On July 17, Beijing time, LeBron James had previously informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he would opt out of his contract and move to another team as a free agent. Today, he made his first public appearance since the announcement of his departure, recording a podcast at the fashion sports event Vandus Carnival, but did not reveal his next team on the spot.

On July 17, Beijing time, Giannis Antetokounmpo officially appeared as a member of the Miami Heat. During a press conference with Miami media, he did not dwell much on the Milwaukee Bucks, stating that one of his goals in joining the Heat is to win multiple championships. However, after the trade that sent him to the South Beach team, he still offered warm words for his former club. This included his decision to switch from his iconic Bucks No. 34 jersey to the Heat's No. 7.

On July 17, Beijing time, an NBA spokesperson told ESPN reporter Shams that the league is investigating a four-year, $64 million contract between Gary Trent Jr. and the Milwaukee Bucks, checking whether the deal circumvents the salary cap. The new contract, officially announced on Thursday morning local time, has been submitted for league review.

On July 17, Beijing time, the latest data from Polymarket's prediction market shows a dramatic shift in the odds for LeBron James' next team. The Golden State Warriors have risen to first place with a 34.5% probability, while the Cleveland Cavaliers have dropped to second at 34.3%. Currently, the two teams are nearly tied, making them the two hottest candidates. The Miami Heat are at 16.

On July 16, Beijing time, Warriors star Stephen Curry spoke out once more to recruit LeBron James to join the team. However, according to reporter Spears, the Warriors currently consider themselves merely dark horses, and many believe James will likely choose a team from the Eastern Conference.

Zhao Jiaren has been traded to the Shanxi team. During the regular season last year, he averaged 19.4 minutes, 6.5 points, and 2.4 rebounds per game; in this year's playoffs, he averaged 21.1 minutes, 4.8 points, and 1.8 rebounds. Lin Bingsheng has directly left the CBA. In the regular season last year, he averaged 16.6 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game; in this year's playoffs, he averaged 18.7 minutes, 4.6 points, 2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals.

Every NBA draft seems to leave a few hidden gems behind. On July 16, renowned U.S. media outlet Bleacher Report released its list of the top 10 undrafted players, based on career longevity, individual honors (All-Star, All-NBA, etc.), contributions to winning (championships, playoff performances), and cultural impact.

Lithuanian powerhouse club Zalgiris officially announced: signed a two-year contract with Valančiūnas; according to BasketNews sources, Valančiūnas signed a two-year deal worth $5.5 million. Last summer, Valančiūnas was traded by the Kings to Denver, but he already didn't want to stay in the NBA and intended to return to Europe to play. However, the Nuggets insisted on keeping him, and he ultimately chose to play for the team in the 25-26 season, primarily serving as Jokić's top backup.

Timberwolves insider Darren Wolfson recently reported that the Timberwolves hope to agree to a "massive" contract extension with Edwards next summer. Back in 2023, Edwards signed a 5-year, 2.

As days go by, James' decision remains unclear. Notable reporter Dave McMenamin continued to drip-feed information on TV today, saying: "After talking with people close to LeBron and league insiders, I believe Miami remains a viable option for LeBron."