Basketball Wiretap

Bob Myers' appearance on Rich Paul's podcast to make a public pitch for the Philadelphia 76ers to sign LeBron James was scheduled before James' free agency began. Multiple league sources with direct knowledge of the situation said the same appearances are not expected from other teams pursuing James.

The 76ers' chief executive sat alongside Paul on the agent's "Game Over" podcast with Max Kellerman. Myers made the case directly for Philadelphia to land James.

"If (LeBron) was here, I'd say, 'I honestly believe this is your best chance to win,'" said Myers.

The appearance drew attention across league circles because such pitches are typically made privately.

"Awkward," said one executive of a potential James suitor, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss Paul's show freely.

Another league source offered a different view of the strategy.

"The podcast is a brilliant idea by them because it regains a narrative for them they may have lost," said the source, who also spoke anonymously.

Sources ruled out speculation that Paul is staging a rotating series of executive appearances leading to a final announcement. Brandon Weems, a Cleveland Cavaliers front office staffer and childhood friend of James, remains the only known team executive with direct contact with James this offseason.

Teams cited by Paul as contenders, including the Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, said they remained without information on James' plans as of Thursday.

"We really don't know, we just know what we read," said one executive of a potential suitor.

James can no longer pursue a sign-and-trade after the Los Angeles Lakers renounced his rights. His next contract will be limited to the nontaxpayer midlevel exception, the taxpayer midlevel exception or the veteran's minimum.

A trade between the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers involving Kawhi Leonard has been put on hold until the NBA concludes its investigation into a potential cap circumvention involving Aspiration.

The Raptors agreed to acquire Leonard from the Clippers for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first round picks, one pick swap and two second rounders. The two first round picks are unprotected in 2031 and 2033 with the first round pick swap in 2027. The Raptors will send second round picks to the Clippers in 2030 and 2033.

The league office informed the Raptors that they would assume any risk for a potential punishment of Leonard that could impact his contract and his availability. The Raptors have also been in extension talks with Leonard, which was a major driving force of the trade as the Clippers had signaled they didn't have interest in a long-term contract. 

The Clippers released the following statement in response:

“For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency.

"On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors' ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.

"At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

"We recognize the uncertainty this has created and the impact it has had on our team, our fans, the Raptors organization, their fans, and the players whose futures remain affected while this process continues.

"We remain confident that, when the facts are evaluated fairly and thoroughly, the NBA will confirm exactly what we have said from the beginning: We have not done what we are accused of doing.”

The Raptors said they "remain eager to bring Kawhi back to Toronto and look forward to a swift resolution for our players, our organization, and our fans."

The NBA Board of Governors will meet in Las Vegas next week amid Summer League, but a resolution still appears to be a few weeks out.

“We don’t have a specific timeline for the conclusion of the investigation but expect the firm to finalize its work in the coming weeks," said an NBA spokesperson to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Team executives are sending LeBron James voices notes in order to pitch him on signing, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN.

The voices notes are facilitated through agent Rich Paul.

Bob Myers, president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, most recently pitched James to sign with the Sixers on the "Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul" podcast.

James is currently believed to have a favorite in mind. 

Steph Curry also recently acknowledged the possibility of playing alongside James.

There still remains "no timetable" for James' decision. 

The Los Angeles Clippers signed Baba Miller to a four-year, $9.61 million contract on Thursday, reported Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

It is the largest contract given to any second-round pick in the 2026 draft thus far.

Miller averaged 13.0 points and 10.3 rebounds at Cincinnati last season. 

Charles Bassey and the Golden State Warriors have agreed upon a one-year deal.

Bassey appeared in 13 games during the 2025-26 season across stops with the Warriors, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers. Bassey finished the season with the Warriors.

Bassey was the 53rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft out of Western Kentucky. 

Marcus Spears Jr., ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the 2027 class, is reclassifying to 2026 and committing to Texas, he told ESPN on Thursday. Arizona, LSU and Kentucky had also pursued the 6-foot-10 power forward.

