LeBron James' Free-Agency Options Narrow to Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia and Others
NBA sources say LeBron James is most likely to return to Cleveland, with Miami and Philadelphia also in contention, while other teams remain peripheral suitors.
NBA insiders report that discussions about LeBron James' unrestricted free agency have been largely one-way, with few teams receiving direct feedback on their proposals, ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst said. He noted a growing sense that James could reunite with the Cleveland Cavaliers, citing his recent vacation with his 2016 championship teammates and increased time spent in Akron this summer. Sources, however, indicate that the Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors still consider themselves viable options.
Earlier reports identified those five clubs and the Miami Heat as the most serious contenders. While Windhorst did not name Miami, ESPN’s Shams Charania told Stephen A. Smith that the Heat remain firmly in the mix. Charania added that, based on his conversations with league teams, the hierarchy of interest appears to be Cleveland, Miami, then Philadelphia, with other clubs on the periphery.
Charania explained that Philadelphia only became a serious candidate after the Sixers acquired forward Jaylen Brown from Boston in a trade that sent Paul George and draft assets to the Celtics. He said the Sixers' interest in James intensified within 24 hours of that transaction.