LeBron Leaves Lakers as 2026 NBA Free Agency Opens
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- LeBron James told the Lakers he won't return for 2026-27, his fourth team change in his career, with the Warriors, Cavaliers, Heat, Nuggets, and 76ers among suitors and "no hurry" to pick.
- Austin Reaves re-signed with the Lakers on a $185 million deal, becoming the centerpiece of the franchise's post-LeBron roster.
- Mitchell Robinson left the champion Knicks for a three-year deal with the Celtics, announced just hours before Boston traded Jaylen Brown to the 76ers.
- The 76ers followed up the Brown acquisition by signing Anfernee Simons to a two-year deal, while the Lakers added Walker Kessler via sign-and-trade with the Jazz and signed guards Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton.
- Tari Eason signed a five-year, fully guaranteed deal to stay with the Rockets on Thursday.
- Jalen Duren, an All-NBA center and restricted free agent, remains unsigned, with the Pistons holding the right to match any offer sheet.
Why it matters: The Lakers' $185 million bet on Reaves signals an immediate pivot away from a LeBron-centric build, while Boston's combined loss of Brown to Philadelphia and addition of Robinson less than a day into free agency reshapes the Eastern Conference hierarchy before training camp even begins.
