Good morning! I’m in for Tom for the next three days. Apologies for the delay -- I don’t know how Tom does this every morning. Let’s (prepare to sign some players to play) basketball!
Kevin Durant is letting his suitors down gently
Good morning. We have that and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
*SIREN EMOJI*: Before he left, your man Tom dropped a massive piece ranking this year’s free-agent class from 1 (hey KD!) to 117 (sorry, Anderson Varejao). Find out where your favorite sleeper target ranks.
PROBABLY AN ILLUSION: New York is (sorta) in the Kevin Durant chase. Carmelo Anthony said he’s been “talking” to Durant as both go through the Team USA press gauntlet in NYC. Durant, for his part, did not commit to a sit down with the Knicks, saying only that he’ll talk to his reps. You’re already there, KD. May as well hear them out.
99 PERCENT AN ILLUSION: Celtics Blog on what Boston should do when if Kevin Durant spurns them.
DEFINITELY AN ILLUSION: #KD2DC is dead before free agency even began. Yaron Weitzman explained how the Wizards fell out of the Durant sweepstakes over the past year. They’ve reportedly moved on to targeting Ryan Anderson, a stretch big man who hasn’t shot the lights out in two years and can’t defend -- and that may be their only choice. Life comes at you fast. (John Wall, meanwhile, wants the team to sign a rim protector and top wing defender, of which Anderson is neither.)
NOT AN ILLUSION: Look at how excited these kids are to see Durant! Maybe he should sign with their rec-league youth team.
IT’S JUST BUSINESS, MAN: Meanwhile, the Mavericks think they are the favorites to land Hassan Whiteside. Seems like a perfect match, to be honest.
ARE THESE FREE AGENTS ON THE COMMON APP? Tom compared this year’s free agent frenzy to a high school kid applying for colleges. Chandler Parsons is NOBODY’S safety school.
HERE’S YOUR TEAM USA ROSTER: It’s actually kind of interesting.
CONDUCTING AN EXIT? Two thoughts, both of which can be true: this Grizzlies Mike Conley tribute video is slick and it also betrays a real fear that he might actually leave.
DAWN OF A NEW ERA: Silver Screen and Roll on the importance of the Lakers staying young this free agent period.
CHATTER BOX: Tim Cato profiles Justin Anderson, who may be replacing Chandler Parsons as the Mavericks’ starting small forward.
BORN READY (TO SIGN THE MINIMUM): Lance Stephenson is officially on the market!
THE PAIN YOU DON’T KNOW: Great Jackie MacMullan story on Steve Kerr continuing to struggle with pain stemming from fluid leaking into his spine and Bob Myers dealing with the sudden death of his brother-in-law.
SWIPE RIGHT IF YOU LIKE THIS PIECE: Kevin O’Connor runs down his favorite draft sleepers.
LEBRON WINS AGAIN: Cleveland won’t take down the LeBron James banner for the Republican National Convention after all. First the Warriors, then the GOP? LeBron’s on a hell of a winning streak.
SCARY: Mike D’Antoni’s wife had to be rescued from the West Virginia flooding. Thankfully, she’s OK.
WHERE’S THE FOUL? I am all for clips of professional players embarrassing kids at basketball camps. This one with James Harden is especially lovely.
WHOOPS! Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg extolled the virtues of the wrong Lopez brother in a press conference. Here’s an easy way to tell them apart.
THE PICTURE IS A METAPHOR: The Dream Shake on Dwight Howard’s complicated legacy in Houston.
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