Basketball news

• Boston/Philly blockbuster, Toronto’s upside & a Lakers shake-up. Plus, where's LeBron going?

  02-07-2026 20:25 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeKevin O’Connor and Tom Haberstroh recap the wild first week of free agency.Jaylen Brown is now officially a Philadelphia 76er - but what was the Boston Celtics front office thinking? What do the Toronto Raptors’ chances look like after getting Kawhi Leonard? The Lakers have fully moved on from LeBron James, but are they going in the right direction?01:17 Jaylen Brown traded to 76ers34:51 Impact of Kawhi Leonard in
  
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• Jaylen Brown releases statement following shocking trade to Philadelphia

  02-07-2026 21:19 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Jaylen Brown released a statement on social media following his stunning trade to Philadelphia, which included thanking the fans in Boston.Philly #throwtheballup let’s get it pic.twitter.com/zdC6g1dTyM— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) July 2, 2026Here is the full text:First and foremost, thank you to the Most High, even in the midst of adversity. I'm here with gratitude.I’m still processing how this all went down. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect
  
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• From Giannis Antetokounmpo to LeBron James to Jaylen Brown: A timeline of the NBA's major offseason moves

  02-07-2026 21:19 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The NBA offseason has been wild, to say the least. In the span of 10 days, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown — four Finals MVPs! — moved on from their former teams. Just like that.A number of other All-Stars — LaMelo Ball, Ja Morant, Julius Randle, Paul George, Brandon Ingram and Tyler Herro — also found new NBA homes over the past week and a half. (Oh, and in the middle of all that was the NBA draft, which featured future All-Stars and a
  
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• Tim Hardaway Sr. says son can't wear retired No. 10 with Heat: 'My legacy is my legacy'

  02-07-2026 21:06 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  If Tim Hardaway Sr. is feeling any tender emotions about Tim Hardaway Jr. playing for the Miami Heat, he's only letting that sentiment go so far. Hardaway Jr., 34, agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Heat. He returns to South Florida, where he attended Miami Palmetto High School. But more importantly, he'll play for the team with whom his father played for six seasons of his Hall of Fame career.Would it be fun to see Hardaway Jr. wear the same jersey humber as his father? Most might
  
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• ESPN analyst on Jaylen Brown trade: 'One of the dumbest trades in NBA history'

  02-07-2026 20:42 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The reaction out of Boston-based and Celtics-focused NBA commentary has centered on what's perceived to be a poor return for Jaylen Brown in the team's trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. Most Celtics fans aren't happy about it, and neither are the people who talk about them for a living.ESPN analyst and former Celtics player Kendrick Perkins declared it "one of the dumbest trades in NBA history."In the trade, the Celtics have agreed to ship Brown to the 76ers in exc
  
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• NBA free agency 2026: Early winners and losers, including LeBron James, the Celtics and unpredictable star guards

  02-07-2026 20:27 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  We are approaching 48 hours into 2026 NBA free agency, and a lot has happened.Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptor again. LeBron James is no longer a Los Angeles Laker. Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the Miami Heat. Jaylen Brown is no longer a Boston Celtic.Should we go on? LaMelo Ball is a Minnesota Timberwolf. Ja Morant is a Portland Trail Blazer. The Lakers spent $70 million in salary cap space, much of it on Walker Kessler.Our heads are spinning. We can imagine how you feel. So, we've sorted it al
  
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• NBA to test new free throw rule, and it’s WILD

  02-07-2026 20:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The NBA is looking to speed up the flow of the game, and is tentatively planning to take a page out of the NBA G-League’s book to make it happen. The NBA made an announcement on Thursday that it would test out the “one free throw rule” during the 2026 Summer League, gauging whether or not it should become a staple of the NBA.This might sound extremely confusing at first glance, so let’s break down how this would work. During the passage of a normal game (i.e. not in the f
  
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• NBA free agency: The most notable July 4 transactions in league history as teams wait on LeBron James

