{"id":770317,"date":"2026-06-30T17:22:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T17:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/770317\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T17:22:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T17:22:09","slug":"nba-free-agency-news-2026-lebron-james-leaving-lakers-warriors-reportedly-in-pursuit-clippers-raptors-continue-kawhi-leonard-trade-negotiations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/770317\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA free agency news 2026: LeBron James leaving Lakers, Warriors reportedly in pursuit; Clippers, Raptors continue Kawhi Leonard trade negotiations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The NBA&#8217;s free agency negotiation window opens up Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, and there will be no shortage of interest in James&#8217; services.<\/p>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/teams\/golden-state\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Golden State Warriors;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Golden State Warriors&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Golden State Warriors<\/a> are &#8220;at the front of the line in pursuit of LeBron James,&#8221; <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheSteinLine\/status\/2071990632747282690?s=20\" data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:per NBA insider Marc Stein;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;per NBA insider Marc Stein&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">per NBA insider Marc Stein<\/a> . ESPN&#8217;s Shams Charania <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ShamsCharania\/status\/2071647072957149235?s=20\" data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:reporte;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;reporte&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">reporte<\/a> d on Monday that the Warriors had a goal to assemble a &#8220;big four&#8221; of James, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/4612\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Stephen Curry;cpos:4;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Stephen Curry&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Stephen Curry<\/a> , <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/5069\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:5;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Draymond Green;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Draymond Green&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Draymond Green<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/5007\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:6;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Anthony Davis;cpos:6;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;6&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Anthony Davis&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Anthony Davis<\/a> , who currently plays for the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/teams\/washington\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:7;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Washington Wizards;cpos:7;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;7&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Washington Wizards&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Washington Wizards<\/a> . Despite reports from ESPN&#8217;s Brian Windhorst that <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheDunkCentral\/status\/2071948531061928405?s=20\" data-i13n=\"cpos:8;pos:1\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:a trade for Davis is now looking less likely;cpos:8;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;8&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;a trade for Davis is now looking less likely&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">a trade for Davis is now looking less likely<\/a> , the Warriors remain in pursuit.<\/p>\n<p>There has also been some speculation that James could opt to return to the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/teams\/cleveland\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:9;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Cleveland Cavaliers;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;9&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Cleveland Cavaliers&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> to potentially close out his career with his hometown team, where he played the first seven years of his career and won his third NBA title in 2016. The Cavs reportedly have interest in a second reunion with James, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ChrisBHaynes\/status\/2071994945024725116?s=20\" data-i13n=\"cpos:10;pos:1\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:according to insider Chris Haynes;cpos:10;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;10&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;according to insider Chris Haynes&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">according to insider Chris Haynes<\/a> . James is the Cavs&#8217; all-time leader in points (23, 119), rebounds (6,190), assists (6,228) and steals (1,376).<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, Cavs star <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/players\/4563\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:11;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:James Harden;cpos:11;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;11&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;James Harden&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">James Harden<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/breaking-news\/article\/james-harden-reportedly-declines-423-million-option-with-cavaliers-but-wants-to-stick-with-team-131812396.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:12;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:declined his $42.3 million player option;cpos:12;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;12&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;declined his $42.3 million player option&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">declined his $42.3 million player option<\/a> to work on a new, multi-year contract.<\/p>\n<p>The Warriors are current favorites to land James in free agency with -500 odds <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DKSports\/status\/2071993317777088679?s=20\" data-i13n=\"cpos:13;pos:1\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:per DraftKings;cpos:13;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;13&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;per DraftKings&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\">per DraftKings<\/a> , with the Cavaliers at +300, Heat at +1000 and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nba\/teams\/san-antonio\/\" data-i13n=\"cpos:14;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Spurs;cpos:14;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkPosition&quot;:&quot;14&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yPosition&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Spurs&quot;,&quot;yHasCommerce&quot;:false}\" target=\"_blank\">Spurs<\/a> at +2000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NBA&#8217;s free agency negotiation window opens up Tuesday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, and there will&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":770318,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[16107,64,30097,63,307962,5670,7214,7901,9848,7228,174375,12988,1173,1175,12998,7896,7232,5851,7223,5665,590,4621,85,228806,17602,3198],"class_list":["post-770317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-anthony-davis","tag-au","tag-austin-reaves","tag-australia","tag-cavs","tag-charlotte-hornets","tag-detroit-pistons","tag-draymond-green","tag-free-agency","tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","tag-isaiah-stewart","tag-ja-morant","tag-james-harden","tag-kawhi-leonard","tag-lamelo-ball","tag-lebron-james","tag-los-angeles-lakers","tag-memphis-grizzlies","tag-miami-heat","tag-minnesota-timberwolves","tag-nba","tag-portland-trail-blazers","tag-sports","tag-the-grizzlies","tag-toronto-raptors","tag-warriors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=770317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/770317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/770318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=770317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=770317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=770317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}