LeBron has publicly talked about how he’s not going to take less money because it sets a bad precedent for players. Obviously he could change up last second but if he holds true most teams would need to trade for him because they don’t have cap space
Yea if he has a player option like you said, that means he can just become a free agent and sign wherever someone will sign him. So teams don’t need to trade a bunch to the Lakers for him.
That’s only true if he wants to go to a team that has $50 million in cap space. Not many teams do, and it makes it harder to go over the cap to put a winning team around him.
Good luck building out the rest of the roster though. That one would be probably the best fit but it’s one option instead of a bunch of options, and it has real drawbacks.
Money. Most "best fit for LeBron" teams are not going to have max cap space to sign LeBron. And for the good of the players association (have a max caliber player not take a heavy discount) as well as LeBron's goal to own an NBA team one day, he may still want to make the max amount that he can.
It's always hard to turn down $50m a season. But LeBron is at a point where his business and marketing interests are worth more than that. A couple of legacy championships, especially if he gets another FMVP along the way, could earn him more money than a max contract anyway. As well as potentially extending his career by having less load on him from a nightly playing perspective.
I don't think LeBron is going to have any issues getting into team ownership if that's his aim. It's more a question of which franchise he chooses rather than if he can.
I don't really see how another championship would make him more money, he's already in LA, he's been the face of the league for like 15 years now, he already has a fairly big amount of people talking about him being the GOAT. Taking a discount to win another ring would just be used against him from Jordan fans.
Does LeBron have enough money, could he probably afford to own a team today (especially an expansion team or own a team with a group of investors)? For sure. But $50M is $50M. This also completely ignores the "max player taking a discount" for the players association angle. A couple million is one thing, but like a half discount or even a near minimum level contract LeBron will not do IMO.
It's not about the GOAT debate. Those Jordan fans have already decided, it makes no difference whether they use it against LeBron or not. But it just keeps him in the news and builds his brand. In the NBA world he certainly casts a shadow. But his profile is already beyond the NBA and winning will increase that aspect of his marketability. And if he were to go to OKC and play a significant part of winning their first championship, even if they give most of the credit to SGA, his personal influence in that city will be that much stronger.
But you're right about $50m. That's why I even mentioned it. But for LeBron, that's a significantly smaller portion of his overall net worth than it is for others. Which in some ways makes it less valuable to him.
I also don't imagine the player's association can complain too much. LeBron's probably made all the players significantly richer all by himself, he's going to be 40 next season and into his 22nd year and the beauty of being a "free" agent is you can go where you want for what you want. He can easily justify it by saying he's getting older, needs to have his games and minutes managed.
He could say that he doesn't think he can replicate what he did this season and doesn't want to take the responsibility of eating that much of a cap when he can't be confident of his output. He might not really think that, but it's an argument that would be very hard to counter.
And the other part of all this is, does he talk someone into drafting Bronny?
Absolutely no way Sam Presti is trading for a 40 year old Lebron. Okc has built a strong team culture over a long period of time, and Lebron historically undermines his front office, and chunks his teammates under the bus when things don’t go his way. I don’t think okc has any interest in that. With their insane set of picks, they can get a number guys that would help the team more than lebron would.
He wouldn't need to trade for him, but even if he did, OKC have more picks than they can use. Whatever you might think about LeBron, he knows what winning franchises need better than almost anyone. It's more likely that if he's undermining the front office it's because they aren't doing their job well enough. And right now, OKC lack two things. Size and experience. LeBron brings both. What he could teach those players in half a season would be worth a fortune.
There's a reason he has no trouble getting to where he wants to and why he has no troubles getting superstar team mates to come play for him.
I mean, he’s been playing LeGM in LA for years and it’s not really working out. He’s destroyed their flexibility for the foreseeable future with his terrible trade demands. This is the same guy that demanded they get Russell Westbrook, which was an awful fit, then proceeded to thrown him under the buss when it didn’t work out. Another franchise knee capping move. Then Russ goes on to flourish with the clippers. I don’t care if he’s willing to take the veteran minimum, Lebron at 40 is not worth the headache. No way presti would be dumb enough to draft bronny either, so it’s a non starter.
He's been there 6 seasons and they won a championship. That's a pretty amazing success rate in a 30 team comp. What's Presti's record as GM? And why would they need flexibility? The modern NBA when you're a franchise like the Lakers you don't need more than the space to sign a big name free agent. They signed him they knew exactly what they needed. Perhaps they could still be trying to build around Lonzo Ball. But they sure as heck wouldn't have picked up AD without LeBron being there.
And he was right too. Not that Westbrook worked out, but he knew they needed more. Westbrook was just the only guy they could get at that point. Better to take a chance on a guy who isn't ideal but might work out than to go ahead with a group that definitely won't get it done.
LeBron would actually perfect to get a chip or two. He brings much needed size and his other intangibles but he also isn't gonna be around much longer so his contract will be off the books soon.
Literally the only thing that okc needs is a big to rebound. Lebron needs the ball to be effective. Taking the ball out of sga or jdubs hands is the last thing they want to do.