  02-07-2026 19:54 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  NBA free agency is in full swing, but the best player available remains unsigned. Former Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has his sights set on a new franchise next season, and various teams are already reportedly lining up to sign him. Given James' penchant for hijacking the news cycle, could that decision come July 4? The holiday doesn't often feature major sports stories, giving James a chance to dominate coverage if he makes his announcement on that day. There's some precedent for J
  
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• AJ Dybantsa, Darius Acuff Jr. among the rookies to watch this summer

  02-07-2026 19:16 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  While free agency is not over, things have slowed down after a furious first few days. And now the attention turns to Summer League action, which begins with smaller tournaments in California and Utah this week before the entire NBA meets in Las Vegas on July 9.Summer League and regular-season play are two entirely different animals, but the action gives fantasy managers a small glimpse into how teams hope to use their rookies. Here are ten players to watch over the next two-plus weeks.Ja Morant
  
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• Jonathan Kuminga expected to receive ‘significant consideration’ by Lakers

  02-07-2026 19:15 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks passes the ball during the game against the New York Knicks during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nat
  
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• 2026 NBA Summer League: 10 returnees fantasy managers should be watching

  02-07-2026 19:06 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The final game of the 2025-26 season was played on June 13, 2026, when the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Finals to capture their first championship since 1973. That celebratory moment felt like a lifetime ago.In the past four weeks, the NBA Draft Lottery, NBA Draft, and free agency have all either concluded or commenced. There’s been plenty of roster movement — league-altering trades, agreed-upon free agency deals and more. And just as we try to catc
  
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• 76ers Surge at Sportsbooks, Prediction Markets After Jaylen Brown Trade

  02-07-2026 19:03 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.The Boston Celtics trading former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers dramatically impacted NBA Finals odds at sportsbooks and NBA prediction market prices.Key TakeawaysThe 76ers are fifth in odds to win the NBA Finals at BetMGM.Kalshi and Polymarket bumped the 76ers from 1% chance of winning the title to as high as 6%.Reports suggest Brown wore out his welcome in Boston.Brown, who spent his f
  
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• Meet two random 2026 Summer League Knicks: Treysen Eaglestaff and Toby Okani

  02-07-2026 19:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 03: Toby Okani #5 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors at FedExForum on April 03, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Knicks might be doing anything to bring in external players through free agen
  
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• People around the NBA are wondering if the Lakers will bring back Rui Hachimura

  02-07-2026 18:44 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 11: Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers after missing a shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder the third during quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luke H
  
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• Bill Simmons heard Jaylen Brown trade after anesthesia, thought 'I died'

  02-07-2026 18:32 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Count Bill Simmons among the Boston Celtics fans who were stunned by how the little the team got when they traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. But what Simmons was going through at the moment the transaction went down made for a one-of-a-kind reaction.Simmons, a longtime Boston sports supporter, gave his first thoughts on the move during a live recording of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" on Thursday, July 2, and revealed that he found out Brown had been traded from his wife after finishin
  
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• Excitement might be scary, but the Jaylen Brown trade was a no-brainer

  02-07-2026 18:19 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics talk after the game during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE v
  
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• The LeBron James pitch rankings: How 29 teams can sell themselves as NBA legend takes free agency meetings

  02-07-2026 18:17 via cbssports.com
  
  Rich Paul and LeBron will be hearing from any and all interested suitors in the coming days, so here's how every team can make its best case
  
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• Raptors agree to multi-year extension with Darko Rajaković after franchise's first playoff appearance in 4 years

  02-07-2026 18:15 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Darko Rajaković's Toronto Raptors took the proverbial third-year leap this past season. The 47-year-old Serbian head coach oversaw a 46-win campaign that returned the Raptors to the playoffs for the first time in four years and rewarded them with the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.The breakout signaled significant progress in the franchise's reset three years removed from the final season of the Nick Nurse era. Although Toronto was short-handed during its first-round series versus the
  
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• Is Jaylen Brown for Paul George the worst Celtics trade of all time?

