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LeBron Joins Sixers; Mavericks, Wizards Block Star Trades

7/26/2026

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Summary

Story summary

LeBron James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
James said his 76ers choice was not about money and he is not waiting for another domino to fall, according to Shams Charania.
The Dallas Mavericks will not trade Kyrie Irving, who will earn $39.5 million and stay with rookie Cooper Flagg.
The Washington Wizards will not trade Anthony Davis, who earned $58.5 million and holds a $62.8 million option for 2027-28.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 NBA collective-bargaining agreement, ratified in June, added a luxury-tax system that let owners penalize payrolls exceeding the cap. That mechanism survived the 1998-99 lockout, which ended after 204 days, and continues to force teams—such as the Mavericks and Wizards—to weigh star salaries against cap flexibility in today’s negotiations.

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Story summary

LeBron James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
James said his 76ers choice was not about money and he is not waiting for another domino to fall, according to Shams Charania.
The Dallas Mavericks will not trade Kyrie Irving, who will earn $39.5 million and stay with rookie Cooper Flagg.
The Washington Wizards will not trade Anthony Davis, who earned $58.5 million and holds a $62.8 million option for 2027-28.

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