LeBron James will no longer be a Los Angeles Laker. The 41-year-old has told the franchise he intends to sign elsewhere for the 2026/27 season, just one day after his son, Bronny James, saw his own contract with the Lakers become fully guaranteed.

It is a stunning twist that leaves father and son on separate paths for the first time since Bronny was drafted, and it throws the entire NBA free agency period into pure chaos.

So, where does the four-time champion go next? CanadaCasino have already installed a clear favourite, but there is no shortage of teams dreaming about a late-career run with one of the greatest players the sport has ever produced.

Here are the odds on LeBron’s next franchise, working from the rank outsiders up to the team everyone expects to land him.

LeBron James’ Next Team: Latest Odds

16. Portland Trail Blazers (60/1)

This feels like the longest of long shots, included here more for completeness than expectation. The ‘Blazers had leaned into a youth movement, even before landing Ja Morant in a trade with Memphis, and James joining what most would consider a rebuilding project, aside from the sentimental addition of Damian Lillard, would represent a complete departure from his recent history of chasing championships.

15. Boston Celtics (50/1)

The idea of James in Boston colours has always been pure fantasy given the rivalry the Lakers have shared with the Celtics for multiple decades, but stranger things have happened in NBA free agency. The Celtics would offer a genuine shot at contention if their roster stays largely intact, and James has never been shy about going where he believes he can win. Even so, the history between player and franchise makes this one feel like a non-starter in practice.

14. Denver Nuggets (50/1)

Denver already boasts a genuine superstar in three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and James linking up with the Serbian to chase one more ring is the kind of romantic, long-odds storyline that gets attached to every big-name free agent. The roster fit makes some sense on paper, with James capable of playing alongside another ball-dominant offensive hub. Realistically, the salary issue and the lack of concrete links make this one a footnote rather than a contender.

13. Houston Rockets (50/1)

LeBron and the Lakers eliminated the Rockets from the playoffs only a few months ago, which makes this pairing an intriguing twist rather than an obvious next step. Houston’s young core has plenty of upside, and James’ mentorship, alongside Kevin Durant, could theoretically accelerate their timeline. Despite this being a solid idea, there’s been nothing concrete around such a move, and it’s hard to see the Rockets being willing to disrupt their development plan for a 41-year-old on a short-term deal.

12. LA Clippers (50/1)

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Staying in Los Angeles without staying with the Lakers would be a fascinating subplot, and the Clippers have shown a willingness to chase star power in the past. Their own roster situation remains in flux, given that Kawhi Leonard has just been traded to the Toronto Raptors, which makes it difficult to know exactly what shape this team will take by the time free agency gets going. Until that picture clears up, the Clippers remain a speculative shot rather than a serious contender.

11. Philadelphia 76ers (50/1)

After seeing star player Joel Embiid miss almost 50% of his games in his career, Philadelphia have had their own injury and roster headaches in recent seasons, and adding a 41-year-old with heavy mileage would be a curious response to those problems. There’s little to suggest the ‘Sixers are actively pursuing James, and his preference for proven title contenders makes a project still searching for full health and continuity an unlikely destination. Once again, this one sits firmly in the realm of speculation rather than true substance.

10. Washington Wizards (50/1)

Washington’s odds owe more to their connection to Anthony Davis than anything else. The 6’10” man has been heavily linked to a trade involving James’ camp, rather than to any direct pursuit of the man himself. The Wizards are deep in a rebuild, as evidenced by their signing of Trae Young and their first overall selection of AJ Dybantsa in this year’s draft. They appear to have shown no appetite for chasing star free agents since.

9. Brooklyn Nets (40/1)

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Brooklyn have been linked to almost every available star over the past few years without ever quite landing one, and James would represent their biggest swing yet. The Nets have salary cap flexibility, but little in the way of a finished roster around it, which makes a title chase a tough sell. Without stronger reporting attaching James to the franchise, this remains a long-shot scenario built on financial logic alone, and one that might actually be priced shorter than it really should be.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (40/1)

The odds of Milwaukee landing James shortened only after their decision to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo, sending the Greek Freak to Miami. That trade leaves the Bucks searching for a new direction, and James arriving to lead a retooled roster would be one of the more unexpected storylines of the summer. In reality, the Giannis trade only partially eased financial issues in Milwaukee, and likely not the required amount of cap space to lure such a player.