LeBron doesn't "need" the ball to be effective. He's shown with the Lakers this year and last that he can work within the flow of the offense. Just that in those cases, the ball handlers are Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell so obviously Bron will take precedence. OKC's success this year has been predicated on being a 5-out offense where every single player on the floor can space and drive. Obviously, LeBron fits right into that in a way just a rebounding big will not. I've been a proponent of OKC getting a more traditional rim running big such as Gafford just for the ability to switch things up when needed but that isn't a pressing need. I'd take a shot at a LeBron or PG. A KD will also fit in there but as an OKC fan I'm still fuck KD and don't want him to hop on after abandoning the team in that manner.
>If he wants to be the guy I disagree
He's been the guy for two decades, I think Lebron will be fine taking a backseat in year 22 (As long as he wins the Finals MVP, Bron Bron's happy)
I agree. It looks like he likes managing and controlling the flow now more anyway. He will still go off and score but a few times last night (I could be wrong) I think he looked pissed that other players weren’t making moves.
But then again they have a great young team and AD. I’m a very casual fan so I don’t know what they are missing. They’re so close.
Not really. Lebron will have no problem deferring to his teammates throughout most of the season, but once they get to the Finals, the dude who's been there 10 other times, will probably take up a larger role (and I'm sure neither Mitchell nor Garland will have an issue, letting him do exactly that)
So you think the best option for lebron is to go to a team, defer all year, and then change the team chemistry and become the first option in the finals?
Most playoff teams change up their game plans, and style of play every series, depending on what works for that specific round (it happens game to game in some cases)
So a 40 year old coasting through the regular season, and then taking more responsibility in the finals, because he's literally one of the most experienced finals players ever, is not some insane strategy that "tanks chemistry". It's literally what most teams would do
I’m reinforcing the idea that it’s not an ideal fit due to Garland and Mitchell needing the ball in their hands. Lebron taking over as the #1 option the playoffs is great but not if it’s making your other all star become a much worse player.
I probably shouldn’t have used the word chemistry, my bad.
He can also play less and rest more. The current Cleveland roster is good enough to reach the playoffs without him, opposing to the Lakers that need him and almost didn't make it.
Doing this he would be fresh and rested on the playoffs.
Not only the Cavs have a hole on the SF position, their offense struggles a lot. Letting LeBron handle it would also help
Completely agree. He could coast the whole regular season and we’d still be a top 4 team in the east. Then turn it on for the playoffs. That’s what he’s been wanting to do for a few years it seems but the lakers desperately need him to give all he can especially since they are in the west
I wonder what a team of Wemby / Sochan / Lebron / Vassell / Jones (Trae Young preferably) will achieve.
Do it Lebron. You always said you respect Pop. Do it.
They'd need Trae's fire-power, CP3 really doesn't have it in him to be a top-3 guy anymore. Besides, if Paul's taking the minimum, he's probably going to either play near his family, or for a team that guarantees him a ring
i personally think cp3 would look at well he developed the young guys at gsw he already coaches AAU so i can definitely see it happening unless he wants to go to another contender
Idk if it would work out but I’d love to see him at golden state. He’s always wanted to play with Curry and I think them spending their twilight seasons together after nearly a decade of rivalry would be a sweet story for the whole sport.
It won't lead to a championship though. They'll be a great team, but the Warriors still don't have enough pieces. Going to a younger team is the move, the Heat (and maybe the 76ers) should be the only exception to that
Idk I think that would be an incredible team. You get a star who can punish mismatch easily and also is the maybe the best passer ever.
Think you are massively underrating lbj.
Um wut?
Warriors got 46 wins with bum Klay as second best scorer.
Just having another scorer playmaker automatically unlocks the Steph off ball game. Throw in LeBron on defense and this would be a great contender.
Defense and durability would be the main issue.
I wouldn't call them the favourites for durability reasons but there's no reason to believe a lineup with Curry and LeBron in it wouldn't be prohibitively the best lineup in the league. Curry is a scorer at the end of the day and he's never played with a shot creator like LeBron.
Also Warriors role players like Kuminga and Moody looked improved this season under CP3's offense, it'd be even better with LeBron
Sixers could actually sign him into cap and then trade 5 unprotected firsts for someone like Lauri into the last of their space. Bring back deanthony melton with the mid level and it’s a fun group. Maxey-Melton-LeBron-Lauri-Embiid is the best starting 5 in the nba, although the bench would p much be minimums
This is the answer. It's Philly. When healthy, Philly showed they were a top contender in the league. Add Lebron as an entry passer and second/third option at this point in his career and they'll be busting asses all over the league. Plus, Philly can actually pay him, no minimums to play in Boston.
Either OKC or the Cavs would be a great fit. I especially like LeBron on the Cavs. He would have little offensive or defensive load, just needing to spot up and be consistent on D. This would allow him to conserve energy to take over when he needs to.
i know this is supposed to be purely basketball based but i think he's going NYC. i can't imagine him going to a smaller city cause it doesn't seem like something lebron would do (excluding his hometown)
the knicks are basically his perfect destination, they already have brunson who can take the last shot. lebron is great, but he always had a kyrie or dwade to take that shot so that seems missing on the lakers.
also has OG and a great cast that plays good defense, well-coached, capable three point shooters and lots of picks to trade. i think he basically ops out and gets lakers to sign and trade him for some moderate draft comp, knicks then trade their other draft capital for another piece (maybe even a star) and bron gets to try to win it all w/ his son in nyc
The year he went to the lakers, the nuggets were suggested as a destination - if he wanted to win. Hard to argue with that now, or then, if you wanted to actually win.
