{"id":2019723,"date":"2026-06-30T19:05:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T16:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2019723"},"modified":"2026-06-30T19:05:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T16:05:23","slug":"lebron-james-next-team-heres-the-case-for-six-potential-landing-spots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2019723","title":{"rendered":"LeBron James\u2019 next team? Here\u2019s the case for six potential landing spots"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. On Tuesday, news broke that he will play a record 24th season elsewhere<\/a>, setting off what could become the most fascinating pursuit of this edition of NBA free agency.<\/p>\n

So where should the league\u2019s all-time leading scorer go next?<\/p>\n

The Athletic<\/i> asked our writers covering teams that could be linked to James \u2013 the Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves\u00a0 and Golden State Warriors \u2013 to make the case for why their team is the best fit for the next chapter of his career.<\/p>\n

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What You Should Read Next<\/div>\n
\n \"LeBron<\/p>\n
\n
\n LeBron James\u2019 Lakers legacy is complicated and ultimately a little unsatisfying\n <\/div>\n
\n What did James make people in Los Angeles feel? The answer is probably not enough for either James or Lakers fans.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Cleveland Cavaliers<\/h2>\n

I don\u2019t know if he should<\/i> come to Cleveland. What I do know is the conditions are ripe for him to do it.<\/p>\n

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LeBron will be 42 five days after Christmas. He will be in his 24th season, having made all the money there was to make, said everything there was to say and scored all the points there were to score. His decision to continue his career \u2013 but to do it away from Los Angeles, where his wife and daughter live \u2013 suggests to me that he wants to win, be comfortable and to carry only a portion of the burden that has been asked of him throughout his career.<\/p>\n

In Cleveland, he still has the first mansion he ever bought or built. He probably won\u2019t like that the team is moving its practice facility to the west side of downtown from a spot that is maybe 10 minutes from his mansion, but that won\u2019t happen until February. His mom, Gloria, still lives on the property. He will be, of course, adored at him and applauded nightly on the road for giving the NBA a storybook ending to his career by going home, again.<\/p>\n

The Cavs made the Eastern Conference finals last year and lost to the eventual NBA-champion Knicks. Yes, it was a sweep, but I kind of, sort of buy that Cleveland was done in for that series by earlier missteps in the playoffs. I\u2019m not saying the Cavs beat the Knicks if they hadn\u2019t screwed around with Toronto and Detroit, but I do think the conference finals would\u2019ve been a tighter series.<\/p>\n

On the roster are James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, two prolific guards. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, two excellent, versatile bigs who can protect the rim and run toward it on offense. There are some strong role players likely to be on the team like Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson. All that Cleveland needs is strength on the wing.<\/p>\n

Know anyone who can provide it?<\/p>\n

With all those players I just mentioned, LeBron\u2019s burden would be lighter than at any point in his career \u2014 including when he was the Lakers\u2019 third option behind Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Austin Reaves. The winning part, obviously, is spelled out, and his familiarity with the area plays into his comfort level. So does his potential salary.<\/p>\n

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The Cavs could, with relative ease, get far enough below the NBA\u2019s first apron to pay James $15 million next season. It\u2019s a huge pay cut from the $52 million he made with the Lakers, but it, symbolically, is much more palatable than the veteran-minimum $4 million the Cavs could pay him now.<\/p>\n

If they move Max Strus into another team\u2019s cap space and let Dean Wade walk in free agency, just to speed this up, the math works. James gets a palatable salary and the Cavs get the face of the franchise back for one final act. Losing Wade and Strus would sting, but James is no slouch, and it is possible a younger player could emerge to fill a role toward the end of the bench.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not saying this is what James should do. But gosh, it seems like he might. \u2014\u00a0Joe Vardon, senior NBA writer<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

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What You Should Read Next<\/div>\n
\n \"LeBron<\/p>\n
\n
\n LeBron James sheds tears during Cavaliers\u2019 tribute video in potential farewell: \u2018It got him\u2019\n <\/div>\n
\n Wednesday marked the 41-year-old James’ eighth game in Cleveland, counting the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Lakers.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Golden State Warriors\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

