Carmelo Anthony believes there shouldn’t be much hesitation. Speaking on 7PM in Brooklyn, the 10-time All-Star made a straightforward case for why his longtime friend should head to the Bay Area if he’s chasing one more championship.

“I would love to see [LeBron] just go, him and Steph. They’ve wanted to do it for a while. They’ve been on the Olympic team. Just go out there,” Anthony said.

Anthony’s reasoning went beyond simply pairing two superstars. He pointed to the chemistry James and Curry already displayed while helping Team USA win Olympic gold, arguing that the partnership has been years in the making rather than a last-minute idea.

Then, Anthony posted a question that seemed directly aimed at James.

“Like, why not?” Anthony asked, “Because what other situation [are] you gonna go to?”

Then he narrowed down the destinations where he thinks James can end his career strongly to three teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and the Warriors. Although he also acknowledged that the Spurs are uninterested in acquiring him.

While there are certainly a few standout teams that could land LeBron James, there are also a few dark-horse destinations.

Since it looks like the four-time MVP is not chasing a max contract, nearly any front office could place a call to try to lure him.

Carmelo Anthony Explains Why the New York Knicks Are a Bad Option for LeBron James

Just because every team can try to call LeBron James does not mean they should. That seems to be the San Antonio Spurs’ approach after steering clear of the sweepstakes for him.

Per Carmelo Anthony, another team that should follow that example is the New York Knicks.

When asked why the 2026 NBA champs and James won’t be a good union, he said that the Knicks don’t need to add much after just winning a title.

His co-host reminded him that the team just lost Mitchell Robinson, which Anthony countered by saying he and James are two different players.

In terms of need, the Knicks don’t need to add a player with James’ skill set. Since they just lost Robinson and Ariel Hukporti, what they need to prioritize is finding a backup big man behind Karl-Anthony Towns.

They’re already loaded at the wings with Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart expected to continue handling the load there. Plus, Landry Shamet is reportedly re-signing on a long-term deal.

Of course, Jalen Brunson remains their primary ballhandler, scorer, and go-to player in the clutch. If he needs to take a breather, Tyler Kolek and Jose Alvarado can come in and sub for him.

With that structure, James seems like he’d be out of place in New York on paper. However, with positionless basketball now a prevalent strategy, one can argue that he could thrive as the team’s point forward.

However, since New York is angling for a repeat, they’d have to weigh whether they’re willing to alter the team’s chemistry for the chance at adding a generational talent like James.

Sports commentator Colin Cowherd revealed that a major reason why Boston wanted to trade Brown was his attitude. In fact, Cowherd referred to it as a disease, even though he was quoting anonymous sources.

This comment prompted a response from Donovan Mitchell, who came to Brown’s defense.

“Critique basketball all you want, but disease is insane,” Mitchell said on ‘X.’ “We gotta stop letting people just say whatever.”

It’s clear that talent was not the reason the Celtics traded Brown. Initially, his inclusion in trade talks was seen as perhaps a way for the team to capitalize on their current title window.

That was when he was being dangled so that Boston could acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ultimately, the Greek Freak went to the Miami Heat, yet Brown remained on the trade block.

When he was finally dealt, it wasn’t for a star who is still in his prime. It wasn’t even for multiple win-now role players.

He was sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two future first-round (2028 and 2031) and two future second-round picks (2028 and 2030).

George was once a top player in the league. However, he’s been hampered by health issues and has noticeably declined in production as a result.

Since George is already past his prime, people think the Celtics got fleeced. Many believe that it’s a lopsided trade and that they could have gotten better returns for Brown.

However, it seemed the front office just wanted him gone, according to Cowherd.

What Did Colin Cowherd Say About Jaylen Brown That Prompted a Response From Donovan Mitchell?

For a team to trade a player away after having just played his best season, there must have been something very wrong behind the scenes. Especially if everyone agrees that the deal is extremely unfavorable for one side.

Jaylen Brown posted career highs in scoring (28.7 points) and assists (5.1 assists) this past season. He led the Boston Celtics to 56 wins during a year where many believed they would struggle. Yet, he was seemingly dealt just so the team could move on from him.

According to Colin Cowherd, it’s because of how people perceived him off the court.

“I had two NBA sources tonight, two people in the league. One an executive, one a scout, say that Jaylen Brown — it’s a disease,” Cowherd said. “He suddenly thinks he’s the smartest guy in every room he’s in.”

Cowherd also revealed that he was told that this was always Brown’s personality. He then called out Brown and other pro athletes who livestream. According to him, nothing good comes from doing it, because they need PR people.