7. Dallas Mavericks (30/1)

Dallas have had to reshape their identity since trading Luka Doncic away, and the Mavericks remain in something of an in-between phase as they work out what their next era looks like. James’ arrival would be an unexpected pivot rather than a natural progression of any existing plan, and there’s an obvious irony in him potentially landing at the franchise that gave up his current Lakers teammate. Concrete links remain thin on the ground, keeping Dallas firmly in outsider territory.

6. Detroit Pistons (30/1)

The Pistons’ rebuild has progressed quickly, and adding a player of James’ calibre would be a significant acceleration of their timeline, albeit temporary given his age. The Pistons have been busy this offseason reshaping their roster, and a marquee free agency splash would fit the ambitious mood around the franchise. Still, there is nothing tying James to Detroit, and a young, rising team may not be the ideal landing spot for a player chasing one final ring.

5. New York Knicks (30/1)

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New York enters this conversation as reigning NBA champions, having swept Cleveland on their way to the Eastern Conference crown before completing the job in the Finals with a 4-1 series victory over the San Antionio Spurs. That success gives them as strong a contending case as almost anyone on this list, even if the idea of James in the Big Apple has circulated for years without ever materialising. The Knicks’ roster construction makes squeezing in another max-calibre piece logistically tricky, but a title-winning core keeps them within shouting distance of a real possibility.

4. San Antonio Spurs (20/1)

San Antonio’s odds are built partly on James’ relationship with Gregg Popovich, one of the most respected figures in the sport, but also on genuine on-court substance. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs all the way to this season’s Finals, only to fall short against New York, and a roster already proven at that level makes the romantic Popovich reunion story carry a bit more weight, even if Popovic isn’t the coach anymore. It remains speculative, but San Antonio look less like a token long shot than they once did.

3. Miami Heat (10/1)

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After making one seismic move this offseason by trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, adding James to a Miami Heat roster featuring the Greek forward and Bam Adebayo, would be a genuine title swing. The Heat’s culture and James’ past ties to South Beach add real weight to the speculation, even if the roster around their two stars remains thin. It’s a destination with real logic behind it, even without a confirmed pursuit.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (3/1)

Cleveland represents the sentimental favourite, with James remaining the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals from his two previous spells there. The Cavs have been linked to a reunion ever since speculation about his Lakers future began. James also fuelled speculation after posting a video on his Instagram story, driving through the streets of his hometown of Akron, captioning it: “ENJOYING A NICE CRUISE THRU MY CITY.” Cleveland’s roster would likely require James to take a significant pay cut to fit financially, as the Cavs are the league’s highest spenders, given that Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are on their books, but the hometown pull remains one of the strongest storylines in this race.

1. Golden State Warriors (1/5)

The Warriors are the overwhelming favourites, and it’s not difficult to see why. Draymond Green’s decision to decline his player option and re-sign on a reduced deal, handed Golden State the financial flexibility to chase both James and possibly trade for Anthony Davis, with the Warriors reportedly eyeing yet another “big four,” built around Stephen Curry, James, Davis and Green. James has spoken before about wanting to play alongside Curry, and with insiders describing Golden State as the league’s most determined external suitor, this is the destination every rival is bracing for.

A Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise masterclass helped France ease to a 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 at the World Cup.

The French started to get control of the game, and Mbappe initially had a goal chalked off for offside. The Real Madrid forward was then denied by the post after a superb attacking move that nearly led to the opener.

Olise nearly scored the Goal of the Tournament in the 35th minute when he attempted a bicycle kick that also hit the post. Ousmane Dembele followed up with a strike that flew just wide of the goal.

