New rookies? Check. Trade season underway? You bet. Free agency on the horizon? Take a look.

Life is good as Enjoyers of Basketball. ☀️

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Damian Jones, Mitch Richmond, and Trevor Ariza! 🎉

Around the Association

Bulls send Lonzo Ball to Cavaliers in exchange for Isaac Okoro

With the draft wrapped up, a few teams spent their weekends retooling their rosters in other ways. On Saturday, Shams reported that the Bulls are sending Lonzo Ball to Cleveland in exchange for Isaac Okoro—it’s not often you see a straight-up player-for-player swap in the NBA, so let’s break it down.

Chicago receives: Isaac Okoro

Cleveland receives: Lonzo Ball

Why the Bulls said yes: Prior to this deal, Chicago had an excess of guards that operate best with the ball in their hands—Ball, Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Tre Jones, to name a few. Dealing Ball improves their roster symmetry while returning a solid wing in Okoro, who plays great defense and can contribute offensively without being the focal point of the offense.

It’s worth noting that Chicago was offered and declined a high-value first-rounder for Ball at this year’s deadline, and this deal may seem lackluster by comparison. Only time will tell how Okoro pans out in ChiTown!

Why the Cavaliers said yes: After a lengthy injury recovery that cost him two full NBA seasons, Ball still has plenty left in the tank to contribute to a contending team like Cleveland. His playmaking and defensive chops are stellar, and he’s capable of making his own offense when necessary. This move seems to signal that the Cavs expect backup point guard Ty Jerome to walk in free agency, but Ball is the perfect player to step in and lead the second unit.

Jazz send Sexton, second-rounder to Charlotte for Jusuf Nurkic

Utah receives: Jusuf Nurkic

Charlotte receives: Collin Sexton, 2030 second-round pick

Why the Jazz said yes: This move makes a ton of sense for Utah after their success in last week’s draft. Bringing in Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. was a huge win for the franchise, but in order for them to develop properly, they need to get as many shots as possible on a rebuilding Jazz team. That means shipping out a high-volume scorer like Sexton, who averaged 18+ PPG in each of the last two seasons, was an unfortunate necessity. Nabbing Nurkic gives Utah another offensively-minded big to pair with Lauri Markkanen and a complementary piece next to the shot-blocking Walker Kessler.

Why the Hornets said yes: The Hornets’ new-look roster places a major focus on two areas: youth and offense. With dynamic bucket-getters LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller already in place, Charlotte spent their two first-round picks on shooters Kon Knueppel and Liam McNeeley, and they’re now adding another flamethrower in Sexton.

And after spending a second-round pick on four-time Big East DPOY Ryan Kalkbrenner to fill out the frontcourt, giving up Nurkic was a price the Hornets were willing to pay. Sexton’s scoring may dip in a more crowded offense, but he adds another element to what is sure to be a fun team in Buzz City.

Signings, Optings, and Retirements

NBA Free Agency kicks off at 6pm EST tonight, and we’re ready for some early fireworks. Here’s everything that happened this weekend in the lead-up as teams brought back key pieces to reload their rosters and players made tough decisions about their futures.

Julius Randle inks three-year, $100 million extension with Minnesota

After locking up Naz Reid on a long-term deal earlier in the week, the Timberwolves are making sure the pack stays together.

On Sunday, news broke that Julius Randle would decline his $31 million player option for next season and sign a new $100 million contract to stay in Minneapolis until 2028. A newcomer to the Wolves after being dealt from New York for Karl-Anthony Towns, Randle played a major role in Minnesota’s second-straight WCF run. His 18.7 PPG ranked second on the team in the regular season, but Randle found a different gear come playoff time, racking up 21.7 PPG including a playoff career-high 31-point effort in the second round against Golden State.

Whether he’s playing bully ball on the inside or spinning and winning into mid-range jumpers, Randle is one of the league’s most versatile scorers. The Wolves just made sure he’ll be in Minnesota for the long haul.

James Harden returns to Clippers on two-year, $81.5 million deal

The Beard’s resurgence as one of the league’s elite players is far from over, at least as far as the Clippers are concerned. Following the former MVP’s first All-NBA season since 2020, L.A. reupped Harden on a two-year, $81.5 million deal instead of his original player option for 2024-25.