Brown has become known as one of the most outspoken athletes in the league. Whether it’s during interviews or when he’s live on his Twitch channel, he says what’s on his mind.

He also isn’t afraid to get into it with others, as evidenced by his ongoing beef with Stephen A. Smith.

The free-throw rules have been a standard in the NBA since the 1979-80 season. However, it appears that league commissioner Adam Silver intends to change that rule soon. According to several reports, Silver will experiment with a new one free throw rule in the upcoming NBA Summer League. Chicago Bulls legend Ron Harper had some strong words to say about the new rule.

“So damn stupid,” Harper wrote on X.

The way the one free throw rule works is that every trip to the charity stripe would now require a player to take one foul shot only. If, for example, a player got hacked during a two-point attempt, sinking one free throw will result in two points. A similar logic will be followed for three-point shots; one free throw will be equivalent to three points.

While the nature of this new rule seems unrewarding, Commissioner Silver has a sensible reason for proposing the idea. Silver noticed how games take longer than they should, especially towards the end, due to a plethora of free throws. The game has become boring to watch, and the commissioner would like to speed up the bulk of the game.

It’s worth noting that the traditional free-throw rules will only apply to the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. Anything before that time will still follow the one free-throw rule. If the game were sent to overtime, then the traditional free-throw rule would be active for the entirety of the period.

Adam Silver to Test Basketball Tracking Sensors During NBA Summer League

It appears that the upcoming NBA Summer League is set to be a lab testing area for the league. With the announcement of the one free throw rule, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also intends to plant official game balls with tracking sensors.

The experiment is called ‘Connected Basketball’. The purpose of this experiment is to see if it will improve officiating accuracy. Players and coaching staff often complain of bad calls made by referees. The tracking sensors should be able to change that dilemma.

Tracking sensors will be embedded inside the game balls to deliver instant, automated data on last-touch out-of-bounds disputes. However, given that the technology is brand new, we can’t say for sure if it’ll be as accurate as the league hopes it to be.

Many reports suggest that Brown never requested a trade. JB was also arguably the Celtics’ second-best, if not the best player on the roster. But now that he’s set to play for the 76ers, Brown admitted on his most recent Twitch livestream that it might take some time for him to adjust.

“The hard part is for the last 10 years I’ve been programmed to hate Philadelphia,” Brown said. “I’ve been programmed to be like, ‘Man, f**k the process.’ It’s funny now, I got to reverse engineer. That’s the part that’s going to take some time.”

Brown was traded for Paul George and a few draft picks. Honestly speaking, one can easily argue that the trade is questionable. The Celtics basically handed over their 2024 NBA Finals MVP, who also finished in sixth in last season’s regular-season MVP race, in exchange for a constantly injured veteran.

Over the span of George’s two seasons with the Sixers, he only managed to play a total of 78 games. Even with his combined games played from both seasons, he still hasn’t completed a full campaign. Having said that, we wouldn’t be surprised if PG also wouldn’t be consistently available for the Celtics.

Jaylen Brown Gets Candid on Abrupt Celtics Exit

As mentioned earlier, Jaylen Brown never wanted to leave Boston. However, due to reports of Celtics president Brad Stevens no longer favoring Brown, he sent him away. The 2024 Finals MVP was clearly upset with the situation and went on a rant on his most recent Twitch livestream.

Brown expressed his frustrations with the Celtics’ sudden decision to let him go. While doing so, he still took the time to thank the organization and Boston’s fan base.

“Boston, they packed me up,” Brown said. “Out of there. … First and foremost, thank you to the most high, even in the midst of adversity. I’m here with gratitude. I’m still processing how this all went down. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city. I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge.”

“The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me,” Brown continued. “Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something. I’m big on respect, and actions speak louder than words. To the people of Boston, thank you. To the community I built here, I love you.”

Brown is now set to form a new big three with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. There have been recent rumors of LeBron James possibly signing with the 76ers; however, that remains to be seen.

Apparently, Robinson wasn’t keen on the idea of parting ways with the Knicks. Robinson recently uploaded a video of his highlights in New York, matched with a heartfelt message to Knicks fans. One of his former teammates, OG Anunoby, commented with a sad emoji, which led to Mitch revealing that he didn’t want to leave.

“I tried to bother; I didn’t want this to happen. Hopefully, the truth comes out at some point,” Robinson replied to Anunoby on Instagram. “I’m going to miss you, big dawg! Keep being great.”

