A recent report from ESPN insider Shams Charania revealed that Nick Nurse could use The King at the point guard position, freeing up the small forward spot for another teammate.

Moving LeBron to this position would clearly alter the 76ers’ strategy heading into next season. Tyrese Maxey, a natural point guard, could shift to the shooting guard role, while the small forward position could easily be filled by Jaylen Brown.

The new Philadelphia that could be coming

Placing LeBron at the point would shift Tyrese Maxey to his more natural scoring role off the ball, leveraging his speed and shooting without the burden of constant playmaking.

As one of the greatest facilitators in NBA history, ranking 4th on the all-time assists list with over 12,000 career assists, LeBron possesses the elite vision needed to orchestrate the offense, drawing heavy defensive focus to open up high-value opportunities for Joel Embiid and perimeter shooters while efficiently controlling the pace of the game.

LeBron’s experience as a point guard

The last time LeBron James played full-time as a point guard was during the 2019–20 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the results were legendary. Head coach Frank Vogel put the offense entirely in his hands, and LeBron responded by leading the NBA in assists for the first time in his career with 10.2 per game, while adding 25.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Under his leadership at the point, the Lakers secured the top seed in the Western Conference and capped off the season by winning the NBA Championship in the Orlando bubble, with LeBron earning Finals MVP honors.

76ers’ potential lineup

Nick Nurse has managed to put together an elite starting five, one that will look to capture the fourth championship in franchise history. Pending official confirmation, this could be the potential starting lineup for the Philadelphia 76ers.

• LeBron James – PG
• Tyrese Maxey – SG
• Jaylen Brown – SF
• Jabari Walker – PF
• Joel Embiid – C

Jefferson, speaking on the Road Trippin’ Show, argued that the Heat must remain patient with Antetokounmpo. He noted that physical, elite big men age gracefully over time, explaining that “Giannis’ window for being a top 5/10 player in this league, is a lot longer than a player who’s 6’7”.

Jefferson insists Miami does not need to force or panic a title push during Year 1. He summarized his caution to Spoelstra by concluding that “they have a 5 year window with Giannis to build a proper team around him where he can still be a guy who can lead you to a championship.”

Richard Jefferson knows what he’s talking about

Jefferson correctly highlights that building a legitimate championship roster around two interior heavyweights requires time to surround them with complementary shooters, refine half-court execution, and establish elite defensive chemistry.

Giannis’ elite productivity reinforces why Miami can afford to play the long game. Last season, Antetokounmpo posted massive numbers, averaging 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game on over 60% shooting from the field.

Channing Frye echoes roster concerns for Miami

Co-host Channing Frye shared similar doubts on the same show episode, focusing heavily on how Miami’s current core fits together. While acknowledging their imposing physical presence, Frye offered his own warning about their offensive balance, admitting that “defensively, this team is going to be a monster… There is not enough shooters”.

Frye highlighted the distinct lack of perimeter threats currently surrounding their interior stars, urging the front office to quickly address the void. He explained that the Heat “need to go find shooters, spacing, so that Bam and Giannis can get downhill and create for other people”.

When asked if James joined Philly strictly to chase another ring, Durant didn’t hold back: “Everybody in the NBA is either chasing rings, shot attempts, or money.” Short, sweet, and straight to the point.

Bleacher Report and other major outlets quickly picked up KD’s quote, which echoes Bill Simmons’ recent warning that the James-76ers experiment could end in disaster. Of course, Durant isn’t exactly immune to criticism here, he’s made his own share of controversial moves in pursuit of titles and top-dollar contracts.

How many teams has Durant actually played for?

While KD might be throwing subtle shade at LeBron, he’s no stranger to switching jerseys. Durant has played for five different franchises in his career: starting with the SuperSonics/Thunder, then moving to the Warriors, Nets, Suns, and now the Rockets. Despite all that bouncing around, he’s walked away with just two NBA championships.

LeBron, on the other hand, has played for four teams, Cleveland, Miami, Los Angeles, and now Philadelphia, and has captured four rings along the way. His path to titles hasn’t required as much team-hopping as Durant’s, whose only two rings came during the Warriors’ legendary back-to-back run.

