Kyrie Irving has been linked with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks throughout the season, but there has been more speculation of late that he will also consider the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.

Irving has reportedly been recruited by Kobe Bryant to the Lakers. Bryant's former agent, Rob Pelinka, currently runs the Lakers.

"It's between Brooklyn and the Lakers," said Ric Bucher. "I was told in the last 24 hours Kobe has been recruiting Kyrie in particular, to get him to the Lakers. Everything I've heard I would still expect Kyrie is going to go to Brooklyn... He just bought a place in South Orange."

"It's between Brooklyn and the Lakers... I was told in the last 24 hours Kobe has been recruiting Kyrie in particular, to get him to the Lakers. Everything I've heard I would still expect Kyrie is going to go to Brooklyn... He just bought a place in South Orange." — @RicBucher pic.twitter.com/HICrTPushl

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 28, 2019

Giannis Antetokounmpo cited team chemistry when saying that he wanted the Milwaukee Bucks' front office to re-sign the team's free agents this summer.

"I want everyone back. Great fricking team -- unselfish players that play basketball the right way. They're winners. We had a great atmosphere. We didn't have no -- I want to be polite. I want to say the A-word -- we didn't have no buttheads. Obviously, I want everyone back. I am going to let my teammates know that," said Antetokounmpo.

Three starters in Malcolm Brogdon, Brook Lopez, and Khris Middleton will be either restricted or unrestricted free agents this summer. Nikola Mirotic is also unrestricted, while George Hill's deal is only partially guaranteed.

Antetokounmpo added that he wants the Bucks to position themselves as a title contender for several years to come. 

"We're gonna put ourselves in a place to be a championship contending team for many more years to come. And there's not a lot of teams that can say that in the league -- there's one, two, three, four teams that can say that -- but we're gonna put ourselves in that situation for many more years to come."

Kawhi Leonard has reached the NBA Finals in his first season with the Toronto Raptors following his trade from the San Antonio Spurs.

Leonard's uncle, Dennis Robertson, spoke with Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports about the historical moment of reaching the Finals with the Raptors.

“We’re a humble family and we’re just enjoying the moment,” Robertson said. “Most people would say it’s vindication, but I’m not sure about that. But it was nice that we kept our mouths shut and just let everything play out. And for Kawhi, to take all the negative press he received and to focus on taking the East and to taking each series game by game, it’s a big deal. Making it to the Finals is a big deal. This is a team that has never been to the Finals and we’re happy about that. It feels good with what we went through last year. We have to be happy. He said it best with all the work he's put into his craft: He’s ready for this moment. What he accomplished was amazing. That’s what stars do. How he’s handled everything on and off the court is well deserved. It was nice to see him fight through all the adversity and he’s earned every minute of this.”

Robertson was also asked about the deterioration of Leonard's relationship with the Spurs.

“I think it just became a lack of trust,” Robertson told Yahoo Sports. “They didn’t believe Kawhi couldn’t play and that caused a lack of trust in us and then us not believing in them. Any time a player says he’s not capable of playing, you should believe him. Why would Kawhi just stop playing all of a sudden? He’s a competitor. Sometimes you get these team doctors telling you what you can and cannot do, and Kawhi was just in too much pain to get out there. This was a serious issue. They didn’t believe him, and after that, the relationship couldn’t recover and we decided we had to move on.”

The Raptors were not on Leonard's list of teams prior to the trade.

“When you are initially traded somewhere you didn’t asked to be, you don’t want to accept it,” Robertson said. “But once you get through that period, the focus then turns to giving your all and performing at a high level. It never had anything to do with the city of Toronto. It wasn’t. Toronto is a beautiful city. Kawhi has often spoke highly of Toronto. It’s a beautiful place. That was just an initial reaction, which is normal. But we’re enjoying this run and looking forward to the Finals.”

Robertson was then asked about Leonard's free agency plans.

“I can’t get into other free agents and other teams, but for Kawhi, he’s going to take it one day and one game at a time,” Robertson said. “We have a championship opportunity in front of us. We’re not thinking about free agency; it’s the Warriors [right now]. Once we get through the season, we’ll turn our attention to free agency. But we’re just having fun right now. This has been a great year.”

A Milwaukee Bucks run to the NBA Finals next season could "tip the scales" in Giannis Antetokounmpo's decision to re-sign with the team, according to a source that spoke to Malika Andrews.