Clearly, Robinson loved the city of New York. After eight years of representing the Knicks, it’s understandable why he would get emotional about his exit.

“New York Knicks fans and the whole Knicks organization, the past 8 years have been the highlight of my life. I can’t thank you guys enough for the journey and opportunities. I know it’s a lot of emotions going around; trust me, I feel it myself, but I will always have love for where it all started! I love you and will miss you! Once a Knick, always a Knick,” Robinson wrote as his caption.

Thankfully, it didn’t take too long for Robinson to find a new home. The former Knicks big man quickly agreed to a three-year deal worth $47.4 million with the Boston Celtics. He will soon be joining the new duo of Jayson Tatum and Paul George.

Knicks Celebrity Super Fan Thanks Mitchell Robinson

It’s no secret that New Yorkers are some of the most passionate sports fans in the USA. In fact, their passion would sometimes turn into rowdiness, which resulted in numerous arrests during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. While it could easily be seen in a negative light, there are still those who express their emotions purely for the love of the game.

One of those fans includes Hollywood legend Ben Stiller. Spike Lee is often considered the most iconic New York Knicks fan; however, Stiller is a close second. After Mitchell Robinson made his unwanted exit from New York to join the Boston Celtics, Ben went on social media to give a heartfelt message to the big man.

“Thank you, Mitchell Robinson, for being one of one. I loved your singular style and watching you move so fast for a person so big on defense and rebounding like no other. You bled for your team and gave us something to cheer for. You lived through the rough times and built us into a championship team. This is how I’ll choose to remember you. Feel lucky to have witnessed it all,” Stiller wrote on X.

With a new chapter ahead of him and championship experience now under his belt, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of value Robinson can provide for the Celtics next season.

Earlier in June, the Warriors declared they would actively pursue LeBron. Stephen Curry also reportedly met up with James to try to convince him. Recruitment talks became even more heated when Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option. Having that in mind, former Lakers player Lonzo Ball had some things to say about the King potentially joining the Warriors.

“If (LeBron) and Steph link up and get a ring at 42 years old, I don’t think you can write that better,” Ball said. “And they’ll both have five rings. They kept battling. F**k it. Get one together. That’s some real old warrior s**t.”

“If they don’t get a ring, then it’s just, you know, you tried,” Ball continued. “They’re old, man. Like, if they get another ring together, like those are the greatest OGs to ever do it if that’s the case. 40 years old, getting a ring together; no one’s beating that. As far as duos, that’ll be the greatest duo of all time.”

To Ball’s point, Curry and James are already a proven duo after winning the gold medal for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The two superstars combined an average of 29.0 points, 11.0 assists, 10.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals. LeBron was named the tournament MVP, while Steph arguably saved Team USA from elimination after his late-game barrage of threes against France.

Knowing what the duo can do together on the hardwood, many would love to see what they can accomplish in the NBA. However, as of this writing, reports suggest that the Warriors are no longer at the top of James’ priority list. However, Golden State has yet to give up in pursuing the King.

76ers Emerge as Strong Suitor for LeBron James

While many are under the assumption that LeBron James will likely join the Golden State Warriors or go back home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Philadelphia 76ers suddenly showed interest in him. This is due to the recent Jaylen Brown trade. It appears that Philly is going all in for next season and wants to win a championship.

NBA insider Brian Windhorst suggested that the chances of James going to Philly are high. This is due to his connection with Tyrese Maxey. The Sixers star is under the same agency as James, Klutch Sports. It’s because of this link that the King could heavily consider teaming up with the trio of Brown, Maxey, and Joel Embiid.

“Well, the key factor in any sort of Philadelphia pursuit of LeBron is Tyrese Maxey,” Windhorst said on NBA Today. “He’s one of Klutch Sports) core clients. He’s basically part of LeBron’s extended family. You would not only have Jaylen Brown as the addition; you would have Tyrese Maxey as your drawing card (to convince James).”

If James did end up joining the 76ers, they could easily emerge as the scariest team in the Eastern Conference next season. Assuming that Embiid remains healthy throughout the season, he’s an MVP-caliber talent who’s also a menacing presence inside the paint. You combine Embiid’s inside presence with Brown’s and Maxey’s high-scoring production and James’ playmaking abilities, and the King will likely rule the East once again.

Yet, Tristan Thompson, a former teammate of James, thinks someone could be taken seriously in this conversation. That player is Kyrie Irving, who, according to the former Cavs center on ‘Club Shay Shay,’ is two inches shy of being the greatest player ever.

