With NBA Free Agency now pretty much over as virtually all of the big names that were on the market have signed new deals, and as such, the trade market is starting to heat up. Teams are already planning around a loaded free agency class in 2018, headlined by the uncertain future of LeBron James. Here are all the latest NBA rumors you need to know:
LeBron James not interested in Miami return
James is known to be unhappy with the Cleveland Cavaliers front office after they chose to let general manager David Griffin walk and their inability to improve the roster this offseason, creating increased speculation that he will leave the franchise again next summer.
As such, it's no surprise that LeBron created a stir on social media thanks to a pair of Instagram posts about this time with the Miami Heat (posts are here and here). However, those within the Heat organization don't believe James has any real interest in returning, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Let's look at next summer's top potentially available names. LeBron James' Instagram posts Saturday might raise hopes among some Heat fans of a James return, but the Heat does not believe James has serious interest in returning, with the thought that he will stay in Cleveland or go to the Lakers.
Several teams already plan to make a run at James when he becomes a free agent, namely the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers. James already owns a home in Los Angeles and trains there in the offseason.
He averaged 26.4 points, 8.7 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game this past season.
Lonzo Ball wants to start shoe bidding war
Despite having his down signature shoe with is family's Big Baller Brand, Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball has been wearing Nike, adidas, Under Armour and Jordan shoes in Summer League. According to Brandon Richard of SoleCollector.com, Ball is hoping to create something of a bidding war for Big Baller Brand among the shoe companies by doing so.
Perhaps the bigger story is the piece of Ball's interview with Hubbarth that followed confirmation of tonight's game sneaker. When asked if his recent stretch of games wearing sneakers not made by his family's Big Baller Brand was an endorsement audition, he responded by saying, "Something like that."
Ball's father LaVar also hasn't ruled out a major sneaker deal for his son, telling ESPN that a big brand could acquire his services "if the price is right." Ball also said that Lonzo wearing different sneakers is their way of making the statement that big brands should have had an open mind at the negotiating table.
LaVar Ball has said that Big Baller Brand is looking for a partnership deal with a major shoe company instead of a traditional endorsement deal for Lonzo.
The Lakers are set to take on the Portland Trail Blazers in the Vegas Summer League championship game. Tip-off time is set for 10:00 pm ET on ESPN.
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Celtics willing to go into luxury tax to win
The Boston Celtics traded Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons in order to sign Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million contract and avoid the luxury tax, but team co-owner Steve Pagliuca said Boston will go over the tax in the coming years in order to win, according to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
But the Celtics are likely on the brink of a true throwback, to the days when Celtics ownership happily paid luxury taxes throughout the era of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
Pagliuca isn’t sure the team will re-enter tax-land next summer, but if exceeding the tax line means once again having an annual chance of reaching the NBA Finals, then the co-owner says so be it.
“I don’t know if it’s inevitable, but if we feel it’s going to help us win a championship, then we will,” he said. “We have a history of doing what we need to do to win."
Isaiah Thomas is set to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and is expected to demand a max contract, and the Celtics are willing to do whatever they can do keep him. Marcus Smart will also be a restricted free agent.
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