  02-07-2026 18:06 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  BOSTON - FEBRUARY 27: Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) has an animated second quarter conversation with head coach Brad Stevens, left, as teammate Kyrie Irving comes over and joins in. The Boston Celtics host the Portland Trail Blazers in a regular season NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston on Feb. 27, 2019. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images Today is a tough one, Celtics fans. It’s the day after what’s being viewed as potent
  
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• Here’s what Santi Aldama brings to the Dallas Mavericks

  02-07-2026 18:02 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 22: Santi Aldama #7 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 22, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty
  
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• Brad Stevens spent years earning trust. He spent most of that trust trading Jaylen Brown.

  02-07-2026 18:02 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Boston, MA - May 2: Boston Celtics fans react in the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers played in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images As President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics, Brad Stevens has spent years building up a healthy trust bank.The Derrick White trade was a hefty deposit. Kristaps Porziņģis for Marcus Smart?
  
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• Raptors sign coach Darko Rajakovic to multi-year extension

  02-07-2026 17:39 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  With the trade for Kawhi Leonard, the Toronto Raptors announced themselves as a major threat in the East. They had locked down a roster capable of winning the conference.Now, they have locked down their coach, too. Toronto announced a multi-year extension with coach Darko Rajakovic, who was about to head into the final year of his contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed."I'm proud of the progress we've made, but our team knows there is still a lot of work to do, and I am looking forward t
  
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• 2026 NBA free agency rankings, tracker: Resetting the market with most of top 40 signed

  02-07-2026 17:18 via cbssports.com
  
  Most players have agreed to new deals, but big names -- like LeBron James and Jalen Duren -- remain on the market
  
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• Paul George’s trade tree has become one of the wildest in NBA history

  02-07-2026 17:12 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 08: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 08, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Imag
  
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• 2026 LeBron James Next Team Odds: The King Ready To Work For Minimum To Get On The Right Team

  02-07-2026 17:12 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.Just when you thought Giannis moving to South Beach was the biggest story of the Summer… LeBron James reminds everyone who the biggest star in the NBA really is.We have officially reached the ultimate flashpoint of the summer, and Kalshi's LeBron James Next Team odds are responding to a full-blown tectonic shift in player movement with the news that James will be moving to pastures new for the 2026-2
  
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• Jaylen Brown bids farewell to Boston in heartfelt social media post

  02-07-2026 17:07 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Jaylen Brown bids farewell to Boston in heartfelt social media post originally appeared on NBC Sports BostonJaylen Brown has spoken.On Thursday, one day after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, the former Boston Celtics superstar took to social media with an official goodbye to the city he has called home for the last 10 years.Read the full statement below:First and foremost, thank you to the most high, even in the midst of adversity. I’m here with gratitudeI”m still processing
  
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• State of the NBA: Parity… or just plain dumb randomness?

  02-07-2026 17:00 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 28: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks controls the ball against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second half at the TD Garden on October 28, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images I have this thing hap
  
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• Celtics ‘were done’ with Jaylen Brown before shocking 76ers trade

  02-07-2026 16:54 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Celtics BrownBoston wanted no more.The Celtics “were done” with ex-superstar Jaylen Brown, leading to Wednesdays’ shocking trade that sent him to the 76ers for a much-scrutinized package centered around four picks and declining veteran Paul George, according to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix.The desire to trade Brown got to the point that the Celtics moved the former first-round pick for what many consider to be an underwhelming package.“They wanted to move Jayle
  
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• Knicks unveil 2026 Summer League roster

  02-07-2026 16:52 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 19: Mohamed Diawara #51 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 19, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Gett
  
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• Sixers grab a guard in free agency, agree to deal with Anfernee Simons

  02-07-2026 16:43 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Sixers grab a guard in free agency, agree to deal with Anfernee Simons originally appeared on NBC Sports PhiladelphiaThe Sixers have supplemented their guard depth in free agency.Anfernee Simons has agreed to sign with the team on a two-year, $12.3 million contract that has a player option in Year 2, a source confirmed Thursday afternoon to NBC Sports Philadelphia. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news.HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported that the Warriors, Heat, Nuggets, Mave
  
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