“If Kyrie was two inches taller, he’d be the best player to ever touch a basketball on planet earth,” Thompson said.

Shannon Sharpe, the show’s host, was in disbelief at the statement.

“First of all, have you ever seen Kyrie get a shot blocked?” Thompson asked before answering his own query by saying, “never.”

“And he’s only what? 6’2″, 6’3″? Imagine if he was 6’5″ what he could do right now, ” Thompson continued.

He also stated that there were no flaws in Irving’s game and that he was capable of nearly anything on the court.

The two then started talking about Irving’s game with enthusiasm. Sharpe pointed out that he could score from anywhere and had the best finishing ability at the rim.

The pair also began citing specific examples, such as his game-winner over Klay Thompson during the Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors Christmas Day Game in 2016.

Irving certainly stands out as one of the most elite offensive players to ever play in the NBA.

His handles allow him to create space against even some of the toughest defenders. Once he’s confused his defenders and created the space he needs, he has the shooting touch to drain even the toughest jumpers.

If he does decide to take it to the basket, he can throw off defenses with an array of acrobatic finishing moves.

During a one-on-one situation, guarding him becomes a nightmare. If the defense chooses to double him, he also has the creativity and the vision to set up his teammates.

Despite his talents, he has not reached the same level of individual achievement as LeBron James.

Comparing Kyrie Irving’s Achievements to LeBron James’s

While there’s no denying that Kyrie Irving is one of the greatest offensive talents ever, his resume is considerably shorter than LeBron James’s.

James has four MVP awards under his belt. Irving hasn’t even been a finalist for the award yet.

Irving has been named to three All-NBA teams so far, but never to the first team. James, on the other hand, has 13 All-NBA first-teams, and four each of second and third team selections.

There’s no denying that Irving is an elite scorer and playmaker. However, he’s never led the league in either category. James was the league’s scoring champion in 2007-08 (30.0 points) and the assists leader in 2019-20 (10.2).

There’s also the matter of championships. James already has four, one of which he won with Irving’s help (2016). That title remains the only one in Irving’s resume.

If one were to look past the accolades, trophies, and awards, though, it’ll be easy to see that Irving was one of the most uncontainable offensive talents ever.

Among those who felt the Celtics’ front office made a mistake was Kendrick Perkins, who won a title with the franchise in 2008. The now-retired big man did not mince words, even calling out the team’s president directly on ‘SportsCenter.’

“It was one of the dumbest trades in NBA history,” Perkins said. “Mike Gansey, Jameer Nelson, and Bob Myers; they should be serving breakfast in bed to Brad Stevens. I’m talking about cut-up fruits, seedless grapes, mint tea, toast with strawberry jam because they finessed him.”

He went on to highlight that the moment Stevens failed to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, they were already in a losing situation.

The Boston Celtics dealt Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George. They also got first-round picks in 2028 and 2031, as well as second-rounders in 2028 and 2030.

George has an impressive resume. He’s a nine-time All-Star and was once considered one of the most elite two-way players.

However, he’s noticeably declined in recent years. He’s played only 78 games over the last two seasons, and his scoring has dipped below 20 points per game for the first time since 2014-15.

That doesn’t mean he can be completely written off, though. If he comes back healthier next season, he could experience a career resurgence playing alongside Jayson Tatum and the Celtics’ system.

If that happens, the opinions on this being a lopsided trade or the Celtics getting fleeced might turn around completely.

A Rival GM and an Insider Have Also Spoken Out Against the Jaylen Brown Trade

It’s not just former players or fans who have called out or roasted Brad Stevens for the Jaylen Brown trade. Even other rival GMs have voiced their feelings regarding Brad Stevens’ decision.

Various insiders around the league reported on social media regarding what execs have said about the Celtics president.

One GM called it highway robbery and predicted that Boston would be extremely lucky if they made the play-in next season.

Meanwhile, insider Brett Siegel made an extremely bitter-tasting comparison. He reminded everyone of the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers not too long ago, and said that that still stands as the worst trade in league history.

He then added that Brown being traded for Paul George and a handful of picks is “easily the second worst.”

Currently, the Brown trade does not pass the eye test for Celtics fans. It appears they got the worst end of the deal, considering George’s recent decline.

However, they could still end up flipping what they got back for other assets. Or, George could end up helping elevate the squad to another title run.

Of course, many view that as an unlikely scenario, which is why they feel the Celtics were fleeced in this deal.

Some fans might feel apprehensive about pairing James and Brown, though, because of the latter’s critical comments about Bronny James. However, some sources claim that the 41-year-old star is okay with teaming up with the 2024 Finals MVP.