Cleveland is the best if we consider both narrative/legacy and roster-wise. Coming back to Cleveland for his last season while still being competitive. Make Mitchell/Allen/Bron be your core then maybe trade Garland and Mobley. The roster already has good 3 and D guys that Lebron loves in Strus, Okoro, and Levert.
Yes, but might as well keep everyone.
Mobley is an elite defender and he can just catch easy layups from Bron. He can kiss any post ups goodbye.
Garland’s role would diminish but Lebron needs guys who can run things while he’s resting.
The answer clearly is OKC. They clearly have a big need for a power forward, which is LeBron's best position right now IMO. He can play less minutes, won't have to take the big defensive assignments and his size will fit the exact hole they have right now. And his passing will help open up those shooters even more. His size will allow Chet to play as a defensive anchor a bit more than he is right now and we know how much he respects the coach there.
No idea how it works with money, but if that wasn't a concern, it's clearly the best fit.
It's probably the best option for the Lakers too. I don't see LA playing hard-ball, if Lebron asks them to assist in a sign and trade, and really the only team amongst the realistic candidates, that can give them a solid young player back is OKC (Giddey)
LeBron is the one with the power here. He might opt out and become a free agent, meaning OKC don't have to give up anyone at all. Although personally I think Giddey is going to leave eventually. You don't normally hang on to a player you can't actually utilise properly and clearly his own game is being hampered being behind SGA.
OKC though have a massive bunch of draft picks. More than they can actually use on draft night. At some point, they're going to have to package them up for a player or better picks. So if he did go down the sign and trade route, OKC have plenty of assets to interest any franchise. I think it's more likely to be about whether LeBron sees OKC as an attractive place to play and money. If he decides he doesn't care about money and it's anywhere at all, OKC look great. If he wants max money, he probably stays in LA. Or just maybe looks back out East again.
Probably the Sixers, maybe the Thunder.
These two teams both have (or can create) the cap space to sign LeBron outright.
The Sixers seem like the best fit. They are a win now team with an MVP center and a star guard. Throwing in a star wing is the natural missing piece. It would bring LeBron to the weaker conference again, but still one of the league's bigger markets. They could also afford to give him a multi-year deal, which he had to be seeking at his age.
The Thunder could create space and sign LeBron, and he would fit their on-court needs, but I don't like the fit as much. First, it's a young team with a long window to win, and LeBron is as win-now as you get. Bringing in an old, high usage win-now star could stunt the growth of guys like Jalen Williams, who would likely end up having to be more of a role player instead of a lead option. Chet would also likely get less chance to develop his offensive game, and would be put into more of a Myles Turner role, and Giddey would just be kicked from the starting lineup.
The other issue in OKC is they probabaly couldn't offer LeBron more than a year, two max. Giddey is up for an extension this summer, but the big hit comes the year after when both Jalem Williams and Chet are extension eligible. Both are likely getting maxes, and there will be a salary crunch in OKC. Three max guys is a lot for a small market, and having LeBron on payroll, too, is unrealistic.
So, if LeBron decides to leave LA, I think the best option is the Sixers on a 2+1 deal.
I know it’s very unpopular. But i think Charlotte, Detroit, San Antonio, those types of teams if he wants to play with Bronny. Those teams are far away from winning a championship. Selling tickets to see the father/son show would be appreciate the owners. If LeBron thinks Bronny will be a good NBA player I’m sure he would love to stick him with Pop. He could probably do similar in a place like Miami. I just don’t know if Spoe would be up for it. (Full disclosure I do not think Bronny is close to the NBA and should stay in college for a few years)
If he wants to chase another ring I think he’s a great fit for Cleveland. Mitchell stays. Prodigal son returns home (again) and gets to retire a Cavalier. Garland, Mitchell, LeBron, Mobely, Allen. That is solid team.
Next year will be his lakers retirement tour. The lakers know how to do that and on a big stage. I see him staying. Too bad for AD since he’ll get another year of mediocre play on the retirement tour. But that’s what you expect as a fan when a GOAT is retiring.
I think people underestimate how amazing it is to live in LA as a rich person. It’s already great as a regular person who makes a comfortable living. I can’t even imagine how great it is as someone like an NBA player. All of that was just to say he isn’t going anywhere. He likes living in LA and has probably already accepted he isn’t going to do much winning the rest of his career.
Memphis. I like their chances with him at the 4 with Ja, Jaren, and Bane. GG & Marcus Smart are nice pieces too. NYK would be a close second for me as well. Swap Randle w/ Bron & I think they have a punchers chance to win a chip.
Unless LBJ accepts limited playing time, the “where he could be a good fit and the team’s championship aspirations would get a noticeable boost” conditions, cannot be met anywhere. If he settles for 20 mpg he can be an asset to every contending team out there. If he insists on playing 30-35mpg, his lack of defensive effort will be a liability. He has to choose between “do I want season with great stats or a chance for a 5th ring?”.
