WHERE WILL LEBRON JAMES PLAY IN 2018-2019?

Now that the NBA Finals are over, the NBA free agency period is here. To some, it is the most exciting part of the season. And that excitement is even more palpable now that LeBron James has the opportunity to opt out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. So where will James end up when next season tips off? And which team will give him the best chance to add to his championship count?

Los Angeles Lakers

It seems clear at this point that LeBron James will be leaving the Cavaliers. Even Cavs coach Tyronn Lue seems resigned to that fact. But are the Los Angeles Lakers the answer as to where James will end up next season? Given the team's ample resources, it is entirely possible. But there are definitely some obstacles to overcome if James is going to play for the purple and gold.

If James is going to put on the Lakers' NBA city jersey next year, the Lakers will have to assure him that they will bring in another talented player to join him. This is because the Lakers currently are full of young players but don't have a star that would bring James any closer to a title than the Cavaliers would. But with the Lakers having tons of salary cap space, they may be able to land another star like Paul George while they haul in the player who had 34 points per game in last year's NBA Finals.

Los Angeles also needs to get their Lavar Ball situation under control. Ball is convinced that LeBron is going to be a Laker, but James may not like all of the instability that Ball brings to the table. And though the Lakers faithful would sing his praises better than those responsible for the LeBron James Cisqo parody, that wouldn't mean much if the team wasn't any better than his hometown Cavaliers.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the best young teams in the league. They had a breakout season last year thanks to the inspired play of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. As a result, the Sixers are at +400 odds to win the NBA Finals as of June 14, 2018 at Betway. And, one would imagine that adding LeBron James would improve those odds in a big way.

Thanks to the distribution abilities of Simmons, LeBron wouldn't have to handle the ball nearly as much as he did in Cleveland. And while Ben Simmons has recently had some relationship drama with Kendall Jenner, he keeps things completely harmonious for his teammates on the court. Imagining him passing to a cutting LeBron James is tantalizing, and watching that duo with Embiid alongside them would be amazing as well.

Of course, the Sixers' instability with their general manager position could be a concern for the moment after the Bryan Colangelo Twitter scandal. Now that he is no longer with the team, the possibility for LeBron to join up with Philly could be just what the doctor ordered to complete the process.

Source: Pixabay

Houston Rockets

LeBron James was accused of quitting on the Cavaliers during the NBA Finals when the Warriors won all four games of that series. To combat that narrative, James would be well served to join the Rockets. Teaming up with Chris Paul would make sure that he never took a play-off again. This is thanks to Paul's natural leadership ability that always makes him someone that players want on their team.

Also, the addition of James Harden to LeBron's list of teammates would be a huge bonus for James. Harden is another player who can play on the ball, and lighten James' offensive burden. That will give him more energy to be a two-way player, something he struggled with at times during the 2017-2018 season.

The only concern with joining the Rockets would be how bad a fit James is with the rest of the team's offense. Houston shoots more threes than anyone in the league, even when they are missing like they did when they missed 27 straight threes in the seventh game of the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors. But if anyone can figure out how to make it work, it is LeBron James.

TALKING LOCKS WITH ANDREW FITZSIMONS

Awards Season brings a number of our faves together and we had the moment to catch up with Andrew Fitzsimons, Celebrity Hair Stylist. We caught up with him to find out about must have tips that we should use when we're prepping our locks, how he got into the business and what he's up to.

ATHLEISURE MAG: You have rocked amazing hair on some of our favorite celebrities. Tell us when you realized that you wanted to be a hairstylist and your journey to becoming the stylist for the Kardashians, Joan Smalls, Ashley Graham, etc?

ANDREW FITZSIMONS: I fell into hair styling at a very young age when my mom got me a summer job at a local hair salon when I was 13. I loved the work so much that when I returned to school, I realized school wasn’t for me. After much begging, my mum allowed me to pursue my dream full time, but with the conditions that I be kind to everyone, never take a sick day and work to the top of my field. I’m still working on #3!

AM: As the Alterna Hair Care Brand Ambassador, what does this role entail and how did you become this?

AF: One of the biggest parts of my job as Alterna Haircare’s brand ambassador is teaching women how they can use the products to get healthy, shiny, red carpet-ready hair! A lot of women struggle with styling and caring for their hair, but with the right products, it can be much easier. In addition to education, I work with Alterna on product formulation, trend forecasting, photo shoots and video shoots, events and so much more! I love getting to share my love of beauty.

AM: We're in the thick of Awards Season right now - what are 10 products/tools that you always have on hand?

AF: Toothbrush – My secret weapon for cleaning up baby hairs and flyaways!

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer – This dryer is super lightweight; light tools are essential for hairdressers.

GHD Curling Irons – I love these irons because they heat up so fast and are ceramic, so they help protect the hair more than most curling irons. I also like that they’re all matte black, it makes my kit look really chic.

Glam Seamless Extensions – I carry extensions in every color imaginable, and lately, I've been stocking up on these, which I love.

Babylisspro Nano Titanium Flat Iron – This is my favorite flat iron ever, been using it for years. It gets hair perfectly straight and shiny!