The Warriors\u2019 pitch remains simple: Come to the Bay and play with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Come to an organization that has the culture to handle the superstar wattage that LeBron brings with him. Joe Lacob has proven over and over that he will spend whatever it takes to compete.<\/p>\n

Off the court, LeBron could deepen his business interests in Silicon Valley while enjoying everything Northern California has to offer, from world-class golf to wine country. On the court, he would get to ride off into the sunset alongside Curry, a fellow all-time great who can ease the burden on him night after night whenever he\u2019s healthy. <\/i><\/p>\n

While it remains unlikely given the age of the rest of the core pieces on the Warriors\u2019 roster, James would have the ability to win his fifth title for his fourth different team. In the process, he would also help Curry win his fifth title as well. The eyes of the basketball world will be in San Francisco all season if James decides he wants to be a Warrior. \u2014 Nick Friedell, Warriors writer<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

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What You Should Read Next<\/div>\n
\n \"The<\/p>\n
\n
\n The Warriors should consider LeBron James. But Anthony Davis isn\u2019t worth the risk\n <\/div>\n
\n The idea of seeing James, Davis, Curry and Green join forces is certainly compelling, but would it be enough to win an NBA title?\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

LA Clippers\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

Let me try and do this with a straight face. After all, it\u2019s not as if we are talking about a team that had the NBA\u2019s worst record over the previous five seasons before James signed there as a free agent in his prime because LeBron James absolutely did that with the Lakers.<\/p>\n

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The Clippers have a few legitimate selling points. They have Tyronn Lue, James\u2019 championship-winning head coach in Cleveland, whom the Lakers tried to lowball in 2019. They have a star point guard in Darius Garland who shares an agency with Lue and James. They also have Trent Redden in the front office, another key figure from Cleveland\u2019s championship front office.<\/p>\n

James could stay in Southern California and join a team that has an opening at power forward with John Collins being an unrestricted free agent. Maybe Kawhi Leonard \u2014 James\u2019 adversary in two NBA Finals before declining an opportunity to join James with the Lakers in 2019 \u2014would be down to give it one more shot with James in a Clippers uniform.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be real, though. You and I both know that is not happening. LeBron James is prioritizing the story.<\/p>\n

There is no chance that a former \u201890s Chicago Bulls, Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees fan that chose the Lakers is going to go to the Clippers when the story is a priority. And the Clippers are making it quite clear that they are finally<\/i> going to be future-focused for the first time this decade. No disrespect of course, but I do not feel like I\u2019ll be on Freezing Cold Takes or a news conference at Intuit Dome introducing 41-year-old LeBron James. \u2014 Law Murray, Clippers writer\u00a0<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

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Miami Heat<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

Giannis Antetokounmpo has never hidden his admiration for LeBron James. Early in Giannis\u2019 career, matchups against James were always among Antetokounmpo\u2019s favorite games each season because served as a measuring stick.<\/p>\n

As Antetokounmpo became an MVP himself, the object of his admiration for James shifted to the all-time great\u2019s ability to keep his body performing at an All-NBA level as he entered his third decade in the NBA.<\/p>\n

On top of that, the Heat roster needs more talent and James could absolutely help Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, providing playmaking, scoring and size. But coming back to Miami feels far-fetched. Miami\u2019s cap situation will limit the money that he could make taking his talents to South Beach for a second time, and beyond that, there isn\u2019t much compelling evidence that James\u2019 relationships within the organization remain especially strong.<\/p>\n

With other destinations being able to offer more money and more fun, I\u2019m not sure Miami will end up too high on James\u2019 list of potential new homes \u2026 even if it\u2019s one of the places he\u2019s already played. \u2014\u00a0Eric Nehm, Bucks writer\u00a0<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

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Minnesota Timberwolves\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

