NBA free agency officially kicked off on Monday evening as the negotiating window opened for eligible players and all teams across the league at 6 p.m. ET. Monday night was relatively quiet, but the first stunners of the new league year came Tuesday morning.

Like sharks sensing a presence in the water, Rich Paul's cryptic statement that accompanied LeBron James' decision to opt in to his $52.6 million salary for next season led some teams to call the Los Angeles Lakers about the four-time NBA MVP's availability.

James then teamed up with Warriors star Steph Curry at the 2024 Paris Olympics, showing off their harmonious pairing en route to an undefeated gold medal run. This reignited some of the Warriors-Lakers trade buzz, but nothing ended up taking place.