標籤: contenders

LeBron James is once again poised to be the top player available in NBA free agency this offseason. While a return to the Los Angeles Lakers is much discussed, there is reportedly mutual interest with the Eastern Conference contender.

The BigPlay Scoop B. of Cleveland. According to Robinson, there is “mutual interest” between LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, money is going to be a real factor in this process.

RELATED: Executive details potential win-win contract for Lakers, LeBron

“I know the Cavs, some members of their roster have had conversations with LeBron about a possible pairing.”

Brandon “Scoop B.” Robinson on interest between Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James

Robinson also mentioned a third team that could potentially be in the mix for LeBron. Unsurprisingly, joining the NBA rumors over the past few days, the New York Knicks are being viewed as another possible option for the future Hall of Famer.

There is a complicating factor here for the Knicks and Cavaliers. This also applies to the two teams that were previously linked to LeBron, the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets, giving the Lakers a bigger chance to re-sign him.

Both the Cavaliers and Knicks are limited to offering LeBron far less than the Lakers can put on the table. While the Lakers have his Bird rights, Cleveland and New York are above the luxury tax and will have to hope the four-time NBA champion is willing to play at a steep discount.

Read more: Executives predict potential cost of Austin Reeves contract

The Cavaliers could also make a sign-and-trade to acquire LeBron, but that would require the Lakers to trade center Jarrett Allen. This again highlights why Los Angeles is still the favorite to sign him.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

RFK Racing is enjoying a strong start to the 2026 NASCAR season with Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher in the top 13 in points. Unfortunately, one of them may have to run in an unknown race in 2027.

The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi reported this week that RFK Racing is facing an offseason where all three of its drivers become free agents and the team only has two charter for next season.

RFK is leasing a third charter from Rick Ware Racing, but he will no longer be available for 2027. Unfortunately for the team, there are unlikely to be any charters available.

There was some speculation that Hyak Motorsports might sell a charter, but it instead signed a multi-year contract extension with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Meanwhile, Legacy Motor Club is already adding a third charter for next season and none of Kaulig, Wood Brothers Racing or Front Row Motorsports are offering charters.

RFK co-owner Keselowski intends to remain a full-time driver for the next several seasons and appears unlikely to give up his chartered status. For Buescher, his excellent on-track results and history with RFK make receiving a new contract and a second chartered spot a possibility.

What Racing Uncharted would mean for Ryan Preece

As Bianchi mentioned, the good news for Ryan Preece is that he still has support from sponsor Kroger. The supermarket chain is reportedly interested in remaining in partnership with RFK, but having an unnamed third car could have some impact on negotiations.

Racing unknown would mean that Preece would need to qualify for every race. This would not be a problem for most of the season, as fewer than 40 cars would enter the race. However, this may be a bit more of an issue for some of the biggest races of the season when there are over 40 participants.

The more costly impact will affect the entire No. 60 team. Racing uncharted means getting paid less for results in each race, with several NASCAR executives telling Bianchi that it would mean the No. 60 team would lose more than $5 million in earnings the following season.

Unfortunately for Preece and his team, given the exorbitant cost of obtaining the charter ($80-plus million), it may also have been the most cost-effective option for RFK Racing.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Charlotte Hornets continued their remarkable midseason turnaround on Wednesday night with a dominant 118-89 victory over the Boston Celtics to extend their winning streak to six games. The result extended Charlotte’s consecutive winning streak to at least 15 points and prompted ESPN analysts to warn Eastern Conference contenders about the surging team.

The Hornets’ latest win solidified their status as one of the league’s hottest teams, which drew attention during Thursday’s broadcast of Get Up.

Alan Hahn described Charlotte as a dangerous opponent lurking in the playoff race.

“A dragon slayer hiding in plain sight. They’re in the play-ins right now. They’re the 9th seed. They’re finally at .500 for the first time, I think, since Grandmama and Muggy Boggs. We haven’t seen them play like this for a long time, but they’re that team with this offense and defense, by the way, in the top 3 these 20 games.”

Hahn said Charlotte’s balanced performance on both ends of the floor makes them a tough matchup for the top teams in the conference.

“So, not only are they playing great offense, but they’re also playing great defense. They’re that team, if you’re a contender, if you’re a high seed, #1, #2 or #3, and you have to face them in the first round, you don’t want to do that because they’re unknowns and they can play free as well.”

🗣️ @alanhahn: “A dragon slayer hiding in plain sight. They’re in the play-ins right now. They’re the 9th seed. I think, after Grandmama and Muggy Boggs, they’re finally at .500 for the first time. We haven’t seen them play like that in a long time, but they’re that team… pic.twitter.com/Gze5F5ANwA

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 5 March 2026

Jay Williams compares surging Hornets to young Celtics amid hot stretch

Former NBA guard Jay Williams echoed that sentiment, comparing the Hornets’ playing style to a younger version of the Celtics.

“They’re like a young version of the Boston Celtics. Their games really mirror each other, and their offense is the best in the league since Jan. 1. I wouldn’t call them a title contender, but if you’re the Knicks, if you’re Detroit, if you’re Cleveland, you’ve got to compete with Charlotte and that offense in the first round…that’s the danger zone.”

Charlotte’s win over Boston improved the team to 31–30 on the season, marking the first time that the franchise has climbed above .500 since October 26, when it improved to 2–1 after a 139–113 win over the Washington Wizards.

Over the last 15 games, Charlotte has ranked among the league’s most efficient teams. The Hornets rank ninth in scoring at 115.7 points per game during that span, while leading the NBA in perimeter shooting at 40.1%. The team has made an average of 18.6 three-pointers and held opponents to just 104.8 points per game, the second-best defensive mark in the league during that span. Charlotte’s 10.9 net rating over the same period ranks second in the NBA.

Despite the surge, the Hornets currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. However, the standings are tightly packed, and Charlotte is only 4.5 games behind the fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors (35-26).

Charlotte will attempt to extend its winning streak on Friday night when it hosts the Miami Heat (33-29) at 7:00 pm before beginning a four-game Western Conference road trip against the Phoenix Suns (35-26) on Sunday at 10:00 pm.