Do I think LeBron James will come to Minnesota? No.<\/p>\n

Do I think he should<\/i> come to Minnesota? Absolutely.<\/p>\n

If James is prioritizing winning a fifth championship, it is hard to find a better situation for him than with the Timberwolves.<\/p>\n

After trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid this summer<\/a>, the Wolves have a ready-made spot in the starting lineup for him at power forward. They also could put him in between two top flight defenders in Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels so he wouldn\u2019t have to expend nearly as much energy on that end of the floor as he had to do last season with the Lakers.<\/p>\n

On offense, Minnesota has Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball to handle the heavy lifting, but James could be a perfect facilitator and crunchtime scorer that would connect the entire operation. His experience as a winner of the highest order would also be exactly what Ball needs as he transitions to a team with real expectations.<\/p>\n

James is on record as being a huge fan of Edwards, most recently beaming at All-Star weekend when Ant won MVP honors. James says happiness is a big part of his decision. Ant would put a smile on his face every day.<\/p>\n

The Wolves have youth and talent so that James wouldn\u2019t have to go all out in the regular season. He could save his bullets for the playoffs, where he would be the center of the team\u2019s offensive universe.<\/p>\n

If James came to Minnesota and ended a championship drought in men\u2019s sports here that dates back to 1991, it could be the closing argument for his claim to the throne as the greatest of all time. \u2014 Jon Krawczynski, Wolves writer\u00a0<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

San Antonio Spurs<\/b><\/h2>\n

This may seem like the ultimate ring-chasing option, but the Spurs present a nuanced opportunity for James. The team\u2019s primary target with the midlevel exception is a four, and he\u2019s one of the best fours in the game. San Antonio doesn\u2019t need him to completely own the offense, but rather fit into the system it\u2019s been building but then be able to take over in crunchtime.<\/p>\n

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The Spurs just lost the NBA Finals because they fell apart in the fourth quarter, struggling to generate clean looks or capitalize on the ones they found. If there\u2019s one thing they can count on from James, it\u2019s that he can put everyone in the right spots late in games and execute. Though there are spacing concerns if they replace one of their shooting wings in the starting lineup with James, it\u2019s still LeBron. They need someone with his composure and control over the game.<\/p>\n

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What You Should Read Next<\/div>\n
\n \"For<\/p>\n
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\n For Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, inexperience remains undefeated\n <\/div>\n
\n The Spurs often dominated during the finals. But it takes more than greatness to win a championship, and the Spurs had lessons to learn.\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Going to the Spurs could present him with a unique mentorship opportunity, being the teammate who could put Victor Wembanyama over the top and win his first of what he aims to be many championships. Does James want to actually aid one of the few players who could have a shot at the GOAT title? It would be a humbling decision for James to take that step, even if he could frame it as adding another title to help settle the debate between him and Michael Jordan. But is that really something that is going to matter to him at this point?<\/p>\n

The bigger question is how James fits into the Spurs\u2019 dynamic. They had one of the league\u2019s strongest locker rooms last season that truly played for each other and had a good balance of personalities. They bought in to Mitch Johnson and flourished as the season went on. James has dominated the environment everywhere he\u2019s played, but this will unequivocally not be his team. Is that something he\u2019s willing to embrace? Can he accentuate the culture the same way Chris Paul did a season ago?<\/p>\n

Most importantly, will he take the MLE and take a big step back from being a max player? It\u2019s likely the only way to bring him in, unless a De\u2019Aaron Fox trade is on the horizon or the Spurs want to consolidate their shooting depth at the wing by moving Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and whatever else would be needed to make a larger James contract work.
\n\u2014 Jared Weiss, Spurs writer\u00a0<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. On Tuesday, news broke that he will play a record 24th season elsewhere, setting off what could become the most fascinating pursuit of this edition of NBA free agency. So where should the league\u2019s all-time leading scorer go next? The Athletic asked our writers covering teams that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,241],"class_list":["post-2019723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nytimes-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2019723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2019723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2019723\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2019723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2019723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2019723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}