With LeBron James expected to join free agency in 2018 and reports emerging that he’s unhappy with the Cleveland Cavaliers, here are his top five options.
Life has been downright unpleasant for Cleveland Cavaliers fans ever since they experienced the joy of winning their first NBA championship. Though no one can ever take away 2016, the Cavs are on the verge of implosion, which could include losing LeBron James to free agency for a second time.
Coming off a dominant five-game Finals defeat against the unstoppable Golden State Warriors, the Cavaliers were not only unable to upgrade their roster to keep up with the Dubs, but they’re also dealing with a Kyrie Irving trade request that leaves the franchise in a precarious position.
Between that and long-existing rumors of King James abdicating his Ohio throne to expand his empire out West, the Cavs could look very different in 2018-19. LeBron’s no-trade clause means he likely won’t be dealt this season, not including the simple fact that trading the greatest player in franchise history is never a good option.
But according to Sheridan Hoops‘ Chris Sheridan, Cleveland may be on the path to lose him for nothing next summer:
NBA source said today: "This will be LeBron's final season in Cleveland. He is 100 percent leaving. Relationship with owners beyond repair."
— Chris Sheridan (@sheridanhoops) August 16, 2017
This echoes what Adrian Wojnarowski (formerly of The Vertical) reported about there being an impending sense King James may join one of the teams in Los Angeles. Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com and Basketball Insiders‘ Alex Kennedy refuted Sheridan’s report, but either way, the Cavs are in a tricky spot.
If they trade Kyrie Irving to avoid a bad situation, a rebuild package will do little to entice LeBron to stay and continue his uphill battle against these otherworldly Warriors. Unfortunately, there’s hardly a trade package with established talent that will make up lost ground on the Dubs either.
If the Cavs can’t trade Kyrie and decide to keep him as the next cornerstone, that could push LeBron closer to the door. The question is, if the King decides to leave Cleveland again after bringing the city its first title, where might he end up?
Cap space situations will almost certainly change by the time 2018 NBA free agency rolls around, but as of right now, here are what look like his five best options.
5. Chicago Bulls
No, the Chicago Bulls don’t have any talent to speak of at the moment. And yes, even if Dwyane Wade wasn’t approaching a buyout with the team, he’d be gone-zo the moment his contract expires next summer.
However, even without his former Miami Heatle to convince him to come to the Windy City, and even with a dearth of established talent, a (formerly) prestigious organization with ample amounts of cap space can never be completely written off, especially when it comes to a player as cognizant of NBA history as LeBron James.
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True enough, the shadow of Michael Jordan looms large over the city of Chicago, but what better way for the King to put himself on the level of His Airness than revamping the Bulls into an Eastern power?
According to Spotrac, Chicago could have up to $53.8 million in practical cap space. It wouldn’t reach that amount unless it renounced all its young players like Kris Dunn, Cameron Payne, Jerian Grant, Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine, but with Wade’s $31.6 million cap hold coming off the books, the point still stands that the Bulls will have a ton of cap space.
Would King James and the allure of playing for a franchise like the Bulls be enough to attract more stars to the Windy City? Probably. Could he construct a legitimate threat to the Warriors? Probably not, but one or two additional stars would be enough to make LeBron’s new team kings of the East again.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
The Bulls will have a ton of flexibility next summer, but nobody is projected to have more practical cap space than the Philadelphia 76ers (per Spotrac). They won’t approach that league-leading $61.1 million figure in practical cap space, since they have team options for Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Richaun Holmes, Furkan Korkmaz, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and T.J. McConnell to account for.
However, J.J. Redick ($27.6 million cap hold), Amir Johnson ($13.2 million) and Nik Stauskas ($11.4 million) could be renounced or sign with other teams in free agency next summer, clearing up ample room. Trading Jahlil Okafor without taking on salary could get an additional $6.3 million off the books.
In any event, if LeBron James is looking for an exciting collection of young talent to groom and decides to remain in the weaker East, there’s no better option than the Sixers. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, Saric, Korkmaz, Luwawu-Cabarrot…who wouldn’t want to play with such a fun young core, especially with cap space to add more star talent?
Come fully complete the process, Lebron 🏆🏆🏆🏆 https://t.co/7zuuwIFpm1
— Sixers Legion (@SixersLegion) August 16, 2017
This possibility hinges on the Sixers’ core youngsters not only staying healthy, but impressing in 2017-18. Embiid has to prove he can stay on the floor and continue his upward trajectory toward superstardom. Fultz and Simmons have to throw their names into the Rookie of the Year conversation. The auxiliary pieces have to click and the Sixers have to lock in a playoff spot.
But if they can do all these things, and The Process finally puts together its first legitimately trustworthy season, the Sixers and their substantial cap space have to be in the running, especially if LeBron wants to leave Cleveland but still remain in the East.