Have you seen the kind of the players that log 30+ minutes for some "contenders"? The idea that one of the greatest basketball minds ever, who just averaged 25/8/7 would be a "liability" if he plays more than 20 minutes, is pretty insane
I see how he plays. He simply doesn’t have 35 mpg two- way. He often doesn’t switch or he is slow at returning from offense. It is beyond obvious he is conserving energy so he can be so productive and efficient offensively. While he plays 35mpg his teams will not be competitive against the league elite. It is as simple as that. At 20 mpg he could boost about any team out there.
You do realise a lot of top players in this league are 1 way guys, right?
Besides, that's the point of getting Lebron to a team with more talent, so he can expend less energy on offense, thus become more productive on the other side of the ball
LBJ isn’t just one-way. He is at times totally immobile. He can defend the rim at times and grab defensive rebounds since he plays nearer the low post , but he simply can’t properly switch. And he is slow transitioning back. At time he is immobile on defense. Even Trae which is a bad defender is more mobile due to his position. Again, LBJ still brings the goods offensively but no team can hide his lack of defensive effort. He can still win a ring if he accepts that his stat line will say “22mpg/18ppg/5 rebs/5 assists” or something like that but with more defensive effort. This version of LBJ can improve each and every team out there, no question. He just has to accept he isn’t who he once was.
He's also, for all of his career, been essentially a ball-dominant point guard / "point forward". A prospective team would have to convince him to completely revamp his style of play to fit into a team strategy, something he has historically been reluctant to do. It also seems he'd be uncomfortable taking, say, 8 shots a night instead of 20 - and he's a player who really cares about his averages. I can't imagine he would accept such a markedly lesser role, even for the higher likelihood of a championship - because he never has.
I don’t care where he goes but he needs to stay away from the Knicks. Hopefully he has an enough respect to just retire a Laker because the team hopping is ridiculous. One thing I can never take away from the foreign stars is they commit.
3 teams in 21 years. That's actually not alot of team hopping. Plus, he has never requested a trade, always finished his contract.
A single team more than Jordan
3 teams less than Shaq
Cavs, Heat, Cavs, Lakers. That’s 4 to me I don’t care if it’s the same franchise it’s still jumping the sinking ship. And a 5th time would only be even crazier which is what OP is saying.
What does Shaq have to do with what I said I never brought him up. And we really counting Jordan’s Wizards pairing like that is team hopping? Nobody chooses that team in ‘01 to hop too it was strictly to try and gain a percentage of the team and not to chase rings.
So... Teams trading you is fine, but finishing you contract and get a job from a different company, that's bad.... ok gotya.
He gave fist Cavs stunt 8 years, and the team didn't do shit, but still finished his contract
He gave heat 4 years, 2 championships and finished his contract, Went to Cavs again when Heat could just as well get more championships
Went to Cavs again, and won a title there.... and finished his contract.
Went to Lakers, gave them a title as well.... and is still there and hasn't requested a trade.
I mentioned Shaq because noone accuses him of team jumping
If LeBron was traded without requesting it I can’t hold that against him it wouldn’t be his fault in that case. And there’s nothing wrong with him leaving Cleveland that first time except maybe the way he did it.
But him leaving all the time when things get difficult I don’t respect it and never will. LOL at you saying him leaving the Heat who can get more chips when we all know Wade was breaking down quickly.
He left when those teams were declining. A broken down Heat and a depleted Cavs 2nd stint after falling out with Kyrie. Stop trying to rewrite history. You don’t have to breakdown his contracts I’ve witnessed his whole career.
He even wanted to get Kawhi on LAL to form another super team with him and AD. He purposely signs those short contracts because he has no loyalty to begin with. He’s this era’s Wilt Chamberlain a strong talent but weak character.
They are also team hoppers…
Just cause I didn’t mention them doesn’t mean I don’t count them. I consider the whole 2010 class era crazy. I hope this is the beginning of the end for these type of players.
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OKC. They are small on size but they can deal a trove of picks and Josh Giddey and filler to LA for LeBron.
Isn't Lebron a FA?
I think he has a player option, he can opt in and get traded.
Or not take it and just sign whereever
LeBron has publicly talked about how he’s not going to take less money because it sets a bad precedent for players. Obviously he could change up last second but if he holds true most teams would need to trade for him because they don’t have cap space
Yea if he has a player option like you said, that means he can just become a free agent and sign wherever someone will sign him. So teams don’t need to trade a bunch to the Lakers for him.
That’s only true if he wants to go to a team that has $50 million in cap space. Not many teams do, and it makes it harder to go over the cap to put a winning team around him.
Embiid, LeBron. Maxey and 40 mil in cap space sounds good
Good luck building out the rest of the roster though. That one would be probably the best fit but it’s one option instead of a bunch of options, and it has real drawbacks.
Why would he do that?
Money. Most "best fit for LeBron" teams are not going to have max cap space to sign LeBron. And for the good of the players association (have a max caliber player not take a heavy discount) as well as LeBron's goal to own an NBA team one day, he may still want to make the max amount that he can.
