The 10 Teams LeBron Will Consider Signing with in July
By Jason McIntyre
LeBron James will be a free agent in a few weeks, and sometime in early July, he’ll almost certainly sign with a new NBA team. Here are the 10 teams that will be in the mix for the 33-year old four-time MVP:
1. Los Angeles Lakers. I’ve been calling them the favorite for 11 months. They’ve got the necessary wing players to hang with the Warriors, and more importantly two max spots so LeBron can bring a friend (Paul George? Chris Paul?). Toss in lifestyle, his two $20+ million dollar homes, Space Jam 2 and all that … it feels like a lock.
10. Milwaukee Bucks. Get the slight edge over the Miami Heat because Pat Riley’s squad is in salary cap hell. A supporting cast of Giannis and sweet-shooting Khris Middleton would put the Bucks right there with Boston as favorites in the East.
2. Houston Rockets. It’s tricky because their financial situation is far worse than the Lakers. Chris Paul wants big money. No team will take Ryan Anderson’s contract. What to do with Clint Capela? At least we know this – if LeBron were on Houston in Game 7, they don’t miss 27 straight 3-pointers because they have a post-up option.
3. Philadelphia 76ers. LeBron works best when surrounded by shooters. Ben Simmons can’t shoot. Neither can Markelle Fultz. Also, Joel Embiid clogs the lane. You could argue this team needs Paul George more than it does LeBron. Not a hot take – the Celtics are still better than the 76ers even if Philly gets LeBron.
4. San Antonio Spurs. You’re telling me LeBron has been a player/coach for 15 years, he’s been the system … and now he’s going to play for the notoriously rigid Gregg Popovich? There’s tons of uncertainty with that roster – Tony Parker is 36, Pau Gasol is 37, Manu Ginobili is 40. But Kawhi Leonard is the guy LeBron needs to slow down the league’s best scorer, Kevin Durant.
5. Boston Celtics. Absolutely can’t see it happening, because they’d have to trade Kyrie Irving, and nobody’s taking him unless he’s signing a long term deal. But, this much is true – the Celtics have all the right pieces to take down Golden State, with or without LeBron.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers. Ha ha, just kidding. Unless LeBron’s willing to punt next season, and stay so the Cavs can swing for the fences in 2019, this makes no sense. Sorry, Kevin Love + the #8 pick isn’t getting you a superstar. Who has faith in the front office to lure a superstar, given how badly they did on the Kyrie Irving and midseason trades?
7. Utah Jazz. They’ve got a rim protector in Rudy Gobert, rising star in Donovan Mitchell to shoulder the scoring burden, but probably not the necessary shooting – or lifestyle in Salt Lake City – to lure the King.
8. LA Clippers. Here because Jerry West is working with the team, and he’s one of the best. With two lottery picks, and the expiring contract of Tobias Harris, the Clippers could swing a deal or two and go big game hunting.
9. New York Knicks. Let’s say he listens because of David Fizdale. And the Knicks sell LeBron hard on the shooting of Tim Hardaway and Kristaps Porzingis (who is out until the All-Star break). LeBron would be the best shot in New York, ahead of Sam Darnold and the Jets, and Aaron Judge and the Yankees.