LeBron James would have taken his talents to Madison Square Garden next season had the building’s tenants not just won the NBA title, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said.

Given the New York Knicks ended their 53-year NBA title drought last month, James and Paul have been left to examine their options with the former once again testing free agency. Paul, who also is James’ agent, used a whiteboard to dissect his client’s potential destinations during the latest episode of his “Game Over” podcast.

“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board,” Paul said. “He’d be going to the Knicks.”

That said, the Knicks are not out of contention to land James, who on Tuesday informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will continue his NBA career elsewhere.

James, 41, has spent the past eight seasons with the Lakers, highlighted by helping the franchise win the 2020 NBA title.

Paul, however, knows James would come under fire if he joined the Knicks and inadvertently became the face of the defending champions.

“When LeBron comes onto your team, I don’t care if you just won a championship, I don’t care if you’ve been the best player — it’s different, man,” Paul said. “Jalen Brunson would have to literally pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey man, it’s no issue with me. It’s no issue with me.’ I’m not saying that would make his decision, but you’ve gotta respect that.”

The Philadelphia 76ers garnered Paul’s attention given their recent moves, namely acquiring star guard Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics for 36-year-old Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

“How could you not have the attention when you have (Tyrese) Maxey, (V.J.) Edgecombe, Brown and (Joel) Embiid?” asked Paul, who also noted James’ had worked with new 76ers president Mike Gansey during his previous stint in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets were solid contenders on the whiteboard, while the Golden State Warriors, Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks also serve as potential candidates.

A four-time NBA MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer, James just completed his record-setting 23rd NBA season. He officially became a free agent at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds this past season with the Lakers. The 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion is the all-time leader in games (1,622) and points (43,440).

–Field Level Media

–Field Level Media

The Atlanta Braves reportedly are signing Andrew McCutchen to a minor league deal, perhaps giving the 39-year-old outfielder one last path to a World Series.

McCutchen was released by the Texas Rangers on May 28 after batting .192 with one homer and five RBIs in 37 games and striking out 22 times in 73 at-bats.

The five-time All-Star and former National League MVP has appeared in 2,299 games and has been to the playoffs four times in his 18 seasons but has never made it beyond the divisional series.

McCutchen has 333 career homers, 2,280 hits, 1,157 RBIs and 220 steals to go with a .271 average with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2009-17, 2023-25), San Francisco Giants (2018), New York Yankees (2018), Philadelphia Phillies (2019-21) and Milwaukee Brewers (2022). The Pirates selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 draft.

McCutchen grew up as a Braves fan and is expected to report to Triple-A Gwinnett, per reports.

Atlanta recalled Anthony Molina on Friday after optioning fellow right-hander James Karinchak to Gwinnett following Thursday night’s game.

The Braves also returned left-hander Danny Young from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list while designating right-hander Ian Hamilton for assignment.

–Field Level Media

Carlos Ortiz admitted Friday that the future of LIV Golf looks bleak, now that the Saudi group that bankrolled it said it will stop paying the bills.

“It’s looking a little bit tough, hopefully there’s a way forward,” Ortiz said following his second round at the BMW International Open in Germany, a stop on the DP World Tour.

“I mean, I honestly don’t know all the situation, but it’s not looking great, obviously, as we all know. That’s a shame. I’ve really enjoyed my time playing all around the world and it’s been awesome playing with my team.”

Ortiz, a 35-year-old from Mexico, has one LIV Golf win (LIV Golf Houston, 2024) and one PGA Tour victory (Houston Open, 2020). He joined LIV in 2022.

He said Friday that should LIV cease operations after the 2026 season, he knows he will come through just fine.

“We’ll see what happens, you know, but whatever happens, I’m sure I’ll find a place to play and, for me, it’s just about playing golf,” said Ortiz, a member of the LIV team Torque GC. “If I can start coming to places like this and seeing new places, then it will be great. For me, whatever happens is totally fine.”

After 36 holes at the Golfclub Munchen Eichenried in Munich, Ortiz was in a three-way tie for second place on Friday at 10-under after back-to-back rounds of 67, one shot behind the leader.

Joaquin Niemann of Chile, captain of Torque GC, struck a much more hopeful tone when he spoke on Friday. He told bunkered.co.uk that he plans to honor his LIV commitment in 2027.

“I know for sure he (Scott O’Neil, LIV CEO) is doing the best job he can to raise the money and keep getting the product that we have — which I think is the best,” Niemann, 27, said.

“Coming and seeing the difference on DP (World Tour) to what LIV has, LIV is great. But, yeah, hopefully we can get the money and please the fans who hope we keep going.”

–Field Level Media