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The $8 Million LeBron James Deal Is a 76er Steal and the NBA Is Scrambling

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Detroit Pistons logo on gradient background — Created by the Sports On Tap desk | Source : Sports On Tap (team logos property of their respective owners)

LeBron James is officially a Philadelphia 76er, agreeing to a two-year, $8 million deal with the team on Friday. It took way longer than anyone thought, but the King has changed teams for the fourth time in his legendary career, sending shockwaves through the league. Free agency kicked off at 6 p.m. ET on June 30, and honestly, most of the top 40 free agents were locked up in the first 48 hours. With James finally settled, though, we can start to see what’s actually left out there.

The Big Names Still Lurking

Even with the biggest domino fallen, a few significant names are still on the board, and their situations could spark more wild moves. Jalen Duren, an All-NBA center in the 2025-26 season, remains a restricted free agent. The Pistons can match any offer sheet he gets, so don’t be surprised if he lands right back there. Plus, James Harden and Draymond Green are both out there, but the word is they’re expected to return to the Cavaliers and Warriors, respectively. It feels like the league is holding its breath for these last few shoes to drop, doesn’t it?

Lakers’ New Chapter and Other Wild Swaps

The post-LeBron era in Los Angeles has officially begun, and the Lakers were busy. They brought back Austin Reaves on a massive four-year, $185 million deal, then added big man Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz for a four-year, $130 million contract. They didn’t stop there, signing free-agent guards Quentin Grimes to a four-year, $60 million deal and Collin Sexton. But that wasn’t the only drama! Mitchell Robinson made a huge splash, leaving the champion Knicks for a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Celtics. Just hours later, mind you, Boston traded Jaylen Brown to the 76ers, making that Robinson signing even crazier. Elsewhere, Norman Powell left the Heat for the Bulls, and Tobias Harris is heading to the Spurs. To fill the gap, the Pistons signed John Collins to a three-year, $51 million deal. And after the Brown trade, Anfernee Simons agreed to a two-year deal with the 76ers. Tari Eason locked down a massive five-year, fully guaranteed $81.5 million deal to stay with the Rockets.

The league is still buzzing from all these moves. With James Harden, Draymond Green, and Jalen Duren’s situations potentially still playing out, we’re all watching to see how these last pieces fall into place and what it means for the season ahead.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by CBS Sports.

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