Basketball Wiretap

LeBron James is nearing a decision as NBA free agency enters its third week. James is deciding between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

"Every day LeBron James inches closer and closer to a decision," said ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday's episode of NBA Today. "It's decision time for LeBron James. All the information, for the most part is in.

"GMs, presidents, owners have all been heard from. They're continuing to have conversations with Rich Paul here [in Las Vegas] this week as well. Players have also reached out to LeBron James to recruit him. And, yes, all the voice notes have also been listened to.

"And rosters have been set around the league. The decks have been set. The leading suitors have been Cleveland, Miami, Golden State, Philadelphia and Minnesota.

"What we know definitively is that LeBron James has made it clear privately that he wants to go somewhere he can compete for a championship. Somewhere he feels he finds that happiness from a team environment and culture that he feels he can uplift. The big thing here is this is not going to be a financially driven decision. So that gives LeBron James the ability to hear from teams that have the minimum, have other exceptions, have salary cap space as well. And be allowed to take his time through this decision."

James spent the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. James has previously changed teams in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

The NBA Board of Governors is scheduled to review a second round of bids from prospective NBA Europe owners Tuesday. Sources said the league and FIBA are making significant progress toward an October 2027 launch, with additional action possible during the board's summer meetings in Las Vegas this week.

Sources with knowledge of the bidding process said the NBA has received numerous offers ranging from $500 million to more than $1 billion across each of its 12 target cities. More than 20 existing basketball and football clubs have submitted bids, including several current EuroLeague teams.

Every shortlisted club and investor group has extended an offer, with additional bids emerging for markets outside the league's original targets. Those target cities include London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, Manchester, Istanbul, Berlin and Munich.

The NBA continues separate discussions with EuroLeague on a potential merger. EuroLeague clubs being courted by the NBA have renewed their EuroLeague license agreements, which include exit clauses worth roughly €10 million. Real Madrid, which holds a EuroLeague basketball team, is among the clubs that renewed its license while also considering NBA Europe membership.

No club will receive an NBA Europe license without paying the league's entry fee. Beyond its 12 permanent members, the league plans to add four teams annually based on performance in domestic leagues and FIBA tournaments.

The NBA has hired Arturas Karnisovas as a consultant for its planned NBA Europe league Karnisovas, who most recently ran the front office of the Chicago Bulls, will advise Adam Silver on governance, game rules and talent recruitment for the new venture.

The former Lithuanian star will help develop pathways for players entering NBA Europe and potentially transitioning to the NBA. He will also serve as a liaison between the NBA, NBA Europe teams and FIBA, the international governing body partnering with Silver on the launch.

Karnisovas won two Olympic bronze medals with Lithuania and played professionally across Europe in the 1990s. He later worked as an assistant general manager with the Denver Nuggets, where he helped scout Nikola Jokic, before taking over the Bulls' front office in 2020. 

The NBA Board of Governors is scheduled to review a second round of bids from prospective NBA Europe owners Tuesday. Sources said the league and FIBA are making significant progress toward an October 2027 launch, with additional action possible during the board's summer meetings in Las Vegas this week.

Jared and Mo are back to discuss Victor Wembanyama accepting take the smaller max for the San Antonio Spurs. The NBAPA's statement about the second apron and Billy Donovan joining San Antonio's coaching staff. Then we hit on what is going on in Golden State especially if they do not get LeBron James. We end with ranking how all the big trades in the offseason affect the championship race.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or via the RSS feed for smart NBA offseason coverage, trade rumors, draft coverage and big-picture basketball conversations.

Draymond Green spoke on his podcast about spending the past few days with LeBron James and working on recruiting him to the Golden State Warriors.

Green is currently an unrestricted free agent after declining his $27.7 million player option, which was made to free up potential cap space to sign James should he decide to join the Warriors.

Green and James have been close friends for the past few years and are both represented by Rich Paul. 

James is deciding between the Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.

"Us being brothers, I'd be remiss if I don't take the opportunity to throw my pitch in there," Green said. "I'd be crazy if we're together for X amount of days and at no point am I like, 'Yo, we need to chop it up. What the hell's going on? What are we doing?' And so there's that. Of course I did that. And of course the pitch was crazy. I think I'm pretty decent at it. It doesn't change anything. It doesn't make anything happen, I don't know. I hope so.

"With the things that I shared in it, I believe it's definitely going to make the brain work a little bit. I don't think there's a decision that's been made, but say if there was, it'll make you think twice about it."

AJ Dybantsa scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds Sunday to help the Washington Wizards improve to 2-0 in Summer League with a 104-85 win over the Sacramento Kings. Dybantsa played 24 minutes, shooting 6-for-15 overall while missing five of six three-point attempts.

The performance may have marked Dybantsa's final summer league appearance, as teams often rest lottery picks after two games for precautionary reasons. He averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks across his two outings in Las Vegas.

Dybantsa described his approach to the summer league setting.

"It was kind of just testing grounds for me," Dybantsa told ESPN. "Just trying to get used to the game speed, to the plays, to the players and my teammates and the physicality of the game."

Dybantsa opened summer league with 27 points Thursday in a win over the Utah Jazz and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson. He came to Las Vegas aiming to prove his defensive ability, an area that drew criticism during his lone college season at BYU.

Dybantsa finished Sunday's game with three steals and two blocks, including a sequence where he picked up Nique Clifford above half court and forced a turnover before creating a steal on the following possession.

Dybantsa addressed his defensive potential when asked about his ceiling on that end of the floor.

"I've been telling my trainers I think I could be a first-team All-Defensive team guy," said Dybantsa. "So, I mean, that's just what I'm trying to make, an impact on the defensive end. In college, I was being lazy a lot on the defensive end. Just letting guys blow by me, not being a help side. But definitely want to bring it to the next level."

Dybantsa acknowledged the physical toll of adjusting back to game speed.

"I [got] tired," said Dybantsa. "I'm drinking my electrolytes. I mean, obviously it's hot out here, so just trying to drink a lot of water, but definitely getting my legs back."

Wizards summer league coach T.J. Sorrentine praised Dybantsa's overall impact despite the fatigue.

"I think he got tired, right?" said Sorrentine. "He's running around doing all types of stuff, and that's part of being the guy in the No. 1 pick. That ball got a little sticky. But you look at the stats, he ends up at 23 and he's a heck of a player."

The Minnesota Timberwolves signed Isaiah Evans to a four-year, $9.3 million contract, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

The first three years are fully guaranteed, with a team option on the fourth year.

Evans was the 33rd pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. 

Frank Vogel has agreed to become associate head coach of the Golden State Warriors under Steve Kerr. The Warriors lost assistant coaches Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse this offseason.

Vogel was most recently an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks under Jason Kidd.

Vogel was previously head coach of the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns. Vogel was head coach of the Lakers in 2020 when they won the NBA championship.

Vogel lasted just one season as head coach of the Suns.