Good morning, we’re all waiting on LeBron and Carmelo
And much more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
AND SO WE WAIT: It’s July 8, the fourth anniversary of The Decision. LeBron is reportedly scheduled to meet with Pat Riley today in Las Vegas. Riles will tell Bron Bron all about how he lured Josh McRoberts with a quite-possibly-insane mid-level contract, and how Danny Granger will back him up on the forward spots. (Here’s Andrew Sharp on LeBron pressing pause on free agency.)
Meanwhile, the Bulls appear to still be on the table for Carmelo Anthony. At Hoop365, Mark Deeks explains how a sign-and-trade to Chicago is possible without New York taking on Carlos Boozer.
Meanwhile Part II, Houston has offered Chris Bosh a max deal. Reports suggest Bosh would still prefer to stick with LeBron in Miami, but if things fall apart there the Rockets are ready. (And while Houston is distracted with Bosh, the Mavericks are trying to poach Chandler Parsons.)
And to mash it all together, there’s now a report that Carmelo may be waiting on Bosh to go to Houston so Anthony can swoop in to join LeBron in Miami.
It’s going to be an interesting next few days. And as Paul Flannery eloquently declared, that this offseason turned so wacky is why we love NBA free agency.
MORE BRON: I wrote about Dwyane Wade and the Heat’s margin of error. Kevin Zimmerman explained what the Cavaliers have to offer.
POOR ISAIAH: The Pistons are reportedly out of the running for Isaiah Thomas, leaving ... the Mavericks and Lakers?
THE TRADE RUMOR ERA: A very interesting piece by Bryan Curtis on the Trade Rumor Era of the NBA.
MORE DEALS: Channing Frye to the suddenly interesting Magic for $32 million over four years. (Today I learned that Frye and Magician Tobias Harris are first cousins.) The Nets brought Bojan Bogdanovic over at a steep price.
THE DREAM IS DEAD: The Knicks plan to stash Thanasis Antetokounmpo in Europe, killing our dreams of two Antetokounmpos in the NBA in 2014-15.
THE BEST MAGAZINE: Jon Bois’ GIF Monthly.
BRIAN COOK’S HIATUS: The 33-year-old has spent two years away from basketball caring for his cancer-stricken wife. He’s now attempting a comeback at Summer League.
HOPE FOR 2013: Kevin Pelton looks at the 2013 draft class and susses out the odds of multiple players being long-term studs in the NBA.
STRANGELOVE IN PHILLY: Patrick Sauer with a really good piece on the need for Sixers fans to stop thinking about it too much and loving The Process.
PRESENTED WITHOUT COMMENT: Mark Jackson preaching on a busy street corner.
Happy Tuesday. See you next time.