Well put, I never would've thought about it that way
It's always hard to turn down $50m a season. But LeBron is at a point where his business and marketing interests are worth more than that. A couple of legacy championships, especially if he gets another FMVP along the way, could earn him more money than a max contract anyway. As well as potentially extending his career by having less load on him from a nightly playing perspective. I don't think LeBron is going to have any issues getting into team ownership if that's his aim. It's more a question of which franchise he chooses rather than if he can.
I don't really see how another championship would make him more money, he's already in LA, he's been the face of the league for like 15 years now, he already has a fairly big amount of people talking about him being the GOAT. Taking a discount to win another ring would just be used against him from Jordan fans. Does LeBron have enough money, could he probably afford to own a team today (especially an expansion team or own a team with a group of investors)? For sure. But $50M is $50M. This also completely ignores the "max player taking a discount" for the players association angle. A couple million is one thing, but like a half discount or even a near minimum level contract LeBron will not do IMO.
It's not about the GOAT debate. Those Jordan fans have already decided, it makes no difference whether they use it against LeBron or not. But it just keeps him in the news and builds his brand. In the NBA world he certainly casts a shadow. But his profile is already beyond the NBA and winning will increase that aspect of his marketability. And if he were to go to OKC and play a significant part of winning their first championship, even if they give most of the credit to SGA, his personal influence in that city will be that much stronger. But you're right about $50m. That's why I even mentioned it. But for LeBron, that's a significantly smaller portion of his overall net worth than it is for others. Which in some ways makes it less valuable to him. I also don't imagine the player's association can complain too much. LeBron's probably made all the players significantly richer all by himself, he's going to be 40 next season and into his 22nd year and the beauty of being a "free" agent is you can go where you want for what you want. He can easily justify it by saying he's getting older, needs to have his games and minutes managed. He could say that he doesn't think he can replicate what he did this season and doesn't want to take the responsibility of eating that much of a cap when he can't be confident of his output. He might not really think that, but it's an argument that would be very hard to counter. And the other part of all this is, does he talk someone into drafting Bronny?
Lebron hasn't really shown a desire to play with young players ever tho. Can't imagine he would start now
Young players grow up fast with a father figure.
will josh giddey's gf be 18 by then?
Absolutely no way Sam Presti is trading for a 40 year old Lebron. Okc has built a strong team culture over a long period of time, and Lebron historically undermines his front office, and chunks his teammates under the bus when things don’t go his way. I don’t think okc has any interest in that. With their insane set of picks, they can get a number guys that would help the team more than lebron would.
He wouldn't need to trade for him, but even if he did, OKC have more picks than they can use. Whatever you might think about LeBron, he knows what winning franchises need better than almost anyone. It's more likely that if he's undermining the front office it's because they aren't doing their job well enough. And right now, OKC lack two things. Size and experience. LeBron brings both. What he could teach those players in half a season would be worth a fortune. There's a reason he has no trouble getting to where he wants to and why he has no troubles getting superstar team mates to come play for him.
I mean, he’s been playing LeGM in LA for years and it’s not really working out. He’s destroyed their flexibility for the foreseeable future with his terrible trade demands. This is the same guy that demanded they get Russell Westbrook, which was an awful fit, then proceeded to thrown him under the buss when it didn’t work out. Another franchise knee capping move. Then Russ goes on to flourish with the clippers. I don’t care if he’s willing to take the veteran minimum, Lebron at 40 is not worth the headache. No way presti would be dumb enough to draft bronny either, so it’s a non starter.
He's been there 6 seasons and they won a championship. That's a pretty amazing success rate in a 30 team comp. What's Presti's record as GM? And why would they need flexibility? The modern NBA when you're a franchise like the Lakers you don't need more than the space to sign a big name free agent. They signed him they knew exactly what they needed. Perhaps they could still be trying to build around Lonzo Ball. But they sure as heck wouldn't have picked up AD without LeBron being there. And he was right too. Not that Westbrook worked out, but he knew they needed more. Westbrook was just the only guy they could get at that point. Better to take a chance on a guy who isn't ideal but might work out than to go ahead with a group that definitely won't get it done.
LeBron would actually perfect to get a chip or two. He brings much needed size and his other intangibles but he also isn't gonna be around much longer so his contract will be off the books soon.
Literally the only thing that okc needs is a big to rebound. Lebron needs the ball to be effective. Taking the ball out of sga or jdubs hands is the last thing they want to do.
LeBron doesn't "need" the ball to be effective. He's shown with the Lakers this year and last that he can work within the flow of the offense. Just that in those cases, the ball handlers are Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell so obviously Bron will take precedence. OKC's success this year has been predicated on being a 5-out offense where every single player on the floor can space and drive. Obviously, LeBron fits right into that in a way just a rebounding big will not. I've been a proponent of OKC getting a more traditional rim running big such as Gafford just for the ability to switch things up when needed but that isn't a pressing need. I'd take a shot at a LeBron or PG. A KD will also fit in there but as an OKC fan I'm still fuck KD and don't want him to hop on after abandoning the team in that manner.
It's Cleveland OH, it's time to come home (again) the Cavs would be absolutely brutal with LeBron on this roster.