Les Bleus finally took the lead in the 45th minute, and Mbappe bagged his fifth goal in four games. He shifted the ball past Viktor Gyokeres after clever build-up play from Olise and Ousmane Dembele before firing past Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

It took just seven minutes after the restart for Bradley Barcola to make it two-nil, and Olise magicked up a brilliant assist. The Bayern Munich man played the ball through Gustaf Lagerbielke’s legs, and Barcola found the back of the net.

A special third came in the 73rd minute, and Deschamps’ men created one of the best attacking moves you’ll see. Olise was again right in the thick of things with a slick pass to Mbappe, who drew level with Lionel Messi at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Match Highlights

Still to come…

France Player Ratings

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It’s going to take something special to beat this star-studded France team who have been at their best throughout the tournament. As Patrick Vieira says, ‘this is the Mbappe World Cup ‘, and he was at the peak of his powers in East Rutherford.

In midfield, Adrien Rabiot might have a case for being the most underrated French player in history. The AC Milan midfielder impressed going forward while ensuring the Swedes couldn’t gain momentum in the middle of the park.

If Liverpool scouts were watching tonight’s game, they might be ready to swoop for Bradley Barcola, who put in a fine performance and took his goal well. His pace is a nightmare for defenders, and he might just have permanently displaced PSG teammate Desire Doue.

Everything Olise seems to touch turns to gold, and he is shining in Deschamps’ team. If France go on to win the World Cup, he’ll surely be eyeing the Ballon d’Or.

Sweden Player Ratings

TT News Agency via Reuters

Graham Potter’s side were second best throughout and wasted the limited opportunities that came their way. Yasin Ayari put in a positive performance, looking to cause problems on the counter and forcing the French into a few fouls.

Derby County goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom did his best to prevent Les Bleus from running riot with several decent saves. He could do nothing about Mbappe’s opener that flew past him with pace.

Zetterstrom’s defence couldn’t contain the fearsome French frontline who often left them chasing shadows. Victor Lindelof, in particular, had his work cut out for him after dropping into defence from midfield.

Viktor Gyokeres tried using his strength to give Arsenal teammate William Saliba problems, but an inevitable lack of service prevented him from influencing proceedings. As for Alexander Isak, the Liverpool striker was rarely involved, and on today’s showing he’s not in the same league as Mbappe and Olise.

US President Donald Trump has celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling against transgender women playing in women’s sport, calling it a “big win.”

A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling issued on Tuesday (June 30th) allows states to ban transgender student-athletes from competing in female sports. This prohibits transgender athletes from joining girls’ and women’s teams at public schools and universities.

The ruling focused on the cases of Lindsay Hecox, a college student in Idaho, and Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 15-year-old high school student from West Virginia. It’s expected to have a sweeping impact because Idaho and West Virginia’s prohibitions against transgender athletes are replicated in 25 other states.

Trump Calls Court Ruling ‘Big Win’

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Trump took to Truth Social to give his verdict on the ruling and a situation he views as “ridiculous.” The president wrote:

Trump made a ban on transgender people a central pillar of his 2024 campaign, and critics believe the ruling is a major blow to transgender rights. The justices are, however, divided on the separate issue of whether the bans violate federal law.

The nine justices decided that the bans do not violate a civil rights law called Title IX. This prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and was enacted in 1972 to ensure equal opportunities in academics and athletics and to address sexual harassment.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that state legislatures and schools were “better equipped” and “the more appropriate entities” to assess competing medical and scientific considerations. The ruling received responses from civil rights organisations, elected officials and athletes, with some, including Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black, claiming it continues “attacks on transgender young people” which “must stop.”

Trump View on Transgender Women in Women’s Sport

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Trump has long campaigned for banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports. He vowed to defend women from “gender ideology extremism.”

The US president signed an Executive Order last year aiming to clearly define male and female and the biological reality of two sexes. He vowed to defend women and said that “you just ban it. You just don’t let it happen.”

The White House claims that the majority of American people “overwhelmingly agree with Trump.” They state that “roughly seven in 10 Americans oppose men (transgender) in women’s sports.”

The Supreme Court previously backed Trump-enforced restrictions on trans people. This includes a Pentagon policy banning trans people from serving in the military.