LeBron James’ NBA free agency decision still is not here — but the picture around it just got a lot more specific, and the news is not entirely good for the Warriors.ESPN’s Shams Charania provided an update on “NBA Today” Tuesday, revisiting a report he first delivered weeks ago that identified the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Warriors as the three leaders in James’ decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers after eight seasons. Those three teams still are in it. But the landscape around them has shifted — and Golden State’s position within it has changed.
“Those three teams are still in it,” Charania said. “The Sixers have since acquired Jaylen Brown. Minnesota already got LaMelo Ball. They are also two of the teams that are involved.”
Philadelphia landed Brown in a blockbuster trade with Boston on July 2, sending Paul George and four draft picks back to the Celtics. Minnesota, meanwhile, added Ball around the same time of the offseason. Both moves inserted their franchises into James’ decision.
That widened the field to five teams. But Charania drew a clear...