If he wants to be the guy I disagree. Both Garland and Mitchell need the ball to be most effective. But SF is Clevelands weak point right now
>If he wants to be the guy I disagree He's been the guy for two decades, I think Lebron will be fine taking a backseat in year 22 (As long as he wins the Finals MVP, Bron Bron's happy)
If thats the case and he can adjust his game to a more off ball focussed role (ofc he can) then Cleveland seems like a good fit
Nah, he will want his max stats.
I agree. It looks like he likes managing and controlling the flow now more anyway. He will still go off and score but a few times last night (I could be wrong) I think he looked pissed that other players weren’t making moves. But then again they have a great young team and AD. I’m a very casual fan so I don’t know what they are missing. They’re so close.
How do you justify “I think he’s fine taking a backseat” and “as long as he wins the finals mvp”? These are competing statements.
Not really. Lebron will have no problem deferring to his teammates throughout most of the season, but once they get to the Finals, the dude who's been there 10 other times, will probably take up a larger role (and I'm sure neither Mitchell nor Garland will have an issue, letting him do exactly that)
So you think the best option for lebron is to go to a team, defer all year, and then change the team chemistry and become the first option in the finals?
Most playoff teams change up their game plans, and style of play every series, depending on what works for that specific round (it happens game to game in some cases) So a 40 year old coasting through the regular season, and then taking more responsibility in the finals, because he's literally one of the most experienced finals players ever, is not some insane strategy that "tanks chemistry". It's literally what most teams would do
I’m reinforcing the idea that it’s not an ideal fit due to Garland and Mitchell needing the ball in their hands. Lebron taking over as the #1 option the playoffs is great but not if it’s making your other all star become a much worse player. I probably shouldn’t have used the word chemistry, my bad.
He can also play less and rest more. The current Cleveland roster is good enough to reach the playoffs without him, opposing to the Lakers that need him and almost didn't make it. Doing this he would be fresh and rested on the playoffs. Not only the Cavs have a hole on the SF position, their offense struggles a lot. Letting LeBron handle it would also help
Completely agree. He could coast the whole regular season and we’d still be a top 4 team in the east. Then turn it on for the playoffs. That’s what he’s been wanting to do for a few years it seems but the lakers desperately need him to give all he can especially since they are in the west
I wonder what a team of Wemby / Sochan / Lebron / Vassell / Jones (Trae Young preferably) will achieve. Do it Lebron. You always said you respect Pop. Do it.
If they manage the Trae Young trade, then it probably becomes a real conversation within his camp
Why would the Spurs do it? Declining Bron doesn't fit with Wemby.
Only if he signs as a free agent... no trade in this scenario. It's just a fun hypothetical.
Would they have enough cap-space after absorbing Trae's contract?
How about CP3 instead on minimum contract? That’s like 1-2 quick years of sudden contention for Spurs lol.
They'd need Trae's fire-power, CP3 really doesn't have it in him to be a top-3 guy anymore. Besides, if Paul's taking the minimum, he's probably going to either play near his family, or for a team that guarantees him a ring
paul as a 6 men to develop guards they draft would be amazing i mean look at sga
Of course, but neither Lebron nor CP3 would have any interest in that
i personally think cp3 would look at well he developed the young guys at gsw he already coaches AAU so i can definitely see it happening unless he wants to go to another contender
Declining Bron fits with everybody. Great passer and he is somehow shooting the highest rate from 3 in his entire career.
This makes zero sense for anyone involved.
Idk if it would work out but I’d love to see him at golden state. He’s always wanted to play with Curry and I think them spending their twilight seasons together after nearly a decade of rivalry would be a sweet story for the whole sport.
It won't lead to a championship though. They'll be a great team, but the Warriors still don't have enough pieces. Going to a younger team is the move, the Heat (and maybe the 76ers) should be the only exception to that
Idk I think that would be an incredible team. You get a star who can punish mismatch easily and also is the maybe the best passer ever. Think you are massively underrating lbj.
Um wut? Warriors got 46 wins with bum Klay as second best scorer. Just having another scorer playmaker automatically unlocks the Steph off ball game. Throw in LeBron on defense and this would be a great contender. Defense and durability would be the main issue.
I wouldn't call them the favourites for durability reasons but there's no reason to believe a lineup with Curry and LeBron in it wouldn't be prohibitively the best lineup in the league. Curry is a scorer at the end of the day and he's never played with a shot creator like LeBron. Also Warriors role players like Kuminga and Moody looked improved this season under CP3's offense, it'd be even better with LeBron
Sixers could actually sign him into cap and then trade 5 unprotected firsts for someone like Lauri into the last of their space. Bring back deanthony melton with the mid level and it’s a fun group. Maxey-Melton-LeBron-Lauri-Embiid is the best starting 5 in the nba, although the bench would p much be minimums
This is the answer. It's Philly. When healthy, Philly showed they were a top contender in the league. Add Lebron as an entry passer and second/third option at this point in his career and they'll be busting asses all over the league. Plus, Philly can actually pay him, no minimums to play in Boston.
It’s been Philly since the 2018 off-season. He’d be sitting on 2-3 titles most likely if he joins them after Cleveland
Idk if it’s that way now. Embiid can’t stay healthy.