Just like LeBron, Durant hasn’t won a title in over five years and has struggled to get back to championship form. Even former teammates like Russell Westbrook, who currently finds himself without an NBA home, have learned the hard way how tough it is to land in the right spot to chase success.

ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania appeared on NBA Today to discuss how James reached his choice and how he is expected to fit into the 76ers’ system. “It was obvious: money was of no consequence, no significance for LeBron James in this decision to sign with the Sixers,” Charania said.

“He’s playing for the veteran minimum contract, the lowest amount that he can play for, and he decided at the outset of free agency that he was going to go somewhere where he felt he had the best chance to win a championship. No damn the money. It didn’t matter what it came with.”

A decision centered around family

Charania continued by highlighting the key figures involved in bringing about this shocking arrival, including 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, along with the lifestyle benefits and overall fit for James‘ family.

“And he spoke to a few people, importantly. Jaylen Brown spoke to Rich Paul, his agent, but Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Nick Nurse all spoke to LeBron James during the process to recruit him to get him on board with this,” Charania reported.

“And Nick Nurse was, my understanding was, the only coach who spoke to LeBron James during the process. That was very pivotal,” Charania added. “And you think about the last hurdle over the last week or so as LeBron James was sifting through the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the Golden State Warriors and the Sixers was family going from LA all the way to the East Coast. That was a major change for LeBron James’ lifestyle.”

“So once he got Savannah, his young daughter Zhuri, Bronny, and Bryce on board, he decided on Friday to go with the Sixers,” Charania said. While multiple factors were considered before James shortlisted his choices, the final decision ultimately came down to his family’s full support for the East Coast move.

What to expect from the offense

James led the NBA in assists when he averaged 10.2 assists per game during the 2019-20 season. In a sense, the 76ers are attempting to replicate the 2019-20 championship roster framework, but with far higher-quality role players.

The top three players in fast-break field goals during the 2025-26 season were Maxey, Brown, and James. Having all three on the same squad makes the Philadelphia offense an elite threat, with James expected to fill a role similar to Draymond Green on the Warriors superteam.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Irving, after missing the entirety of the 2025-26 season following a torn ACL sustained on March 3, 2025, is now fully healthy and set to be fully part of the team’s plans for next season. “He’s fully recovered, 100% from that ACL tear. He’s been fully entrenched with the Mavericks plans this offseason,” Charania said on The Stephen A. Smith Show.

Irving and the Mavericks were cautious with his recovery throughout last season, and understandably so. The Mavs were in the first year of a post-Luka Doncic rebuild, and rushing Irving back made little sense given how far the squad was from contending for a playoff spot.

Irving as a key piece for the Mavericks

At 34 years old, history has not been kind to smaller guards suffering severe knee injuries. However, modern medicine has advanced tremendously compared to just five years ago, fueling hope that the Mavericks star can make a full recovery, especially after taking his time in rehabilitation.

Irving will serve as the most veteran player on a young Mavs squad that is betting everything on Cooper Flagg as its foundational pillar. He will bring the point guard presence that Dallas severely lacked last season when forced to rotate several players at the position.

It will be compelling to see how Irving fits into the Mavericks‘ plans. He has two years remaining on his contract, featuring a player option for the 2027-28 season, and at 34 years old, he does not entirely fit the team’s long-term timeline or aspirations.

Notably, Irving was reportedly one of the stars LeBron James wanted to team up with, though the Cleveland Cavaliers apparently failed to pull off an adequate trade. During the 2024-25 NBA season, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 47% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 92% from the free-throw line.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Lively could reach a new agreement before the start of the 2026-27 season. “Told today that Dallas has held some early-stage talks with Dereck Lively II on a possible contract extension,” Stein reported. “Lively, 22, is eligible for a new deal until Opening Night Eve but played in just seven games in 2025-26 before foot surgery.”

Over the past three years, the big man has averaged 8.4 points on 72.5% shooting, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 98 regular-season games. Lively could serve as an ideal complement to Flagg, especially with Anthony Davis no longer on the roster and the expected return of Kyrie Irving.

Latest on Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson

Amid trade rumors surrounding Thompson’s potential exit from Dallas, veteran Kyrie Irving has also been mentioned as a player who could move before the 2026-27 season. However, the Mavericks have shown no interest in moving Irving, nor have they shown interest in Anthony Davis.