Antetokounmpo qualified for the five-year, $247.3 million supermax extension this week. He will be eligible to sign the deal next summer.

That timeline could affect how the Bucks approach this offseason with several key free agents on their roster.

Khris Middleton will likely decline his player option, making him an unrestricted free agent. Brook Lopez and Nikola Mirotic are unrestricted free agents, while Malcolm Brogdon is a restricted free agent. 

The Bucks are likely to bring Middleton back next season, according to Andrews, though also signing Brogdon may put the team in the luxury tax.

Re-signing Lopez is also said to be a priority. 

There is "mutual interest" between the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving, according to Anthony Puccio of SNY.tv.

Irving has been monitoring the Nets' development this season and is considering signing with the team, according to sources.

The Nets are also said to be interested in signing Irving even if they re-sign D'Angelo Russell, who is a restricted free agent. The team would ideally like to pair two max free agents together, but are open to pairing Irving and Russell in their backcourt.

Irving and Russell reportedly have a good relationship, with both players having played for Kevin Boyle in high school.

Kevin Durant talked to the media for the first time since his injury in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Durant was asked a question about the Warriors phrased as "their play" and he corrected the reporter by saying "our."

Durant was then asked if there's a split in the perception of the Warriors between the players who predated him.

"It's been that way since I got here," said Durant. "It's the Warriors and KD. I understand that. I feel like my teammates and the organization know exactly what I've done here on and off the court to become part of this culture. Stamp my flag in this culture and organization. I've done the last two years being pretty much everything they've asked me to do from a player to an ambassador of the organization to the community. I know what I bring to the team. I also know a lot of people on the outside don't like to see us together. I get it."

Durant has been linked with leaving the Warriors for several months.

LeBron James has begun his recruiting efforts to bolster the Los Angeles Lakers' roster this offseason in free agency.

The Lakers enter the offseason widely considered a longshot to sign someone on the level of Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant.

"From what I understand, he has already begun the recruiting process," said Brian Windhorst. "I have heard he has had contact with Kawhi Leonard. I have heard he has had contact with Jimmy Butler. There's no tampering enforcement by players. While Magic Johnson, the guy who got trouble for tampering before is no longer there, LeBron is tamperer-in-chief of the Lakers right now. The thing about it is, I don't know if texts and calls and maybe a dinner with LeBron is enough for the Lakers to overcome the hurdles they're going to have.

"I just don't think the Lakers can be choosy. To be honest, I think the Lakers really have to look at the trade market. Would they be willing to make an offer Bradley Beal? Would they be willing to make an offer for a guy like DeMar Rozan who could possibly be on the trade block depending on whether the Spurs want to extend his contract? Would they be willing to wait for Anthony Davis a year from now?"

Klay Thompson and Bradley Beal were not voted onto any All-NBA Teams and will not be eligible for a supermax this offseason.

Karl-Anthony Towns similarly didn't make an All-NBA Team and his contract will remain a five-year, $158 million deal instead of a five-year, $191 million pact under the Rose rule.

Kemba Walker was a Third Team All-NBA selection and will be eligible for a supermax with his free agency.

The Philadelphia 76ers can offer Tobias Harris up to a five-year, $188 million contract in free agency.

Harris is also expected to receive interest from the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets. The most those teams can offer is a four-year, $141 million max contract.

The Sixers traded Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, and four draft picks — including a protected 2020 first-rounder and the unprotected 2021 Miami Heat first-rounder in a package for Harris.

During a panel discussion at the Wall Street Journal Future of Everything Festival, Rich Kleiman was asked whether Kevin Durant has made a free agent decision yet.

Durant is widely expected to sign with either the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers or re-sign with the Golden State Warriors.

"That is 100 percent undecided and I'm waiting on Kevin," said Kleiman. "That's the truth. I think there's this feeling that this thing is like war games and everybody is kind of playing chess years out. When someone gets to the level of basketball that he's at, you can't juggle and focus like that. There's so many things he's juggling too. He's not scripting his future while he's playing the way he plays, or practices the way he practices.

"I think it's frustrating at times, honestly, at times. I get it, I do get it. I get that even as a kid the kind of soap opera of it all was just beginning and I liked it. Now, in some ways it's like more soap opera at times than basketball. 

"He really doesn't know and I really don't know."