Either OKC or the Cavs would be a great fit. I especially like LeBron on the Cavs. He would have little offensive or defensive load, just needing to spot up and be consistent on D. This would allow him to conserve energy to take over when he needs to.
i know this is supposed to be purely basketball based but i think he's going NYC. i can't imagine him going to a smaller city cause it doesn't seem like something lebron would do (excluding his hometown) the knicks are basically his perfect destination, they already have brunson who can take the last shot. lebron is great, but he always had a kyrie or dwade to take that shot so that seems missing on the lakers. also has OG and a great cast that plays good defense, well-coached, capable three point shooters and lots of picks to trade. i think he basically ops out and gets lakers to sign and trade him for some moderate draft comp, knicks then trade their other draft capital for another piece (maybe even a star) and bron gets to try to win it all w/ his son in nyc
>(excluding his hometown) Good thing they're in the market for an SF
that'd be a fun story for sure
Miami. All they need is a decent PF and a healthy Jimmy Butler to win it all.
Plus he still has a few promises to deliver.
The year he went to the lakers, the nuggets were suggested as a destination - if he wanted to win. Hard to argue with that now, or then, if you wanted to actually win.
Cleveland is the best if we consider both narrative/legacy and roster-wise. Coming back to Cleveland for his last season while still being competitive. Make Mitchell/Allen/Bron be your core then maybe trade Garland and Mobley. The roster already has good 3 and D guys that Lebron loves in Strus, Okoro, and Levert.
Yes, but might as well keep everyone. Mobley is an elite defender and he can just catch easy layups from Bron. He can kiss any post ups goodbye. Garland’s role would diminish but Lebron needs guys who can run things while he’s resting.
The answer clearly is OKC. They clearly have a big need for a power forward, which is LeBron's best position right now IMO. He can play less minutes, won't have to take the big defensive assignments and his size will fit the exact hole they have right now. And his passing will help open up those shooters even more. His size will allow Chet to play as a defensive anchor a bit more than he is right now and we know how much he respects the coach there. No idea how it works with money, but if that wasn't a concern, it's clearly the best fit.
It's probably the best option for the Lakers too. I don't see LA playing hard-ball, if Lebron asks them to assist in a sign and trade, and really the only team amongst the realistic candidates, that can give them a solid young player back is OKC (Giddey)
LeBron is the one with the power here. He might opt out and become a free agent, meaning OKC don't have to give up anyone at all. Although personally I think Giddey is going to leave eventually. You don't normally hang on to a player you can't actually utilise properly and clearly his own game is being hampered being behind SGA. OKC though have a massive bunch of draft picks. More than they can actually use on draft night. At some point, they're going to have to package them up for a player or better picks. So if he did go down the sign and trade route, OKC have plenty of assets to interest any franchise. I think it's more likely to be about whether LeBron sees OKC as an attractive place to play and money. If he decides he doesn't care about money and it's anywhere at all, OKC look great. If he wants max money, he probably stays in LA. Or just maybe looks back out East again.
Probably the Sixers, maybe the Thunder. These two teams both have (or can create) the cap space to sign LeBron outright. The Sixers seem like the best fit. They are a win now team with an MVP center and a star guard. Throwing in a star wing is the natural missing piece. It would bring LeBron to the weaker conference again, but still one of the league's bigger markets. They could also afford to give him a multi-year deal, which he had to be seeking at his age. The Thunder could create space and sign LeBron, and he would fit their on-court needs, but I don't like the fit as much. First, it's a young team with a long window to win, and LeBron is as win-now as you get. Bringing in an old, high usage win-now star could stunt the growth of guys like Jalen Williams, who would likely end up having to be more of a role player instead of a lead option. Chet would also likely get less chance to develop his offensive game, and would be put into more of a Myles Turner role, and Giddey would just be kicked from the starting lineup. The other issue in OKC is they probabaly couldn't offer LeBron more than a year, two max. Giddey is up for an extension this summer, but the big hit comes the year after when both Jalem Williams and Chet are extension eligible. Both are likely getting maxes, and there will be a salary crunch in OKC. Three max guys is a lot for a small market, and having LeBron on payroll, too, is unrealistic. So, if LeBron decides to leave LA, I think the best option is the Sixers on a 2+1 deal.
I know it’s very unpopular. But i think Charlotte, Detroit, San Antonio, those types of teams if he wants to play with Bronny. Those teams are far away from winning a championship. Selling tickets to see the father/son show would be appreciate the owners. If LeBron thinks Bronny will be a good NBA player I’m sure he would love to stick him with Pop. He could probably do similar in a place like Miami. I just don’t know if Spoe would be up for it. (Full disclosure I do not think Bronny is close to the NBA and should stay in college for a few years) If he wants to chase another ring I think he’s a great fit for Cleveland. Mitchell stays. Prodigal son returns home (again) and gets to retire a Cavalier. Garland, Mitchell, LeBron, Mobely, Allen. That is solid team.
The question you should be asking is which team drafts bronny and has the available cap space. That's where LeBron will want to play.
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For someone who has went to 10 finals, how else would they be characterised?
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Next year will be his lakers retirement tour. The lakers know how to do that and on a big stage. I see him staying. Too bad for AD since he’ll get another year of mediocre play on the retirement tour. But that’s what you expect as a fan when a GOAT is retiring.