“The Mavericks have continued to rebuff trade feelers for the 34-year-old who has nine career All-Star nods,” Stein wrote on his Substack. “The working expectation since our report last month is that Irving should begin next season in Dallas alongside Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg to at last launch his long-awaited comeback from knee surgery in late March 2025.”

Regarding Thompson, his future with the team remains unclear, though little has shifted over the past week. “Little has changed—yet—from what we reported about Klay Thompson in mid-July,” Stein added. “Miami and other teams are certainly hoping Thompson becomes a free agent by securing a buyout from Dallas, but the Mavericks—to this point—have indicated that they prefer to trade the four-time champion sharpshooter if possible.”

What lies ahead for the Mavericks

After acquiring 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher in a three-team trade with the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder, it will be compelling to see how the team proceeds between now and the start of the regular season. Through it all, Cooper Flagg remains the squad’s only untouchable cornerstone heading into his second year in the NBA.

ESPN’s Shams Charania on The Stephen A. Smith Show on Monday, Charania revealed details about trade talks involving Brown between Golden State and the Celtics before the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, noting how the pursuit of James might have differed had Golden State pulled off a deal for Brown earlier in the season.

“The Warriors could’ve got in the Jaylen Brown sweepstakes if they wanted to give up four first-round picks-ish, in that range,” Charania told Smith. “They decided not to from my understanding. Those two teams, the Warriors and Celtics, did talk about a Jaylen Brown trade around the trade deadline, and it was around several first-round draft picks, potential swaps, and seconds. The Warriors decided not to go down that route, and so that’s on them. That’s the decision they made.”

Warriors facing criticism over roster strategy

The narrative surrounding the Warriors is turning villainous as the organization shows a lack of genuine interest in upgrading the roster to maximize Curry, a legend and the greatest player in franchise history. Curry even did his part to help close a potential deal for James, but the front office failed to provide adequate help.

According to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic, Curry was actively involved in trying to recruit James to Golden State, but kept his expectations in check throughout the process in case things did not work out.

Thompson suggested Curry could be growing weary of the organization’s pattern of chasing external stars rather than building around what the team already has. “I think he’s probably a little tired of the star chasing,” Thompson said. That sentiment reframes Golden State’s aggressive pursuit of James not as a simple swing-and-miss, but as part of a broader front office strategy that may not fully align with what Curry himself wants out of these final NBA seasons of his career.

Curry did not get his shot at pairing with James, and he may also be reconsidering whether chasing that kind of star pairing is even the direction he wants Golden State to pursue. However, that does not mean Curry will distance himself from the franchise given his deep loyalty, which could instead point toward a potential upcoming extension for Draymond Green.

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers will meet with Kuminga about working toward finalizing a potential sign-and-trade agreement soon. Cleveland stands as a main finalist for Kuminga’s services alongside the Lakers, maintaining the same trend seen so far.

However, the main issue remains Kuminga’s expectations. Kuminga continues to seek a deal exceeding $20 million annually. Contract length has become the primary obstacle in Kuminga’s NBA market. A sign-and-trade requires a three-year deal under the collective bargaining agreement, but Kuminga’s position is that he will take less than his asking price only on a one-year contract.

Kuminga’s situation

Cleveland sits roughly $25.3 million under the first apron and just under $38 million under the second. The Cavaliers can start Kuminga at $6.1 million on the taxpayer mid-level exception, for $12.4 million over two years. Using the exception hard-caps Cleveland at the second apron. Max Strus is owed $16 million this season and Dennis Schroder $14.7 million, with both contracts set to expire next summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers face complications in their path to completing a sign-and-trade for Kuminga. The Atlanta Hawks have been reluctant to take back Jarred Vanderbilt in a sign-and-trade, which could mean a third team is needed.

Atlanta declined Kuminga‘s $24.3 million option in June. He has been an unrestricted free agent since, marking the first time in his career he has reached the open market.

A bonus for the Cavs is that Cleveland appeals to Kuminga. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was Steve Kerr’s lead assistant in Golden State for Kuminga’s first three seasons. Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, is from Northeast Ohio, and Kuminga spent part of the 2025 offseason training in Cleveland. “Jonathan likes the Cavs, likes (coach) Kenny Atkinson, and (star) Donovan Mitchell likes him,” Turner told The Athletic last week.