Alterna Haircare Anti-Frizz Omega+ Nourishing Oil – I’m obsessed with this moisturizing, super lightweight oil. It’s extremely versatile, so I’m able to use it on all of my clients, no matter their
hair type. It gives the hair a beautiful, healthy shine and provides light definition without weighing the hair down at all.

Alterna Haircare Caviar Working Hair Spray – This buildable hair spray is a must for all of my jobs! It gives you a great brushable hold with no stickiness or tackiness.

Alterna Haircare Caviar Repair Multi-Vitamin Heat Protection Spray – My clients put their faith in me that I’m going to take care of their hair, so heat protection is a must! So many people skip this step, but it’s essential for keeping your hair healthy and strong.

Alterna Haircare Perfect Texture Finishing Spray – This spray is the perfect combination of the hold of a hairspray and the buildable texture of a dry shampoo. Perfect for those effortless
looking, model-off-duty vibes.

Rita Hazan Root Concealer – This is perfect for root touch ups!

AM: You're fresh from the Golden Globes, can you tell us as a stylist what the prep is like before Awards Day in terms of coordinating the hair inspiration with the other components of the look, what your schedule was like in terms of how many/who you styled that day, your prep to get ready, how much time you spent styling each of the looks and once completed what do you after a long day of this nature?

AF: Usually before a big awards show, I’ll be in regular contact with my client, my client’s stylist and my client’s makeup artist. We all review the dress and I create a mood board of ideas based on the dress. At the recent Globes, I had two clients: Kendall Jenner for the Globes and Shay Mitchell for the parties. Typically, there are 2-3 hours for glam and getting dressed, so it’s not unusual to have several clients in one day. Once all my clients are done, I typically rush home with my assistant so we can watch the event coverage – it’s fun to see the looks on the red carpet.

AM: As someone who is constantly on the go from set, red carpets etc how do you take time for yourself?

AF: I really enjoy working out – it helps get me into a zone where I’m just focused on one thing (typically I’m juggling a bunch of jobs and projects, so there’s a lot on my mind). It’s a good way to “press reset” in a way. Yoga is another workout I love, and if I’m having a really busy day, I try to meditate for a few minutes in the car between clients.

AM: When you have downtime, what would we find you doing?

AF: Down time?! I don’t have that… In seriousness, I work every day and am always working on new projects and ideas.

AM: What are 3 places that we would find you grabbing a drink in LA, having a meal with friends and where do you workout?

AF: To me, having wine at a friend’s house is much better than going out! It’s so much more relaxed and fun. For a meal, I love Casa Vega – it’s a staple in the Valley and I love it’s history
(and of course the delicious food!)

For workouts I love Barry’s Bootcamp and Soul Cycle.

AM: What's your personal style in terms of what you wear when you're out with your friends brunching, versus what you were when you're on your way to meeting your clients for Awards
Season to get them ready for the red carpet?

AF: I have a very consistent wardrobe – I’m typically wearing an oversized white tee, black jeans, black boots and a black leather jacket (depending on the weather!). I like to have a fairly
clean / consistent uniform.

AM: What charities/philanthropies do you support?

AF: I actually recently partnered with the LA LGBT Center to launch the Trans Cosmetic Donation Program, an innovative charity program in which beauty professionals, influencers and celebrities can donate unused personal care products to the LA LBGT Center, and they redistribute the products to various charities that serve trans women of color in Southern California.

AM: We can see you having a haircare line, extension brand etc - how else do you want to extend your skills for those that may not be able to have you personally do their hair?

AF: I will be launching a YouTube Channel soon! I’m really excited to have an online platform where I can translate the red carpet styles of celebrities to more women. There are few more
projects I can’t talk about quite yet…

Read more from the Jan Issue and see Talking Locks with Andrew Fitzsimons

MFW SS18 | VERSACE

Donatella Versace brought back the original superstars to honor the death of her brother, Gianni Versace in an iconic statement ending her runway show at Versace's MFW SS18. In addition, there was a nod to classics of the house with a number of the moment models including Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner strutting down the runway. But when Cindy Crawford (whose daughter Kaia walked the show as well), Naomi Campbell (who was in the center), Carla Bruni, Helena Christensen and Claudia Schiffer emerged from the curtain, it caused a sense of excitement throughout the show. 

There is much speculation if this show is more than just reminiscing to the House of Versace and what Donatella's brother built or if this may be her last year - either way, the show was impactful to those who are fans of fashion and the passions that it showcases. 

| PHOTOGRAPHY Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv |

MET GALA FAVE LOOKS RECAP

Last night's Met Gala took place last night. Known as Fashion's biggest night, this gala kicks off the new exhibition that is available for public viewing at the Met. There were a number of couples that stunned either solo OR with their significant other! Our favorites are below and we will continue to update throughout the day!

JENNIFER LOPEZ

Jennifer Lopez is wearing a Judith Leiber Clutch

KENDALL JENNER

Kendall Jenner is wearing a La Perla gown and Christian Louboutin heels

MARY J BLIGE

Mary J Blige is wearing La Perla