Revisiting the KAT-Randle trade, NBA All-Star Weekend changes & why more teams aren’t tanking

LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Nikola Jokić's agent Miško Ražnatović met in France to discuss a proposed $5bn international basketball league featuring 12 teams in a touring format, inspired by LIV Golf. This venture aims to provide players with equity stakes, contrasting with the NBA's current restrictions, while the NBA pursues its own European expansion. Want More Context? 🔎

The Knicks are nearing a deal to hire Clippers assistant Brendan O’Connor as the top defensive coach on Mike Brown’s staff, as confirmed by league sources. While Brown will retain some members from Tom Thibodeau’s staff, including Darren Erman and Mark Bryant, the Knicks face challenges in hiring additional coaches, having been denied permission to speak with several candidates, including Pablo Prigioni. Want More Context? 🔎

This NBA offseason is notably quiet with four prominent restricted free agents—Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes, Jonathan Kuminga, and Cam Thomas—still unsigned. Giddey and Grimes show potential for fantasy relevance, while Kuminga's uncertain status may limit his value, and Thomas's impressive scoring is contingent on health, impacting fantasy drafts for the upcoming season. Want More Context? 🔎