The Athletic has live coverage of LeBron James’ free agency decision. The NBA is one vast waiting room.On one side, players sit around, sweating out a decision from LeBron James, the summer’s most decorated free agent, who has yet to choose a new team. Once he does, they will receive a better grasp of their own futures.On the other side are the players whose destinies require a conclusion to the Aspiration investigation, where the NBA is looking into the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for alleged salary-cap circumvention. For now, Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors is on hold. The organization won’t acquire him until it knows for certain whether he will incur a penalty. The league has not ruled out the possibility of suspending Leonard or voiding his contract.LeBron James to Philadelphia? Saquon Barkley makes his pitchZach BermanSo, the Raptors wait for Leonard. The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors wait for James. And plenty of other individuals are tied to their situations, too.Here is a look at each element of the NBA that James’ and Leonard’s situations have put on hold:James Harden’s free agencyBecause it’s a foregone conclusion that Harden will remain in Cleveland, one offseason storyline has gone under the radar: Harden, who the Cavaliers traded for earlier this winter, remains unsigned. And it’s not because he has a stray eye or because the Cavs have secretly developed buyer’s remorse. It’s because of the hunt for James, the homegrown four-time MVP who could return to the place he began his career.James’ hypothetical salary would factor into whatever the Cavs could pay Harden, who made $39.4 million last season. Re-upping for a comparable salary would send Cleveland over the second apron, a payroll threshold it hopes to avoid in 2026-27. And because the team got so expensive, it would limit its ability to pay James, who could receive only a minimum contract.Harden will earn less money next season than he did in the last one regardless, though he’ll receive more than just a one-year deal to make up for it. If James were willing to play for the minimum, then Harden could slice his salary closer to $30 million, and James could head to the Cavs, who could still stay below the second apron. But if James wanted more than a minimum salary, then it would take more than just a pay cut from Harden to land him.Max Strus’ and Dennis Schröder’s homesThe Cavaliers require a second step to pay James more than the minimum. Let’s say Harden re-signs for a 2026-27 salary of approximately $30 million. Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell both make more than $50 million this season. Jarrett Allen is due for $28 million. That leaves two mid-sized salaries Cleveland could dump.Strus and Schröder make $16.7 million and $14.8 million this season, respectively. Attach a draft pick, and the Cavs could drop either into another team’s space. Schröder, especially, might be the easier one to trade — and not only because Strus would still be a productive fit coming off the bench on a squad that included James. Schröder’s salary is small enough that the Cavaliers could trade him into another team’s midlevel exception, which would allow them to take zero money back.But if James is willing to take the minimum, then Cleveland doesn’t need to shed any of its rotation players. And if he doesn’t sign at all, then the Cavs are in a different financial (and on-court) place, too.Draymond Green’s free agencyIf Green and the Warriors didn’t have such a long-standing relationship, he might not be a free agent at all right now. The 14-year veteran turned down a $27 million option to enter a market that wouldn’t pay him nearly that much. He had no intention of leaving Golden State, but he did hope to help the only organization that had ever employed him.The Warriors already have two giant salaries on their books: the ones belonging to Stephen Curry and injured star Jimmy Butler. They are making a play for James. Add another giant direct deposit, and the ability to pay him goes out the window. But Green declining the option gives them financial flexibility.