James Harden's $97 Million Deal Was Never Plan A
Harden's $97 million deal with the Cavaliers didn't get finalized until LeBron picked Philadelphia and Cleveland finished chasing Kuminga and Watson.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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The Cavs' Schroder Trade Was Never About Schroder
Dennis Schroder is headed to his 12th team. The real story is the $29 million in first-apron room Cleveland just bought itself for a move that matters more.
Dennis Schroder's 12th Team Is the Point
Dennis Schroder just became a Hornet, his 12th team in 14 seasons. Everyone's laughing at the number. They're missing why rebuilding teams keep calling.
A Two-Year-Old Clip Just Went Viral. Again.
A two-year-old clip of James Harden's girlfriend catching a bouquet at Rajon Rondo's wedding is going viral again. Here's why it never left.
Donovan Mitchell's Wedding Wasn't Announced. It Leaked.
Donovan Mitchell and Coco Jones got married in Greenwich, Connecticut, and neither one confirmed it — his own agent's Instagram did that job instead.
DeMar DeRozan Is Everyone's Backup Plan This Summer
Miami and Cleveland just lost the LeBron sweepstakes to Philadelphia. Denver never had the money to compete. Now all three want DeMar DeRozan instead.
James Harden's Pay Cut Is a Cap Move in Disguise
James Harden turned down $42.3 million to sign for less with the Cavaliers, and the second apron math explains exactly why Cleveland needed the discount.
Four Teams Want Kuminga. Nobody Wants to Pay Him.
Four teams keep circling Jonathan Kuminga's free agency without anyone actually paying him. It's the restaurant table where everyone points at the check.
Lendeborg's MVP Line Beats Thomas's Scoring Title
Meleek Thomas led Summer League in scoring at 27.3 a night, but Yaxel Lendeborg's all-around line is the one that should actually worry front offices.
LeBron Told the Lakers He's Leaving. Nobody Knows Where.
DraftKings and Hard Rock Bet have Miami favored. BetMGM has Golden State by a mile. LeBron's own agent says he doesn't know either.
LeBron Just Stood in a Room Full of NBA Fans and Said Absolutely Nothing
LeBron just finished Fanatics Fest without an announcement. The betting odds are 33-32. Rich Paul says money is off the table. Here's why neither choice is obvious.
Harden Left $42M on the Table. The Data Says It's Smart.
James Harden walked away from $42.3 million to stay in Cleveland. The data on veterans who take team-friendly deals on contenders says this is strategy, not sacrifice.
Adam Silver Can't Print the NBA Schedule
The NBA Commissioner just admitted he can't finalize the 2026-27 schedule until LeBron James picks a team. That's not a memo. That's a hostage situation.
The NBA Reshuffled Itself in 7 Days
Giannis in Miami, Jaylen Brown in Philly, LeBron reportedly heading to Cleveland — the NBA flipped the Eastern Conference upside down in seven days. Here's the new map.
It's Not Sentiment. It's Math.
The Golden State narrative was always the sexy story. Harden's opt-out, Mitchell's $273M, and the Akron sightings all say Cleveland. Here's why the math wins.
Why LeBron Is Probably Going to Golden State
Every reporter has a different hierarchy. The execs are pointing west. Here is what the LeBron James free agency situation actually looks like right now.
27 Teams Called LeBron. He Hasn't Answered. Here's Where It Actually Stands.
27 teams called LeBron. He hasn't answered one. Here's where his 2026 free agency actually stands — Cavs, Heat, Sixers, and the silence doing all the work.
Coco Jones Doesn't Need the WAG Label
Coco Jones is Grammy-winning, TIME 100-listed, and performed solo at the Super Bowl. The WAG label fits her the way a winter coat fits July.
LeBron's Done Building. That's Okay.
LeBron told the Lakers he's leaving. It's down to Golden State or Cleveland — and the most interesting part isn't where he lands, it's that he's gone.
The Warriors Blew Up Their Roster for Nothing
Draymond Green declined $27.7 million so the Warriors could land LeBron James. LeBron is picking Cleveland instead. The Warriors' grand plan just collapsed.
What Donovan Mitchell Actually Left on the Table
Donovan Mitchell left $80 million by skipping the supermax. His player option structure means the math makes this the smartest contract of the offseason.
The NBA Offseason Created Three Different Leagues. Only One Is Fun.
The 2026 NBA offseason reshuffled the East and broke the West in two. Here is what everyone got right — and the one team everyone overlooked.
Mitchell's $273M Said It All
Donovan Mitchell signed a $273 million extension with the Cavaliers on Day 1 of eligibility. While LeBron keeps six teams waiting, Spida just went home.
The Moratorium Is Over. LeBron Still Won't Sign.
The NBA moratorium lifted today. LeBron James can officially sign. Rich Paul says it won't happen in the next few days. My dad has texted me three times.
Rich Paul Is Stalling. LeBron's Going to Cleveland.
Rich Paul says LeBron's decision isn't coming 'anytime soon.' Golden State can write a check today. Cleveland can't — yet. That's the whole story.
LeBron's Down to Two. One Is Right, One Is LeBron.
LeBron James has narrowed his 2026 free agency to Warriors or Cavaliers. The rational case points to Golden State. Which means Cleveland is probably winning.
LeBron Ditched the Lakers. Now Everyone Waits.
LeBron told the Lakers he's out, can't sign until July 6, and might not decide until August. The Warriors, Cavs, Heat, and 76ers are all holding their breath.
James Harden at 37: The Data Case for Cleveland
Harden declined his $42M option to negotiate a new Cavs deal. I ran the assist-dependency numbers, the aging curves, and the motivation variable. The data is complicated.
NBA Free Agency Eve: Plans vs. Chaos
Free agency opens tonight and the six-team landscape couldn't be more uneven. The Heat are hard-capped. The Warriors are chasing LeBron. The Clippers have money they won't spend.
The Bar Keeps Moving for James Harden
James Harden arrested Houston early Saturday with an unholstered handgun — and the league moved on before the mugshot finished loading. That tells you exactly where his legacy stands.
The 3:41 AM Problem James Harden Didn't Need
'James Harden''s misdemeanor weapons charge in Houston isn''t a career-ender. But it lands 16 days before his $42M opt-out deadline, and that timing is brutal.'
Mitchell Said 'That's Ass.' Cleveland Heard Goodbye.
Donovan Mitchell said 'That's ass' and Cleveland started writing the eulogy. His contract says otherwise. This city is conditioned to hear exits — not accountability.
27 Years. Four Games. The Knicks Are Back.
The Knicks NBA Finals drought is over. 27 years. Brunson swept the Cavs and won unanimous ECF MVP. Nick DeLuca was not calm about it and he's not starting now.
Cavaliers Are Down 3-0. This Is Who They Always Were.
The Cavaliers are down 3-0 to the Knicks and Harden's turned the ball over five times in three straight games. This isn't a slump. This is the team they built. Cleveland fans already knew.
Knicks Are 3-0 and I Still Can't Believe This Is Real
Jalen Brunson dropped 30, the Knicks shot 56% and went up 3-0 on the Cavs. As a 30-year Knicks fan, I genuinely don't know how to process any of this.
Harden Is the Crime Scene in This Knicks Series
Knicks lead the ECF 2-0 and Game 3 is tonight. Harden's defense has been hunted 27 times per game. The Cavs gave him a hunting license.
Atkinson Watched Brunson Eat Harden Alive
Kenny Atkinson sat on two timeouts while Brunson hunted Harden for 21 ball screens and erased a 22-point Cavaliers lead. Atkinson had no answer.