Heat Remain Engaged With LeBron James; Pistons Monitor DeMar DeRozan; Tyson Etienne Signs in France
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MIAMI — Pat Riley said the Miami Heat are still in the hunt for LeBron James, but the team president acknowledged Thursday he is unsure where the superstar’s free-agency process currently stands.
Speaking while introducing newly acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, Riley told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk that recent talks with agent Rich Paul were “very good,” yet the franchise is still waiting for a decision.
“I don’t know, I’ll be honest with you,” Riley said. “Obviously, we’ve had conversations with Rich and they were very good.” He added a final pitch: “If that happens and he wants to come to the 305, we’ve got a golf course. The weather’s nice … and there’s no state tax.”
Antetokounmpo echoed the sentiment, saying he would be “very, very excited” to partner with James, calling him “one of the best players to ever play this game, if not the best.”
League sources told Hoops Wire that the Cleveland Cavaliers are still viewed as the favorites, though Miami, Philadelphia and Golden State remain in contention.
Pistons Weigh Move for DeRozan
DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons are considering a pursuit of free-agent forward DeMar DeRozan, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. The club is waiting for clarity on restricted free agent center Jalen Duren’s contract situation before deciding whether to escalate interest.
Stein reported that Detroit is not aggressively chasing DeRozan at the moment but values the veteran scorer as a potential offensive complement to Cade Cunningham. DeRozan has also been linked to the Raptors, Lakers, Heat, Warriors and Trail Blazers. League executives expect teams that miss on James to pivot quickly toward other high-profile free agents.
Tyson Etienne Heads to Paris
Former Brooklyn Nets guard Tyson Etienne has signed with Paris Basketball, the French club announced. The 26-year-old averaged 7.9 points in 24 games for the Nets during the 2025-26 season, shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range. He also posted 16.3 points per game for G League affiliate Long Island.
This marks Etienne’s first professional stop outside the United States. Paris Basketball competes in France’s top domestic league and the EuroLeague.
Source: Hoops Wire
