LeBron Tracker: free agency is open and, wait a minute, that's the Denver Nuggets' music

Blake Schuster
·Yahoo Sports Contributor
The offseason is never sillier than when LeBron James is on the market. (via AP)
The offseason is never sillier than when LeBron James is on the market. (via AP)

With the NBA Finals and NBA draft behind us, all attention now shifts to the start of free agency on July 1 — and, more specifically, to the free agency of LeBron James. The best basketball player on the planet has the right to hit the unrestricted market once again, and as was the case in 2010 and 2014, the entire basketball-watching world will be waiting on his next move. So, while we’re waiting, here’s the latest in LeBron-related news and notes:

Previously, on the LeBron Tracker:

Now entering the race for LeBron: The Denver Nuggets (!?)

Technically, every team is already competing for LeBron’s affection, but it appears the Nuggets are making a serious push to get through to James as free agency opens up.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Mannix, Denver is “aggressively pursuing” a meeting with James’ camp and has positioned itself as a short-term option for The King. The crazy thing here is that this kind of makes sense if LeBron doesn’t feel his other suitors (ahem, Los Angeles or Cleveland) will be ready to contend this year.

From Mannix:

Denver has been in contact with James’ agent, Rich Paul, and has doggedly tried to position the team as James’ best option, the source said. Paul George’s decision to re-sign with Oklahoma City has taken a potential James teammate in Los Angeles off the board, and thus far the Lakers’ talks with San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard have gained no traction.

It’s not like there’s any shortage of young, high-end talent in Denver, either. With the Nuggets inking Nikola Jokic and Will Barton to five- and four-year deals, respectively, along with Jamal Murray running point, it’s easy to envision LeBron liking the lineup.

Still, there’s no denying it’s a hard sell. Unless Denver can find a way to give LeBron his own mountain.

Los Angeles on high alert

LeBron is simultaneously everywhere and nowhere in California right now — depending on who you ask. He’s been spotted, re-spotted, lost, found and lost again since landing in LA on Saturday.

And there is no shortage of Twitter detectives trying to get in on the fun of searching for him.

With respect to Chrissy Teigen, we’re going to need a second source on this one.

Sixers reportedly meeting with James’ reps on Sunday

What started out as a shot-in-the-dark tweet from Joel Embiid a few years back has blossomed into this:

The Sixers have been considered one of the favorites to sign LeBron since this latest free agency fiasco began, but somehow it never really felt real. Until today. Philadelphia is now as close to signing LeBron James as any other contender. Savor this moment, Philly fans. It was only two years ago your team lost 72 games.

Things are really starting to heat up in Philly on the heels of James’ agent taking a meeting with the 76ers.

Speaking of shot-in-the-dark: it appears we could be getting Decision 3.0 on Tuesday morning.

What about the rest of the field?

Brian Windhorst of ESPN says James is only meeting with the teams he considers serious contenders to sign him. LeBron’s team has reportedly turned down meetings with a number of teams.

Basically, if LeBron or his reps haven’t met with a team, there’s no chance that team will sign him.

What about the Cavs?

They’ve spoken the LeBron on the phone, but they haven’t had a meeting.

What does that mean? Windhorst makes it sound like there’s a difference between a phone call and a meeting, so don’t get your hopes up yet, Cavs fans.

This post will be updated

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Blake Schuster is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at blakeschuster@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!