Even the Lakers not formally announcing James` option pickup sent its own implicit message, especially considering his status as one of the greatest players ever.
So, where do things progress from here?
It`s a major topic of discussion across the league. A trade isn`t impossible – nothing is truly impossible in the NBA after moves like the Doncic trade – but it appears unlikely due to James` large salary and his no-trade clause. Sources indicated that a few curious teams made inquiries simply to gauge the seriousness of the situation, but currently, there`s no traction. However, it is certainly being monitored.
The notion of buying out James` contract, even if he were to relinquish some money, also seems illogical. This isn`t comparable to the Milwaukee Bucks` situation with Damian Lillard, a future Hall of Famer sidelined by an Achilles tear. James finished last season as a second-team All-NBA player for the Western Conference`s No. 3 seed, playing alongside a less than 100% version of Doncic. Why would the Lakers simply let him depart?
In a league known for strange circumstances, this one ranks among the most puzzling in recent memory. But until James or the Lakers definitively rule out the possibility of him playing elsewhere next season, speculation will persist.
How Much Better Did Denver Just Get?
It`s been a busy period for the Denver Nuggets and their new executive team, led by Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace.
The Nuggets executed one of the summer`s significant trades, sending Michael Porter Jr. and their unprotected 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson. They also acquired Jonas Valanciunas for Dario Saric and signed Tim Hardaway Jr. and former Nugget Bruce Brown to bolster their bench.
The Porter-Johnson transaction reduced Denver`s payroll by $34 million over the next two seasons and removed them from the luxury tax this season, where they were projected to be in the penal repeater tier. This marks their most active offseason since 2022, the summer before their championship season when they traded for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and first signed Brown.
That was a prized asset they gave up. Teams have been eyeing that one to see if they`d actually use it.
I know Cam Johnson has some past health issues, but Porter`s back issues and knee issues make this move make sense to me. I think Cam and Jokic will connect on the floor well. They both think the game the same way.
Denver brought in substantial veteran talent to strengthen the bench, something former coach Michael Malone often requested, only for former GM Calvin Booth to lean towards playing younger draft picks.
They`ve addressed shooting. Jonas is fine as a backup, THJ is great as a backup, Bruce is a good reclamation project. Calvin got too cute and doubled down on it. They didn`t need more than that. It`s just about helping Jokic.
But are the Nuggets significantly closer to another title? Opinions vary despite Denver seemingly addressing key weaknesses. As one rival general manager commented:
There is only one person who needs to be impressed with their offseason. That`s Jokic. Sometimes the best trades you make are the ones that engage your superstar. If Jokic is energized by those moves, then it was a great summer.
One potential complication for Denver is the possibility of Valanciunas returning to Europe next season, following a report from BasketNews suggesting he is considering joining Greek club Panathinaikos.
Several steps would be necessary: Denver would need to waive him and presumably buy out his $10 million contract. The NBA would then have to issue Valanciunas a letter of clearance.
While players returning to Europe after buyouts is not unprecedented (Sasha Vezenkov did so last year), Valanciunas was just acquired to fill a crucial need for a championship contender. Therefore, it`s far from certain that the Nuggets would agree to facilitate such a move.
Eastern Conference Landscape After Injuries and Offseason Moves
Entering the playoffs, the Boston Celtics were widely seen as favorites to reach the NBA Finals again. By the start of Game 7 of those Finals, the Indiana Pacers not only had a chance at their first title but were already considered conference favorites for the next season after their impressive East playoff run.
However, Achilles tears suffered by two Olympic gold medalists – Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton – have significantly disrupted the Eastern Conference picture. As one assistant coach put it:
It`s the worst it`s ever been – again.
Given the considerable uncertainty across the conference, a quick poll of eight scouts and executives was conducted to gauge the current outlook.
The consensus indicates the East has three distinct tiers: The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are viewed as the top group; the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic form the next tier; and a jumbled group makes up the rest of the conference.
Philadelphia receiving three votes highlights their potential ceiling if they can keep their key players healthy and on the court, possibly the highest in the East. However, that ceiling is jeopardized by the injury histories of Joel Embiid and Paul George, compounded by the challenging 2024-25 season the 76ers endured. Notably, Boston, Indiana, and the Miami Heat – teams that combined for seven of the last eight conference finals appearances – received zero votes for the top four spots.
One of the things you learn when you work in this league for a little while is how fragile everything is, even for the best teams with the best players who look invincible.
These last few months have really brought that home.
The Middle Tier of Players Has Fared Well
As the 2025 free agency period unfolded, there has been criticism, notably from Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, that the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is negatively impacting players and primarily benefiting the league.
Before the deal was even signed, [I said] that this is ridiculous. It is going to hurt players in the end. No one wanted to listen, and everyone wanted to act like the [National Basketball Players Association] was making a great deal. … Every year, the pot gets bigger and the business gets better, and the players get screwed more. That`s just how this business works.
However, it`s undeniably true that in an offseason where only the Brooklyn Nets initially held significant cap space (before the Bucks cleared space for Myles Turner), a considerable number of the league`s “middle class” players have secured substantial contracts.
Players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith, Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson, Luke Kornet, and Luke Kennard all moved teams with deals worth eight figures annually. Several others, including Brook Lopez, Clint Capela, Kevon Looney, Ty Jerome, Ayton, LaRavia, Guerschon Yabusele, and Tyus Jones, signed for at least the taxpayer`s midlevel exception ($5.7 million). Many more, including Naz Reid, Santi Aldama, Sam Merrill, Davion Mitchell, Tre Jones, Tre Mann, and Jaylin Williams, signed significant mid-range deals to remain with their current teams.
A common concern under the new CBA was that lower-level players would be financially squeezed. This summer demonstrates that even in a year with limited cap space, these players are doing quite well.
The middle class is [alive], for sure.
The CBA`s Second Apron is Having Its Intended Effect
The CBA, particularly the introduction of the restrictive second salary apron, has significantly influenced team roster construction. This offseason alone, the Phoenix Suns and Celtics successfully navigated below the second apron line, and currently, only the Cavaliers are projected to exceed it by the end of the 2025-26 season.
Historically, teams have rarely operated consistently in the second apron tier.
Since the implementation of new repeater tax penalties in the 2013-14 season, 37 teams have finished a season sufficiently above the salary cap to incur second apron penalties (roughly 134% of the cap). In the first six seasons (up to the COVID-affected 2019-20 season), 14 teams reached this level, with never more than three in a single year. However, since the 2020 Orlando bubble conclusion, 23 teams have operated over that threshold, including 17 teams in the three-year span from 2021-22 through 2023-24 alone. This surge was primarily driven by the salary cap stabilizing over several years due to the pandemic`s impact.
Last year, the number of teams above the second apron decreased to three: Minnesota, Phoenix, and Boston. As the salary cap is expected to resume regular increases, the added flexibility for middle-tier teams operating below the highest tax levels will become more significant than it has been in recent years, where a lack of cap space constrained the market.
This CBA is great for the NBA because it prioritizes good management and good leadership. If you don`t have that, you`re quickly going to be stuck with a bad team.
