Make sense of the start of N.B.A. free agency by thinking about it this way: The last few weeks have been the longest Christmas Eve ever, with trade and signing rumors popping up like stolen peeks in the presents closet. Now Christmas is here, but it doesn’t really begin until Santa Claus arrives — and this summer, like most summers, the bearded man everyone is waiting for is named LeBron James.
All eyes are on James and Kawhi Leonard, who are both reportedly interested in the Los Angeles Lakers, while news about two other big-name stars has already shaken up the N.