Spears is a Texas native whose sister, Cari, plays volleyball for the Longhorns. He took an official visit to Arizona in late June and made two unofficial visits to Texas, including a trip to Austin on June 16.

"Texas basketball is becoming a big thing again, and I am excited to be part of it," said Spears. "The Texas fans can expect a worker with a lot of energy. I will be trying to bring Texas a national championship."

His father, ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive end Marcus Spears, said the decision carried personal meaning.

"Marcus Jr. grew up in Texas, and there's nothing like playing for your home school and winning," said the elder Spears. "I experienced that growing up in Louisiana at LSU. This is his decision and his future."

Spears, who plays for Dynamic Prep in Texas, averaged 20.9 points and 8.7 rebounds this spring on the Nike EYBL circuit, ranking top 10 nationally in both categories. He also helped Team USA win gold at the 2025 FIBA U16 Men's AmeriCup, averaging a team-high 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Spears turned 17 in April and will need to spend two seasons in Austin before becoming draft eligible. Spears will play collegiately for at least the upcoming 2026-27 season and in 2027-28. 

His father cited Texas coach Sean Miller's track record developing players like Deandre Ayton and Aaron Gordon as a major factor in the decision.

The reclassification process began about a month ago after Spears' mother, former WNBA player Aiysha Spears, suggested the move. Spears will enter the 2026 SC Next 100 at No. 4 and joins a Texas recruiting class now ranked No. 4 nationally, alongside five-star forward Austin Goosby and four others.

According to Cerebro, only three other players since 2022 have matched Spears' EYBL production of 20 points, 8.5 rebounds and one block across three straight sessions in Cooper Flagg, Cameron Boozer and Tyran Stokes.

Stephen Curry acknowledged the possibility of teaming up with LeBron James as the Golden State Warriors pursue the unrestricted free agent. Curry spoke during a press availability Thursday at the American Century Championship in Stateline, Nevada.

"Up until probably two, three years ago, that was like a pipedream question or even a thought," said Curry. "But that's part of the allure. Him going into his 24th season, me going into my 18th, the battles we've had, that would be such a unique story in NBA history, in sports history. But a little premature right now to talk about it."

League sources confirmed Curry and James have exchanged text messages over the past week. Draymond Green, Curry's longtime teammate, is currently vacationing with James in Puerto Rico and was seen golfing alongside him Thursday.

Warriors sources have maintained modest optimism about landing James, viewing the Cleveland Cavaliers as their toughest competition for his services. Golden State's pitch centers on the relationships James holds with Curry, Green and head coach Steve Kerr, who coached both stars at the 2024 Olympics.

"I don't have a percentage," said Curry. "It's kinda up to him. I feel like any place he calls and says I want to play there, you move mountains to make it happen."

Curry described the Warriors' appeal in simple terms.

"The pitch is: Do you want to play good basketball and be around people that know how to play the game?" said Curry. "Hopefully raise our floor and our competitiveness this year. There's good golf in the Bay. We're an organization that's been there. He knows that. That's really self-explanatory. It's a matter of where he sees himself fitting. At the end of the day, that's up to him."

Golden State has already re-signed Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton this offseason, with Green expected to follow after opting out of his player option.

A group led by former NBA executive Jerry Colangelo and Horizon Sports & Experiences CEO David Levy announced plans Wednesday to submit an NBA expansion bid for Las Vegas. The group, called the Las Vegas Jacks, claims to have already raised $8 billion.

Front Office Sports reported that former Bulls point guard Jay Williams and former Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro are also part of the group. The Jacks intend to build their own arena and an accompanying entertainment district if awarded a franchise.

The Jacks join a growing list of Las Vegas suitors that includes Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, former Disney CEO Bob Iger with venture capitalist Josh Kushner, former Bucks owner Marc Lasry and NBA legend Magic Johnson. NBA commissioner Adam Silver confirmed before the Finals that Las Vegas and Seattle remain the league's two expansion targets.

