Where Does Lebron Go From Here?

The NBA season hasn’t even been over for 24 hours yet but it’s already time to talk about what happens next. Since the Finals were mostly a dud from an entertainment standpoint, most fans are looking towards free agency for their excitement and rightfully so. This summer promises to be full of intrigue with some big names likely on the move, with none being bigger than Lebron James.

There hasn’t been this much uncertainty surrounding Lebron in a while. There was the summer of 2014 when he was a free agent but it was pretty well known he was only either going to stay in Miami or go back to Cleveland after winning two championships with the Heat. However, the summer of 2014 pailed in comparison to the summer of 2010, when he was basically on tour taking meetings with teams before turning the league upside down by joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The upcoming offseason feels more like 2010 with all the possibilities of what may happen. Lebron, for his part doesn’t agree with that. When asked if he anticipates this summer being the toughest as far as deciding what the right path will be for him, he very matter of factly responded “Nah I felt like 2010 was the toughest”.

Perhaps he already has a very strong idea of where he wants to live and play next season in a way that he didn’t back in 2010 but there is no denying the similarities between the two offseasons. Whatever his decision will be in 2018, it will have some of the same impacts that his decision in 2010 did. His legacy will be impacted with the potential to win more rings or to never win another, the league will also be impacted once he chooses a team and they are instantly a serious title contender and other players and teams scramble to adjust. Even after his 15th season, he still holds more weight than anyone else in the league and where he chooses to go (or stay) will be felt over the next three or four years. He made it clear his decision will be based on more than just basketball. He will prioritize his family life as well as the possibility of championships.

“I mean, I have no idea at this point,” said James after game four when asked about his future. “The one thing that I’ve always done is considered, obviously, my family. Understanding especially where my boys are at this point in their age. They were a lot younger the last time I made a decision like this four years ago. I’ve got a teenage boy, a pre-teen and a little girl that wasn’t around as well. So sitting down and considering everything, my family is a huge part of whatever I’ll decide to do in my career, and it will continue to be that. So I don’t have an answer for you right now as far as that.”

Even before the Finals were over, some players around the league had already jokingly started recruiting Lebron to their respective teams.

So where are the realistic landing spots? According to Hoops Hype, there may be as many as nine potential destinations for Lebron next season but a few those teams are quite a reach. The odds of him ever signing with teams like the Clippers, Heat or Warriors, which have all been mentioned at one time or another, are slim to none at best. Even if the Clippers or Heat made the money work, he would wind up doing all the heavy lifting again for teams that once again have no chance of beating the best teams. Signing with the Warriors could technically work money wise but they would have to likely find a way to move Klay Thompson or Draymond Green to do so and there is no point for a team that has won three of the last four championships to mess with their chemistry. Also, it is extremely hard to see Lebron wanting to go there after two consecutive Finals loses to them. There are very quiet whispers that Kevin Durant could possibly leave the Warriors and team up with Lebron elsewhere but again, those odds are slim to none if they even exist at all.

That leaves a handful of teams that could find themselves with a real chance at Lebron. The Sixers, Spurs, Rockets, Lakers, Celtics and of course the Cavs.

For the Sixers, the move would make sense. They have three young players in Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric, who look like they can be great for years to come. It wouldn’t be hard for them to find the money to sign Lebron to a max deal either. Lebron and Simmons are both represented by the same agent and they have a personal relationship away from the court. There are questions about how Lebron and Simmons would play together since their games have similarities but Lebron has already mentioned he would like to play off the ball for the rest of his career, which should allow Simmons to remain unaffected if the move was to happen.

The Spurs are in contention for the services of Lebron simply because of their coach and the way they do things. Greg Popovich is tremendously respected by Lebron, as well as all players around the league. The Spurs always find ways to be relevant even when their roster would make you think otherwise. As far as players, sharing the court with Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge and young players like Dejounte Murray, Lebron on the Spurs would be a serious title contender to come after the Warriors. To make it work, the Spurs would have to renounce rights to some players and try and trade other contracts away but the team that would be left would still be serious.

The Rockets seemed like a big threat to get Lebron this summer but the more people pay attention, the less likely it will actually happen. James Harden, Chris Paul and Lebron together on paper seem great but the moves it would take for it to happen would leave the Rockets with a gutted team. They would likely have to let go of Trevor Ariza, Clint Capela and Eric Gordon, who were all instrumental in how good the Rockets were this past season. They would possibly even have to try and trade P.J. Tucker, who was one of their tougher all around players. The roster that would be left behind would be ashes and after all that they still likely wouldn’t be able to beat the Warriors.

Being in Los Angeles with the Lakers is an intriguing possibility. They have more than enough money for Lebron and another elite level free agent, maybe someone like Paul George, or even Kawhi Leonard if his personal situation with the Spurs gets any worse and they look to trade him. The Lakers would be able to add two stars to their promising young core of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart. Lebron already owns homes in California so the move is not far fetched but he would really have to sit and think if that team would be capable of championship level play.

The Celtics are really only an option because they can be. They have a great young coach and a roster that seems poised to be a threat for the next few years at least. They also could make the money work rather easily by looking for ways to move Al Horford or Gordon Hayward, as well as move on from guys like Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris. The remaining team would be more than capable of winning a championship but Kyrie Irving would probably be sick if he left Cleveland just to wind up being under Lebron’s shadow again.

Last but not least we will discuss the Cavs. It looks like a dire situation for them to retain Lebron but it’s not impossible. The Cavs have the money to afford him but there is no other money for any marquee free agents. The Cavs would have to get to work looking for some trade partners to bring another star to help him, while dumping some salary in the process. His love of Ohio is a benefit for the Cavs because it gives them hope that if they improve their team even slightly that he could be convinced to stay.

Lebron emphasized after the game four loss that he is still very much looking to win championships and feels capable of doing so. “I mean, for me, I still have so much to give to the game. Like I said, when you have a goal and you’re able to accomplish that goal, it actually — for me personally, it made me even more hungry to continue to try to win championships, and I still want to be in championship mode. I think I’ve shown this year why I will still continue to be in championship mode.”

He will face many questions within himself that he will have to answer over the next few weeks but there is no doubt that Lebron, one of the smartest players ever, will make the right move for himself, his legacy and his family.

Written by @IamJoeSports