3. Phoenix Suns
Joining the Bulls as the big shockers on this list, the Phoenix Suns are basically the less glamorous version of the Los Angeles Lakers. They’ve got a collection of young but unproven talent, a possible franchise cornerstone, a front office executive with ties to LeBron and plenty of potential cap space to quickly assemble a star-studded roster.
At only 20 years old, Devin Booker is the main attraction as a budding star that LeBron has praised in the past. Josh Jackson is a player the Cavaliers want in any Kyrie Irving trade talks, probably by LeBron’s urging, while Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis and T.J. Warren encompass the young core with potential.
Those players will have to prove themselves this season by not only posting a better record than the Lakers, but also by lucking their way into a top-three selection in a top-heavy draft. If LeBron somehow commits to Phoenix, those young players or picks could be dealt for additional star talent.
https://twitter.com/sreekyshooter/status/897917001732997120
Coming out West would only mean King James has to face the Warriors sooner rather than later in the playoffs, and the Suns aren’t ready to contend as currently constructed.
But neither are the Lakers, and Phoenix has the added benefit of LeBron’s friend and fellow Klutch Sports client Eric Bledsoe, plus his other friend and well-respected former teammate James Jones in the front office, to get in his ear. Trading the contracts of Brandon Knight ($14.6 million), Tyson Chandler ($13.6 million) and Jared Dudley ($9.5 million) would only free up additional cap room for more star talent.
The Suns have never won a championship entering their 50th year as a franchise. For a player so conscious of NBA history, perhaps the prospect of bringing Phoenix its first title would make it a more attractive destination.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in an awkward position with Kyrie’s trade request, because if they deal him, the team likely gets worse. If they keep him, they still can’t compete with the Warriors and will have to deal with some uncomfortable team chemistry all year long.
However, even staying in the East and joining a tantalizing young team like the Sixers wouldn’t move LeBron as close to a championship as he currently is with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and spare parts.
Unfortunately, the dream scenario where Cleveland’s Big Three puts all the summer drama behind them and actually usurps the Warriors to convince LeBron to stay is unrealistic, not only because the Cavs don’t have the supporting cast to pull it off, but because the Irving ship has almost certainly sailed. Perhaps a proper trade will restore his faith in the front office, which, according to some reports, is not even an issue.
I have more: three sources paid particular attention to LeBron's relationship with ownership, and said LeBron does not view it that way
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) August 16, 2017
According to ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cavs are approaching Kyrie trade talks while bracing for a future where LeBron is no longer in Cleveland. As such, they’re targeting a young star like Kristaps Porzingis, Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum or Jamal Murray.
Unless Kyrie and LeBron can set aside their grievances and find a way to get over the Warriors-shaped hump in the Finals, the best avenue is to trade Kyrie and secure a young star that LeBron James likes enough to remain in Cleveland.
It’s a long shot, but the truth is that almost any team in the East with LeBron on it is the favorite to win the conference for the conceivable future. If Kyrie is traded for an acceptable return, perhaps loyalty to The Land will win out over rapidfire rebuilds in Phoenix, Philly or L.A.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The L.A. market. The luster of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. The charm of Magic Johnson. The potential of Lonzo Ball, Paul George and cap space. There are plenty of reasons for LeBron James to consider heading to Cali, even without the current trouble in Cleveland.
King James can do whatever he wants in free agency next summer after bringing the Cavs a title. The blame of leaving again would be absolved by owner Dan Gilbert firing well-respected general manager David Griffin…not to mention Gilbert’s support for the current president, who LeBron has been vocal about denouncing.
Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump just made it fashionable again! Statues has nothing to do with us now!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 15, 2017
To that end, leaving Cleveland wouldn’t be surprising. The question is, where would he end up?
Chicago will have plenty of cap space, but not much young talent to build on. Philadelphia still has to stay healthy for a season to prove the Process is trustworthy. Phoenix’s young core is still unproven and its established talent is lacking outside of Bledsoe. Every other competitive team would have to jump through quite a few hoops just to be able to afford him.
LeBron has a home in L.A., it’s a massive market where he can expand his entrepreneurial ventures, it has great weather and he could play for one of the most prestigious organizations of all time. Even if he never beats the Warriors, putting the Lakers back on the map might be enough in his book, especially as he approaches the twilight of his career.
Lakers fans when LeBron called LA home pic.twitter.com/KaYcEdMHum
— Legends (@LegendsofCH) August 10, 2017
To that end, the Lakers make sense if they can shed Luol Deng‘s contract, along with Jordan Clarkson and possibly Julius Randle to clear the way for LeBron James and another superstar like PG-13. With a promising pass-first point guard like Lonzo Ball at the helm, life would get very easy for the Lakers’ star players, including the rising Brandon Ingram.
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