LeBron James remains cagey when asked about his upcoming free agency, having repeatedly reiterated that he’s focused on the shorter-term future – including the Cavaliers’ upcoming playoff matchups – for now. However, as Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com details, James was willing to state in general terms this weekend that his family and the opportunity to keep contending for titles will be the most important factors for him when he makes his decision this summer.
“My family. That’s all that matters,” James said. “I want to continue to win at the highest level, because I know I can still do it as an individual, and then my family. My family is what’s most important to me, more than anything.”
While James referred to his family as “all that matters” and as “what’s more important to me,” he isn’t about to join a team far away from championship contention simply based on where his family wants to live. While his family’s preferred city will be a key consideration for LeBron, it won’t fully dictate his decision, as he explained to Vardon.
“That’s just a small piece of it,” James said. “We make joint decisions all together, all the time. Once we get to it, my agent and my team we will all tackle it the right way, but my family plays a big part in it. And winning.
Any team with James on its roster has automatically been elevated to contender status for most of his career. Still, it’s worth noting that of the teams he’s believed to be considering – including the Cavs, Lakers, Sixers, and Rockets – some could present a more immediate path to a title than others.
James will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this July if he declines his $35,607,968 player option for 2018/19. While an opt-out is considered the most likely outcome, it’s not necessarily a lock. Chris Paul was in a similar situation last summer and used the threat of an opt-out to leverage a trade to the Rockets, picking up his player option in the process. James could take a similar approach if he decides he wants to join an over-the-cap team, such as CP3’s Rockets.
Go to the Knicks Lebron, everything you do will be magnified there just how you like it. I could only imagine Lebron’s breath taking aerial attacks at the Garden. Him and Porzingis whamming dunk after dunk at the Garden, Dolan make it happen.
Nope.
LeBron is going to the Lakers or possibly Philly. That’s it.
The only reason he goes to Philly is if the Sixers go far in the playoffs and they’re one guy away. Kind of like the Celtics were one guy away. Too bad Kyrie got hurt this year but they were destined for greatness.
Sixers exit in the first round or swept in the second… LeBron’s going to the Lakers. Bet the farm on it.
Lebron wouldn’t go to Philly, don’t see the Lakers either. I think he’ll sign with the Knicks.
Unicorn won’t be ready until mid-season I think.
That and they have no players. .., or cap space…, or hope.
So what? The Knicks can move Noah’s contract and let Kanter walk. It can be done, I’m sure Lebron can carry that team to .500 by the time KP comes back. It would be the best move for him, if he can win a ring at the Garden he’s undisputed GOAT.
If only they had chosen Smith Jr.
I don’t see his family wanting to move to Philly. I’m betting he goes to LA. Family likes it there and I thought he was a big Magic fan as a kid and influenced how he plays. LA has some good looking young talent that he probably feels he can work with. If not he will just make them change team, coach, uniforms, whatever he thinks can make him win in his final seasons chasing rings.
Not when you are a multimillionaire that can live in the suburbs and send your kids to whatever school he wants. Philly has culture, easy access to DC and NYC, easy rides to the ocean or the mountains. It’s actually an amazing area to live in. But by all means, hate away
my guess if he comes to Philly, he’ll live in Wayne.
Those are also valid selling points for New York (not that I think he goes there, its a Knicks fans’ pipe dream). Same could be said for Los Angeles (aside from the fact that its easy access to DC or NYC). Although considering his wealth, ease of access to DC or NYC are probably not a major selling point to him.
You could make similar statements about every city in the country.
LeBron should consider Toronto. They can move some pieces to make it happen, could pair with Lowry and derozan and would be playing on A team that is close but maybe not quite there yet.
add that Toronto has night life, marketing opportunities as the basketball KING of Canada and a movie location hotbed where he can ham it up with celebs in his offtime
LeBron would absolutely never ever ever consider Toronto. Canadian taxes plus the Raptors will never go anywhere.
They could be the number one seed 10 years in a row and win 60 games every year but they will never make it to the Eastern Conference Finals ever. Ever.