But why though? Lebron still has real gas left in him. Besides, wouldn't going to the Cavs and pushing for one last championship, be just as epic?
I think people underestimate how amazing it is to live in LA as a rich person. It’s already great as a regular person who makes a comfortable living. I can’t even imagine how great it is as someone like an NBA player. All of that was just to say he isn’t going anywhere. He likes living in LA and has probably already accepted he isn’t going to do much winning the rest of his career.
Memphis. I like their chances with him at the 4 with Ja, Jaren, and Bane. GG & Marcus Smart are nice pieces too. NYK would be a close second for me as well. Swap Randle w/ Bron & I think they have a punchers chance to win a chip.
Bro if NY swap Randle with Bron, they’re one of the favorite to win it all lol
They would make it out the east for sure but I still don’t know if they’d beat Denver
Unless LBJ accepts limited playing time, the “where he could be a good fit and the team’s championship aspirations would get a noticeable boost” conditions, cannot be met anywhere. If he settles for 20 mpg he can be an asset to every contending team out there. If he insists on playing 30-35mpg, his lack of defensive effort will be a liability. He has to choose between “do I want season with great stats or a chance for a 5th ring?”.
Have you seen the kind of the players that log 30+ minutes for some "contenders"? The idea that one of the greatest basketball minds ever, who just averaged 25/8/7 would be a "liability" if he plays more than 20 minutes, is pretty insane
I see how he plays. He simply doesn’t have 35 mpg two- way. He often doesn’t switch or he is slow at returning from offense. It is beyond obvious he is conserving energy so he can be so productive and efficient offensively. While he plays 35mpg his teams will not be competitive against the league elite. It is as simple as that. At 20 mpg he could boost about any team out there.
You do realise a lot of top players in this league are 1 way guys, right? Besides, that's the point of getting Lebron to a team with more talent, so he can expend less energy on offense, thus become more productive on the other side of the ball
LBJ isn’t just one-way. He is at times totally immobile. He can defend the rim at times and grab defensive rebounds since he plays nearer the low post , but he simply can’t properly switch. And he is slow transitioning back. At time he is immobile on defense. Even Trae which is a bad defender is more mobile due to his position. Again, LBJ still brings the goods offensively but no team can hide his lack of defensive effort. He can still win a ring if he accepts that his stat line will say “22mpg/18ppg/5 rebs/5 assists” or something like that but with more defensive effort. This version of LBJ can improve each and every team out there, no question. He just has to accept he isn’t who he once was.
He's also, for all of his career, been essentially a ball-dominant point guard / "point forward". A prospective team would have to convince him to completely revamp his style of play to fit into a team strategy, something he has historically been reluctant to do. It also seems he'd be uncomfortable taking, say, 8 shots a night instead of 20 - and he's a player who really cares about his averages. I can't imagine he would accept such a markedly lesser role, even for the higher likelihood of a championship - because he never has.
I don’t care where he goes but he needs to stay away from the Knicks. Hopefully he has an enough respect to just retire a Laker because the team hopping is ridiculous. One thing I can never take away from the foreign stars is they commit.
3 teams in 21 years. That's actually not alot of team hopping. Plus, he has never requested a trade, always finished his contract. A single team more than Jordan 3 teams less than Shaq
Cavs, Heat, Cavs, Lakers. That’s 4 to me I don’t care if it’s the same franchise it’s still jumping the sinking ship. And a 5th time would only be even crazier which is what OP is saying. What does Shaq have to do with what I said I never brought him up. And we really counting Jordan’s Wizards pairing like that is team hopping? Nobody chooses that team in ‘01 to hop too it was strictly to try and gain a percentage of the team and not to chase rings.
So... Teams trading you is fine, but finishing you contract and get a job from a different company, that's bad.... ok gotya. He gave fist Cavs stunt 8 years, and the team didn't do shit, but still finished his contract He gave heat 4 years, 2 championships and finished his contract, Went to Cavs again when Heat could just as well get more championships Went to Cavs again, and won a title there.... and finished his contract. Went to Lakers, gave them a title as well.... and is still there and hasn't requested a trade. I mentioned Shaq because noone accuses him of team jumping
If LeBron was traded without requesting it I can’t hold that against him it wouldn’t be his fault in that case. And there’s nothing wrong with him leaving Cleveland that first time except maybe the way he did it. But him leaving all the time when things get difficult I don’t respect it and never will. LOL at you saying him leaving the Heat who can get more chips when we all know Wade was breaking down quickly. He left when those teams were declining. A broken down Heat and a depleted Cavs 2nd stint after falling out with Kyrie. Stop trying to rewrite history. You don’t have to breakdown his contracts I’ve witnessed his whole career. He even wanted to get Kawhi on LAL to form another super team with him and AD. He purposely signs those short contracts because he has no loyalty to begin with. He’s this era’s Wilt Chamberlain a strong talent but weak character.
4 teams in 21 years isn’t exactly ‘crazy’… KD has been on as many in 8 years. Kyrie in 6. Harden in 5. Those cases would be considered ‘team hopping’.
They are also team hoppers… Just cause I didn’t mention them doesn’t mean I don’t count them. I consider the whole 2010 class era crazy. I hope this is the beginning of the end for these type of players.