According to a report from Evan Sidery, Curry is eligible for a two-year, $136.7 million extension with the Warriors. That would dwarf James’ two-year deal with the 76ers, where he had to take a massive pay cut.

While James will make just under $4 million a year, Curry would average $68.35 million annually if he signs the deal with Golden State. That would easily keep him among the highest-paid players in the NBA. In fact, it’s even more than James made with the Lakers, a move Derek Fisher recently defended, shutting down claims that LeBron was just “ring-chasing.”

Who has higher career earnings between Curry and James?

James takes the crown here thanks to two decades of dominance and massive off-court deals. Even though Curry currently makes more money per season than anyone else in the NBA, LeBron’s 20-plus years in the league have pushed his total combined earnings well past the $1.2 billion mark, officially making him a billionaire.

Curry isn’t hurting by any means, having pulled in roughly $500 million throughout his career between salary and endorsements. But because LeBron got a six-year head start and built an absolute empire of business equity and shoe deals, his lifetime total stays well out of reach.

Curry’s Warriors extension isn’t a done deal yet

However, Curry locking in that extension with Golden State isn’t guaranteed. As Sidery noted on X, “If Curry doesn’t immediately sign, this could be a tactic to place pressure on Golden State building a more competitive roster around him.” So, we’ll have to wait and see if Curry takes the money to officially out-earn James for the 2026-27 season.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Heat, Nuggets, and Cavs are among the teams eyeing DeRozan’s services. “I’m told Miami, Denver and Cleveland are among the teams interested in DeMar DeRozan,” Charania reported during a Monday appearance on NBA Today.

DeRozan became a free agent after he was waived by the Sacramento Kings on July 6. The 36-year-old started 77 games for Sacramento last season, averaging 18.4 points and 4.1 assists to go along with 2.9 rebounds per game. He shot 49.7 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from three-point territory.

DeRozan’s outlook

Despite finishing with a mere 22-60 record with the Kings—who owned a better net rating with DeRozan off the floor compared to having him on the court—the veteran scorer remains an intriguing option. While the six-time All-Star’s days as one of the top scorers on a playoff contender are likely in the rearview mirror, he could contribute as a complementary offensive option moving forward.

Cleveland is searching for more scoring from its wings after coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The Cavs are looking to add to their core of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, which is where their interest in Kuminga also fits in.

The fit for the Heat and Nuggets

Miami has been busy this offseason, acquiring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Bucks on June 22. As the Heat look to climb up the Eastern Conference standings led by Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, the team could bring in an experienced veteran such as DeRozan.

On the other hand, the Nuggets are attempting to bounce back from a first-round playoff loss this year, representing their earliest postseason exit since 2022. While Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will continue to lead Denver’s starting lineup, DeRozan might accept a depth role with the team. The Nuggets only ranked No. 20 in the NBA in bench scoring last season, an area the squad must improve at all costs.

“The market for 23-year-old wing Jonathan Kuminga is not what he hoped it would be. Atlanta did not pick up the team’s $24.3 million option for this season, Kuminga hoped he could find a team willing to pay him around that number in a new, multi-year deal. No such luck,” NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin wrote.

“The offers out there were more like the Cavaliers still offering the rest of their mid-level exception this season (a little less than $8 million) or the Lakers offering two years, $20 million total.”

Kuminga has become a diamond in the rough this offseason, not only because of his age but also because of what he can offer to the teams interested in him. Will he take his talent to the Western Conference, or will he instead move to Cleveland?

Where would Kuminga fit best?

While Jonathan Kuminga has familiarity with Cleveland’s head coach Kenny Atkinson from their time in Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers would represent a significantly better overall fit for his projected role in the 2026–27 NBA season.

LeBron James’ departure to the Philadelphia 76ers would eventually give Kuminga a bigger role in LA, where Luka Doncic is currently the main star. Conversely, Cleveland’s recent acquisition of Mario Hezonja creates a crowded wing rotation alongside Donovan Mitchell, where Kuminga would likely be relegated to a secondary off-ball role in a slower, guard-centric system.

Kuminga’s numbers with the Hawks

After being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in February 2026, Jonathan Kuminga posted solid production in a limited sample size. Across 16 games with the Hawks, he averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while playing roughly 23 minutes per night.