Decision time for LeBron James
Late next week, James becomes eligible to receive a new contract from the Lakers, providing yet another variable to make this portion of the offseason less dormant than advertised
It’s true that the NBA, for the first time in three years, is in the midst of a traditional summer that has not been disrupted by a global pandemic and thus allows team executives and coaches to indulge in some semblance of a hiatus.
That said …
For the supposedly slow portion of the offseason, there are several potential trade and signing scenarios that could spark up and move into #dealzone range at any moment before training camps open in late September.
Brooklyn's Kevin Durant, as we seemingly discuss daily, is still said to be seeking a trade elsewhere. The Los Angeles Lakers still hope to find a route to acquiring Durant's teammate Kyrie Irving. The New York Knicks, furthermore, still covet a trade for Utah's Donovan Mitchell.
Be advised that next Thursday opens another window of copious transactional curiosity: Aug. 4 is when LeBron James officially becomes eligible to sign a contract extension with the Lakers.
Hints about James' intentions, from LeBron himself or agent Rich Paul, have essentially been nonexistent since the Lakers' last game in April. The Lakers have likewise deferred any discussion about the possibilities until Aug. 4 arrives.
The following background and rumbles shared below are what I have gleaned through my own checking in advance of James' onrushing eligibility date:
🏀 James basically has three options. He can …
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Question of the Week
I really shouldn't even be writing about this, because the last thing I need in my frightful diet is cupcakes.
However ...
I visited Sprinkles earlier this week for the first time in a long time and was both stunned and dismayed to discover that the highly regarded cupcake factory has changed the topping that crowns the frosting on my beloved dark chocolate selection.
So it must be asked: Who said we needed thick Belgian chocolate curls to make it so much gaudier (and messier) than the tiny sprinkles that once adorned the frosting?
Dot Dot Dot (🏀🏀🏀)
🏀 Some potential good news for the aforementioned Lakers and the soon-to-be-extension-eligible James …
This is an excerpt from my latest NBA column. To read it all and receive full access to all of my work, please click the link or the orange button to subscribe.