Despite the age of their core—Harden will turn 36 in August and Kawhi Leonard is 34—the Clips have the pieces in place for a deep playoff run. After losing in seven to Denver, who ended up losing in seven to the eventual-champion Thunder, there’s reason for optimism in the newly-minted Intuit Dome. Regardless of how far L.A. dances, Harden will play a major role.

LeBron James opts into 2025-26 contract, says he’ll “monitor” Lakers’ moves

At 40 years old, many would argue LeBron James remains the face of the NBA. His stint with L.A. has been one of the most memorable in his legendary career. But with his career clock ticking, The King also wants to compete for titles in his final years, a sticking point which could result in a potential breakup with the Lakers.

Over the weekend, LeBron opted into his $52.6 million player option, meaning he’ll be under contract in L.A. through 2026. This move was unsurprising, but what made many NBA fans raise an eyebrow was the language around his decision.

Per Shams, LeBron wants to actively compete for a title next season and will be “closely monitoring” the Lakers’ moves to see if they fit the bill of a championship contender.

LeBron’s agent Rich Paul told ESPN that the King “knows the Lakers are building for the future… but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.” It’s all talk for now, but it seems that for the first time in nearly a decade, the Chosen One could be wearing a new jersey in the foreseeable future. With James and Luka Doncic on drastically different timelines, it may be wise for the Lakers to seriously consider trading the sport’s arguable G.O.A.T.

It sounds crazy, but only time will tell!

A few quick hits before we’re done:

• Deandre Ayton reaches buyout with Trail Blazers: Ayton, who still had a year left on his contract worth $35.6 million, reached a buyout with the Blazers and will hit unrestricted free agency. The Blazers are creating minutes for first-rounder Yang Hansen next to Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III, and Ayton is getting the chance to survey the open market for the first time in his NBA career. The 27-year old former No. 1 pick averaged 14.4 PPG and 10.2 RPG last season in Portland.

• Bobby Portis declines player option, signs three-year/$44M contract with Bucks: A hallmark of Milwaukee’s bench since arriving in 2020, Portis and the Bucks inked an deal that commits the veteran big man to Milwaukee until 2027 and gives him a player option for ‘27-’28. BP has scored the third-most points off the bench in the NBA over the past three seasons (2,181), trailing only Malik Monk and Naz Reid.

• Jabari Smith Jr. signs five-year/$122M rookie extension with Rockets: Houston has committed to the 2022 third-overall pick until 2030-31, signing Smith to a five-year contract worth just under $25M per year after the Auburn product averaged 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds this season. With Houston’s acquisition of Kevin Durant, the young forward is set to face a slight change in his role this upcoming season.

• Dorian Finney-Smith declines $15.4M player option with Lakers: After being traded to L.A. from Brooklyn at last year’s deadline, the high-flying Finney-Smith is officially testing free agency. DFS averaged 28.8 minutes per game and shot 39.8% from three as a Laker last year. 

• Duncan Robinson opts out of $20M player option with Heat: A staple of Miami’s deep playoff runs over the last half-decade, the sharpshooting Robinson is officially exploring his options in free agency, with a long-term deal in Miami reportedly still on the table. A career 39.7% three-point shooter, Robinson could be a plug-and-play weapon for any contending team looking to stretch the floor.

• Bojan Bogdanovic retires after 10-year NBA career: One of the league’s most underrated players over the last decade, Bogdanovic announced his retirement Sunday after being waived by the Nets in February. A career 15.6 PPG scorer and 39.4% three-point shooter, the 36-year-old’s career also included stops in Indiana, Detroit, and Utah, where he was a key piece on the Jazz’s playoff teams from 2019 to 2021. Bogdanovic said his decision to retire stemmed from injury difficulties, but it isn’t keeping him down: “I didn’t reach the end. I’ve reached the other side of the beginning,” he said in a social media post. Farewell to a legend! 💙

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, do your best to get yourself in a rhythm. Get good sleep, drink lots of water, and follow through on the routine steps that lead to an easier day. By the end, you’ll feel as productive and energized as ever. See you soon!

Walker Carnathan