With the Cavaliers in Los Angeles this weekend to play the Clippers on Friday and the Lakers on Sunday, it seems like as good a time as any to check in on LeBron James‘ upcoming free agency. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer jump-started that discussion on Thursday when he reported that he has “consistently heard from multiple league sources” that James’ list of potential destinations currently only includes four teams: the Cavs, Lakers, Rockets, and Sixers.
Asked today about his potential free agency, James dismissed the idea that he has put together any sort of list yet, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. While the star forward also called recruiting billboards posted in L.A. “flattering,” he said he’s not thinking about his free agency at this point — though he did acknowledge he understands the constant Lakers speculation.
“I understand that the conversation happens here because first of all [the Lakers] have cap space,” James said, per Vardon. “And this league is much better when the Lakers, the Knicks, and the Celtics are all good at the same time. That’s just how it is. So, that’s what also creates the frenzy.”
Let’s round up a few more items on James and his 2018 free agency…
- Within an article about James’ potential fit with the Lakers, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN cites league sources who believe it’s “still a long shot” that LeBron chooses the Lakers.
- One source close to the situation had this to say to Shelburne: “If someone is pretending they know what LeBron is thinking, they’re guessing. How could anyone know when he doesn’t even know?”
- Sources close to LeBron can see him playing until he’s 40 years old, Shelburne notes. That would mean seven more seasons after this one for James, which suggests that even a long-term deal this offseason wouldn’t be his last NBA contract.
- Elsewhere at ESPN.com, in an Insider-only piece, Kevin Pelton examines how James might fit with either the Lakers or the Clippers. A series of salary cap machinations would be required for the Clips to have a shot at LeBron; even then, it’s not clear if he’d seriously consider them, so the Lakers are a much more viable landing spot, in Pelton’s view.
- As we noted on Thursday, Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today reached a similar conclusion when they ranked six hypothetical destinations for James — the Clippers ranked last in that group. However, the Rockets, Sixers, and Cavaliers all ranked ahead of the Lakers in terms of LeBron’s best options, per the USA Today duo.
- James remains in the No. 1 spot in the latest edition of our 2018 Free Agent Power Rankings, published on Thursday.
Two words LeBron stay home!
Thats 3 words
Stay home are the two words, other wise he would have used stays.
Lebron STAYS home is 3 words.
Should have been “Two words TO Lebron: stay home”
Lol, love it !!
5 words
Can’t imagine bron leaving his home
Facebook memory from July 8th 2010 at 9:27 PM EDT?
If he went to Phili they could change the entire style of play
Lot of work to get him in Houston – dump Anderson or Gordon, not resign anyone else – including Capela. So just CP3 – Harden – LBJ, very formidable. Not drafting anyone notewothy. I just don’t see anyone taking Anderson though.
Philly basically just lets everyone go on 1 year deals. Simmons-Saric-Embiid and…Fultz?? + 2 1st round picks. Can add another piece.
Lakers won’t resign anyone including Randle/Thomas. Have no pick, can add another piece tho.
Cleveland will have the same team minus Hood. No room to really add anyone else b/c of Hill’s 19M.
Best options are Philly or LA, except unless they are adding Durant, they won’t beat GSW. If he goes to Philly, he walks into the Finals, rested.
LA has a first round pick. The way Randle has been playing is going to at least give the Lakers to match any offer. If their pursuit of 2 max fails they can also create space for 2019. Personally I don’t want Lebron. Bring in PG13 is fine and see if Boogie can get healthy otherwise resign Randle who has been very good lately and just develope.
Oh yea I forgot the have the Cavs pick.
Boogie may be like Elton Brand after this injury. Which is not worth a max contract. Wouldn’t touch boogie. PG13 sure. Might as well bring back Lopez for 1 year if they can’t bring in 2 guys.
Lebron will stay home. It will just hurt his legacy if he decides to leave again.
How will it hurt his Legacy? Shaq jumped around, doesn’t make a dent in his. If he was getting traded instead of using his own free will as a free agent, would that hurt his legacy?
There’s 2 different sides to that. Him leaving Cleveland again would hurt his Cleveland legacy,sort of(he still helped ya win a chip), but if he went to Philly and won, that would help his NBA legacy. Getting a chip in Cleveland,and then ending a 35+ year drought in Philly would be good for the “best of all time” argument.
Yea, the only thing that hurts his legacy is the farce the media put on for the decision. Which he actually did some good with for the boys and girls club.
LA fans trying to remember when legends wanted to be Lakers…
He would be terrific on the Nuggets. Ain’t happening, but it’s a great fit.
LeBron probably won’t be offered another max contract after this one. He’ll stay in Cleveland for the money eventhough the chance for titles might be gone. He has said he’d like to play in the NBA with LeBron jr. He’s 13.
James could easily last past 40. His body repairs itself like few others, like Iverson. He will have gray hairs when he quits. SMH when people say he’s old now, or in 2014 when he returned.
Driving around people won’t get any easier but he can still be sudden, and of course, a load.
There is still time to leave and return again, but IDK if he will want to bother.
He wouldn’t like Colangelo any more than Gilbert but wow would the Sixers be good with James. I was advising Philly even before I saw how good Simmons was, but the best bet is he stays.
Gilbert is the owner Coleangelo can be tossed to the curb as the GM.
Cleveland has a new game in town. Go Browns!