It appears LeBron James already has a short list of potential destinations he’s interested in once he’s a free agent this July. According to the Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer, James has narrowed his list of candidates to include the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and the incumbent Cleveland Cavaliers.
Following from the Ringer,
There have been whispers, mostly on social media, about whether LeBron James would consider the Spurs because of the mutual respect between James and Popovich, now the coach of the U.S. men’s national basketball team. But I’ve consistently heard from multiple league sources that LeBron currently has only four teams on his list: the Cavaliers, Lakers, Rockets, and 76ers.
The 33-year-old is still one the biggest draws in the league, and 15 seasons in, James has the look of a superstar player very much in his prime. This season has seen the four-time League MVP average over 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds per game while keeping the Cavs afloat in the Eastern Conference.
James has been linked to all of the teams on the purported list at some point this season. The Rockets have the benefit of Chris Paul, a very close friend of James, and the chance to compete in an outrageously competitive Western Conference. The Lakers have the pull of Los Angeles and the advantage of possessing enough cap space for multiple max contracts. The Rockets would have to perform some financial gymnastics to give James a max contract, as general manager Daryl Morey reportedly plans to offer Paul a five-year max deal.
Fans of the Sixers have already begun recruiting James to Philly with large billboard signs placed strategically along a busy Cleveland highway. James also hasn’t been shy about his respect and admiration for talented center Joel Embiid.
Bron and Embiid were showing each other love throughout that first period pic.twitter.com/lLUgWZIFCB
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) March 2, 2018
The only sure thing at this point is that James is focused turning around an underwhelming Cavs campaign and trying to win his fourth Larry O’Brien trophy and second in Cleveland. James will decide his fate during free agency and not a moment sooner just as he always has.
