The Rockets’ 2nd superstar is also named James Harden

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

DO NOT STICK TO SPORTS: Tyler Tynes on the nasty instinct of the most basic humans who shame black athletes who dare speak out about the black experience.

LOVE & HATE AT THE SAME TIME: You’re going to love Kevin Durant on the Warriors, even if you also hate them.

THE KD TICK-TOCK: Lee Jenkins on the Warriors’ never-ending pitch to Durant.

MEANWHILE ... Basketball campers are hitting halfcourt shots over Russell Westbrook. Here’s Tim Cato on why it’s so hard to see Durant and Westbrook torn apart.

MERLIN’S BEARD! The Rockets used some of their cap space to renegotiate James Harden’s contract. Harden gets to cash in on the cap explosion two years early. The Rockets get to lock him up an extra two years, with that final 2019-20 season (Harden’s 11th) at a discount. That’s presuming Harden is still a max player at that point, which he should be barring injury.

ABSOLUTELY: Harvey Araton makes the case that the NBA and its players’ union should kick some of this immense wealth down to the D-League, where entire team payrolls are less than half of the NBA rookie minimum salary.

LAID BARE: Dwyane Wade opened up about his decision to leave Miami.

MATCHED: Tyler Johnson is heading back to Miami after the Heat matched the Nets’ offer sheet. Likewise, Allen Crabbe is staying in Portland after the Blazers matched the Nets’ offer sheet for him. Restricted free agency is a tough thing to crack.

SLIM PICKINGS: The best free agents available as of Sunday.

THE FIELD IS SET: The last-chance Olympic qualifying tournament has been completed, so our 12-team field for Rio is set.

SILICON VALLEY: A telling of the Kevin Durant move as a parable for the rise of the Bay Area as the cultural center of America. (It’s really mostly because the Warriors won 73 games but [tea lizard].)

GOOD QUESTION: Do Summer League stats mean anything? While we’re here, Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram faced each other and definitely looked like rookies. The sophomore and juniors, meanwhile, tend to dominate.

SNEAKER WARZ II: Is Under Armour gaining on Nike in that all-important youth demo?

BACK AT ONE: Carmelo Anthony continues to use his considerable platform for good. This time on violence.

Be excellent to each other. See you next time.