TIME Magazine’s newly minted “Athlete of the Century” and cover star LeBron James is headed for unrestricted free agency in a matter of weeks, and while it remains difficult to project his next move, there’s a widespread belief around the NBA that sticking with the Lakers would be his first choice, according to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).
As Fischer and Stein lay out, James and his family have become “entrenched” in Los Angeles over the course of his last eight years as a Laker, and L.A. – which holds LeBron’s Bird rights – is in a better position than any other team to pay him a favorable salary, even if that number comes in below the $52.6MM he earned this past season.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show earlier this week (Twitter video link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst agreed that re-signing with the Lakers appears to be the most likely outcome for James. However, both he and The Stein Line duo pointed to the Warriors as the primary threat to watch if things don’t work out in L.A.
Golden State remains “legitimately interested” in adding LeBron to its roster, according to Fischer and Stein, who suggest that the Warriors’ pitch to James may involve a plan for him to commute back and forth to some degree between Los Angeles and the Bay Area so he doesn’t have to move – or be away from – his family.
As Windhorst observes, James is close with Draymond Green and enjoyed collaborating with Stephen Curry and head coach Steve Kerr as part of Team USA at the 2024 Olympics. Still, barring a sign-and-trade agreement or a major roster overhaul, the Warriors would be limited to offering LeBron the mid-level exception, which is projected to start around $15MM.
While a reunion between James and the Cavaliers has been a popular subject of speculation, the geographical considerations of a cross-country move, along with Cleveland’s own financial limitations, make that idea look like a longer shot, per Fischer and Stein. Windhorst agrees with that assessment.
“I know that everybody loves the idea of LeBron in Cleveland, (but) Cleveland needs perimeter defense,” Windhorst said. “It would be a great story. He would definitely help them, (but) Cleveland needs interior toughness and perimeter defense. LeBron can do some of that, but I don’t know.
“Also, that would require LeBron to play for three million bucks. And I don’t want to spend his money — if he wants to play for three million, he can do it. But until I hear from (agent) Rich Paul that LeBron is ready to play for three million, I’m not going to believe it.”
Based on their current payroll situation, the Cavaliers would be limited to offering James a minimum-salary contract, which would technically be worth closer to $4MM, but that doesn’t materially change Windhorst’s point. Cleveland would have to significantly reshape its roster to be in position to make LeBron a competitive offer.
If I were a lakers fan，i don’t want LeBron
I would spend money on iHart, Watson, LuDort
You don’t want a guy that can win a play off series by himself while the other two stars on the team are hurt? Seems naive to me.
3:0 without Luka and Reaves
Lakers are lucky
Lakers would be knocked out by Clippers or Blazers
Look at the future not past
Lebron can’t win a playoff series and definitely can’t win a championship at this point of his career unless he’s the 4th or 5th option now because he’ll take even more of a step back next year. On top of that, the drama that comes with LeBron is crazy. And on top of that the fact that they’re out there saying he’s not willing to play for $4 million. Then what are you paying for cuz you’re not playing to win.
You cannot have it both ways. You can’t say you want to play to win but be 40 something years old and still trying to make 50 60 million or even $40 million. It doesn’t work that way so pick aside and choose but this is more the LeBron James drama and hopefully the Lakers move on. There’s not really a team that makes sense other than playing for that 4 million and going back to Cleveland. Anything else or anybody else doesn’t make any sense
Staying where he’s comfortable and in control sounds like it would be his first choice, yes. But there’s no way in a billion years he’s signing for a minimum or even MLE. His ego is more important to him than anything, the last time he was supposed to take a “discount” on his contract was when they drafted Bronny.
Laker fans, pray that Luka can finally be seen as the star of the team instead of the #1 scapegoat role that AD enjoyed for years.
If YOU spent your entire life putting yourself in situations that lead to YOU getting paid, would it still be ego driven if YOU wanted to maximize that earning opportunity? Or is it just athletes that owe society a pay cut so they can play where YOU think he should?
You can hate LeBron like every other bozo who’s sad about their own life. But claiming that his ego is what would get in the way of signing a bum deal is outrageously stupid and incredibly embarrassing.
What are you talking about “billionaires” don’t make w2 money and if they do they find a way to make it the least amount possible so they’re not paying taxes. I’ve said this for a years Lebron is not a real billionaire everybody keeps counting a bunch of assets as people being millionaires when nobody can show me on paper where all these people’s money are. Everybody just believes whatever they hear on the internet to have a billion dollars or be a real billionaire. You would not be playing for 54 million or caring about playing for 6 million. Because a real billionaire’s money generates more money and they would see that as just a tax liability the $54 million. I don’t think people understand how much a billion dollars really is. I can confidently say if I needed $2 million today I could get it and the difference between me and a billionaire is a billionaires on the moon and in a small neighborhood in the United States. That’s the difference between the money. So no a billionaire wouldn’t care about no Mid level exception.
At this point we gotta go ahead & give this guy the credit he’s due as the greatest basketball player in the history of the game. Jordan is obv right up there w/ Bron. Going off who was the best at their best MJ & Wilt are pretty hard to argue against. But just overall, including the whole career (hs, college, intl, pro), Bron is up there by himself. Truly zero weaknesses in his game, unmatched longevity, extremely durable, efficient/productive/clutch/versatile. He’s truly everything you’d want in a basketball player. I really hope he’s still going strong & gets to play on the Olympic team in 2028 (bc they may very well need him like they did last time)… link to youtube.com
The is no way Lakers let GSW sign LeBron for a discounted price. lakers would need to sign a big name free agent and use up all their cap space before they let him move up north.
3/4 of the century left btw
The family stuff is BS. He’ll go wherever he can that he feels like gives him the potential for another deep playoff run. His family will stay in LA. He’s got 1-2 years left in the tank. Not like he’s committing to live in whatever city he ends up in.
Athlete of the century but is 4-6 in the finals? Makes sense. Lol
What? Fischer and Stein say that if LeBron played fir the Warriors he would commute back and forth between LA and SF? What? That is the screwiest idea. These guys get paid for writing this stuff. From his home-to-the Chase Center is probably a 6 hour commute. That is going to wear him out. He’ll miss half the games.
IDK. On a private jet, with a ride to practice, maybe 2.5 hours. And you can envision him having a crib to crash at in SF.
I can understand why people are against LeBron but basketball wise he is still a top player and exceptional team leader. If he was a Celtic instead of JB or JT, Boston would be making East Finals every year.Based on his recent performance, he can still play 2 more years elite level
And the drama continues. But we are are at the point nobody cares. Hopefully he sabotage the Lakers for as long as possible.
I could see a two year deal, with the second being a player option for the $50-60M range with a full no trade clause. That gives them space to get someone, and he can make his bag for one year if he wants, and he knows he won’t me moved unless he wants it.