Kyle Lowry is the Mike Conley of the East. Not a fourth-quarter crunch-time player. He’ll get you 25 in the first three quarters then disappear. DeMar DeRozan the same thing.
Toronto is done.
I mean LeBron is already panned as the basketball king (not meant as a GOAT statement, just that his nickname is The King) so that’s hardly a selling point wherever he goes. He’s already the face of the NBA so its not like some team will be able to offer him a bigger limelight or significantly expanded marketing opportunities.
If James were to go to Toronto, they’d have the ship next season.
Philly is the place for him to be. They have a much better roster than the Lakers and Cavs (minus James).
Houston is interesting but a lot of work by Morey and money sacrifice would have to happen. Not sure how realistic that is.
Did anyone really expect him to prioritize strangers and losing?
Ya seriously, he’s not really telling us anything here is he. We’ve known for months it’s the Lakers or Philly.
Sounds like he’s coming to Milwaukee, seems like a no brainer to me
Mil-what?
They won’t even be able to keep Gianna’s interested, how they going to attract Premier guy like LeBron?
Just think……., West, Jabbar, Magic, Shaw, Kobe, continuing legacies, I believe is equal to multiple championships and the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’, shall continue!! FAMILY!!!!!!!
If he played 100% all the time, he’d rarely ever lose.
So he didn’t go 100% in 5 out of 8 finals?
Lakers main goal is dumping Deng. If I were Magic I attach whatever necessary, maybe two first-round picks if it would allow me to get a third Max guy.
Randall could be an X Factor sign-and-trade with deng for cap space?
Lonzo, the other young guys plus LeBron, George, and a third guy gets it done.
Randle is the 3rd max guy. I’d take him and LBJ over PG13 all day. Throw in Boogie and by the end of next season the team will be in beast mode with those bigs.
Keep the picks. Package Lonzo with Deng.
Third Max guy might wind up being Chris Paul for the Lakers.
Might be a couple other choices ahead of him but if they don’t work out at least Paul is a winner mentality, tough Defender and wants a ring badly.
Reunion in Miami? I’m down
Houston is the best team and most wholesome city on that list, Lebron. The rest of the list are polluted cities full of criminals.
Coming from the city where a man was caught leaving packages on people’s porches with bombs in them!
Austin
It’s like they say…
Can’t trust anyone from Houston anymore!
Or used to say, haven’t heard it lately.
Timberwolves. Yeah. I’ll put MSP up against any of these other armpit cities. Culture, check. Stuff to do, check. Yuppie suburbs, check. Roster on the rise, check. It’s happening, you heard it here first.
You bring up a great Point. Minnesota is just as excited about their future as Philly is.
Good big men, great wings, coaching is solid.
Never thought about Minnie that way… as a LeBron destination. Like I said about Philly, if they go far in the playoffs LeBron will think he’s the one guy to get them over the top. If they lose in the first round or get swept in the second round, no chance.
It sounds ridiculous… but if you look at the reasons people cite as to why LeBron should go to all these other places, the majority of them apply just as well to the Wolves. It would sure blow everyone away, too, and all the fans here would revere him like a god. We all know LeBron would probably dig that.
Harden, CP3, Lebron would be something to see.
Don’t understand the Lakers thing. They have nothing their but the Ball mouth. Kuzma is a nice roster kind of guy but that’s it.
Philly has he pieces now, but if they do a CP3 like trade to get him so he doesn’t lose so much money, who will they have to send to Cleveland?
Cleveland is the place. But seriously. James doesn’t know where he’s going. He will know after the season and a good vacation to think it over.
The Lakers thing is they want to sign 2 star free agents this year and have 3 before they have to pay Lonzo. They are relying on the city (Hollywood is in the crapper at the moment) and team legacy to attract these free agents. Nevermind a winning system or good team. These things are irrelevant in LA.
I still think he’ll stay in Cleveland.
Some guy from Lower Merion might be of assistance regarding any long term decision to live there.
Any Deng move, to me, will require LAL to pony up $$$ along with any player or pick combination in order to offset the contract imbalance.