"We're focused on Las Vegas and Seattle," said Silver. "There are multiple groups interested in both cities."

Seattle's market has moved more slowly by comparison. Only one group, led by Kraken governor Samantha Holloway, has publicly expressed interest in bringing an NBA team back to the city.

League sources told Front Office Sports that the ongoing Seattle Seahawks sale may be pulling potential bidders away from a Seattle expansion effort. Holloway's group has spent years preparing, designating multiple rooms at Climate Pledge Arena as "NBA Locker Room" space, and holds a majority stake in the arena.

Silver has not committed to expansion moving forward and said a decision will come by year's end.

"There is enormous instability in the world at the moment," he said in March. "We may ultimately conclude for reasons completely out of our control that it's not the right time to expand."

Silver has said expansion bids could reach as high as $10 billion, with proceeds split among the league's 30 current owners.

Pete Nance and the Milwaukee Bucks have agreed upon a two-year non-guaranteed contract.

Nance appeared in 47 games with the Bucks last season, averaging 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 15.7 minutes.

Nance went undrafted out of North Carolina in 2023.

Joe Mazzulla said Thursday he is still processing the Boston Celtics' trade that sent Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics acquired Paul George and draft capital in the deal.

Mazzulla spoke to reporters following the Celtics' summer league practice. 

“There’s a feeling that goes into it,” Mazzulla said. “There’s an emotion that goes into it. There’s a processing pattern that goes into it. The quicker you can get to just a level of gratitude — he made me a better coach. I know that for a fact. The way he pushed me, the way he pushed himself, the way he pushed the locker room, he made me a better coach, and that’s what you focus on.”

Mazzulla added: “I think when things happen like this, when it doesn’t feel hard, is when you’re not in it for the right reasons. And I think that’s where Brad is one of the best at, and this organization has been one of the best at. Of course, something like that is going to be difficult. But I think if you could just get through and act as if nothing happened, then that’s when I think that you’re not in it for the right reasons. So yeah, it was difficult. It will be difficult … but I think it will be difficult because of what Jaylen did for us as an organization, what he was able to do. You have to be grateful for that.”

Mazzulla emphasized his gratitude for Brown's decade with the franchise.

"The part that I hope gets talked about more, and the part that we really want to focus on the most, is really just the respect, the appreciation and the gratitude for what he did for the Celtics for 10 years," said Mazzulla. "He was a Celtic longer than I have been. He was here before me. He set the tone and started that, and was a part of special things, and continued that, and obviously was one of the biggest reasons why we were able to be as successful as we have been. So that to me is what we have to focus on more: The respect as a competitor and the gratitude for what he's done."

Brown offered a different perspective on the trade during a livestream with IShowSpeed while watching the World Cup quarterfinal between France and Morocco.

"I just got traded. ... They packed me up, bro. It's a crazy business, bro. Don't become a basketball player," said Brown. "There's no loyalty. There's no love."

Brown finished sixth in MVP voting this season, averaging career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists. The Celtics never missed the playoffs during his 10 seasons, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals six times, the NBA Finals twice and winning the 2024 championship.

Brad Stevens cited salary cap flexibility as a driving factor behind the trade, noting George carries one fewer year on his contract than Brown despite a similar salary. Mazzulla said he was included in conversations but did not provide direct input on the decision.

"Not input, just Brad comes to you and talks to you and gives you a breakdown and an understanding," said Mazzulla. "And in moments like this, obviously, there's great alignment within the organization, and there's conversations that are always going to be had. But I think in moments like this, this is where you just trust, you listen, you trust, and you have an understanding for what they do."

The Celtics also signed Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley in free agency this offseason. Boston is coming off consecutive early playoff exits, including a blown 3-1 series lead against the 76ers this past postseason.