LeBron Exits Lakers, Kawhi Leonard Returns to Raptors as Day 1 Shifts the 2026 Free Agency
TL;DR Summary
Day 1 of NBA free agency 2026 delivered marquee moves—LeBron James leaving the Lakers and Kawhi Leonard being traded back to the Raptors—alongside a wave of re-signings and trades that underline a shift from blockbuster signings to roster-shaping moves under the league’s second-apron rules, with Ja Morant heading to Portland and multiple teams locking in key players ahead of the July 6 moratorium.
- NBA free agency 2026: Grades, head-scratchers and analysis through Day 1 The New York Times
- Live updates: Day 2 of NBA Free Agency 2026 NBA.com
- 2026 NBA Rumors Live Blog with Latest News, Trade Buzz and Grades Bleacher Report
- NBA free agency 2026 live updates: Marcus Smart headed to Houston; Kawhi traded; LeBron to leave Lakers The New York Times
- NBA free agency intel: What we're hearing ahead of free agency ESPN
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