Per Jason Dumas of 6abc Action News, sources within the league stated that James has no issues with such a pairing. The two have publicly cleared the air, and James has already moved on from the incident.

This is important to the 76ers trying to lure James in free agency. Obviously, some issues might arise if he has beef with one of the stars on the next team he joins.

Since both he and James will be expected to lead, if they pair up, a feud between them will undoubtedly destroy the team’s chemistry.

Instead of having a championship-caliber roster, the team could implode. Not only would the team be wasting a year where they could be competing, but it would also be a waste for James.

At 41, everyone knows he’ll be retiring soon. If he decides that next season will be his last, he wouldn’t want to waste it in a situation where he has a volatile relationship with one of his co-stars.

Ensuring that he and Brown have already resolved their past issues will definitely be the top priority for the Sixers front office if they’re serious about having the two on the same team, serving as leaders both on and off the court.

What Did Jaylen Brown Say About Bronny James?

Bronny James, LeBron James’s son, has had a rocky start to his career. He has clearly struggled to adjust to the league’s pace, and he has been targeted by those claiming he only made the league through nepotism.

Jaylen Brown was accused of being one of his doubters after a video surfaced from a Summer League game during Bronny’s first year as a pro.

The video featured Brown sitting courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers-Boston Celtics Summer League game ahead of the regular season. Sitting with him were WNBA players Kysre Gondrezick and Angel Reese.

The three were filmed while they were sitting together, and in the footage, Brown can be seen saying something to his companions.

After seeing the video, lip-readers accused him of saying, “I don’t think Bronny is a pro.”

Of course, those were just allegations. Still, Brown decided to clear the air immediately. He responded directly to a post on X that praised both LeBron and Bronny.

“It’s a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA it reflects greatness and longevity,” he tweeted. “Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful I look forward to watching his growth.”

Then, during the 2025 All-Star game, LeBron was filmed interacting with his fellow all-stars in the locker room.

In the footage, he was shown dapping up and hugging nearly everyone. Everyone except Brown. While everyone got a warm greeting from James, he only gave a brief, professional handshake to the former Boston Celtics star.

Many speculated that this cold reception stemmed from what Brown allegedly said about Bronny during the 2024 Summer League.

Apparently, Brown was in Orlando when the trade took place. The now 76ers star was in attendance in OBL to coach players in the ‘For the Throne’ tournament. During his time in the tournament, the trade was made public, which was also brought to his attention. Despite knowing that he’s no longer playing for Boston, he still signed a young fan’s Celtics jersey.

Headed to the Celtics is Paul George. Boston agreed to a trade package from the 76ers, which included George and several draft picks. Honestly speaking, this trade turned lots of heads and raised plenty of eyebrows.

Many believe that the 76ers won the trade. For one, they finally got rid of a player who was barely available to help the team. Of the two seasons George played in Philly, he played only 78 games due to several injuries. Even after two seasons, he couldn’t complete one campaign with his combined number of games.

Meanwhile, the 76ers are now expecting to welcome a five-time All-Star who’s coming fresh from his MVP-caliber season. Brown was among the top 10 MVP candidates last season, finishing in sixth place. His efforts helped lead the Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference during the absence of Jayson Tatum.

Now that Brown will be playing next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, it’s quite intriguing to know what the trio can accomplish next season.

Celtics Believe Derrick White Had a Better Season Compared to Jaylen Brown

There’s no questioning that Jaylen Brown was a huge reason why the Boston Celtics remained one of the most elite teams in the Eastern Conference last season. Many doubted that the Celtics would stay among the top teams because of Jayson Tatum’s absence from the lineup.

However, Brown proved everyone wrong, leading the Celtics to a 56-26 record. Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.0 steals to help accomplish this feat. Despite his impressive numbers, NBA insider Brian Windhorst revealed that the Celtics thought otherwise, hence the decision to trade him. Windhorst also mentioned that Boston loved Derrick White’s performance over Brown’s.

“Look, I just know that the Celtics felt that even though Jaylen Brown was talking about himself for MVP or there was this MVP campaign for Jaylen Brown, the Celtics did not feel that Jaylen had the best season on their team,” Windhorst said on his show. “I don’t mean Jayson Tatum; they felt that Derrick White had a better season.”

To be fair to White, he had a more all-around performance last season. White averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals. Clearly, it all came down to the Celtics’ preference.

With all that in mind, it’ll be interesting to see how a consistently absent Paul George could help the Celtics thrive next season.