Agents don’t leak things by accident. Everything is more calculated and transitional than that. Still, it can be insightful.
Rich Paul did that on the latest episode of his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman. Paul — LeBron James’ agent and friend — laid out the case for six potential destinations for LeBron’s next team:
• Golden State Warriors
• Miami Heat
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• Denver Nuggets
However, look at the podcast video, where Paul breaks out the whiteboard, and it feels like the Warriors may be the long shot in that group. Paul said not to read into that, but it’s kind of hard not to.
Other teams were discussed and put on the periphery of that whiteboard, including San Antonio, Boston, Dallas and New York, but those teams are unlikely. New York reportedly had expressed interest, and Paul said if New York had not won the title, LeBron would be headed there, but that ring changed everything.
Paul and Kellerman break down the case for LeBron’s interest in each team. For example, here’s what was said about a return to Miami.
Notice Paul also said this may not be LeBron’s last year. Just file that away.
Then there’s why Philadelphia has LeBron’s attention — it’s the Jaylen Brown trade.
Paul has previously said that for LeBron, this decision is about happiness, not money — which is good because a few of these teams could only offer the veteran minimum of $3.9 million.
Paul has also said that LeBron is not rushing this decision and is letting things play out a little. For example, Denver is on the list, and Paul talked about LeBron’s relationship with the Kroenke family that owns the team, but until Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency is settled, nothing is happening there.
Which means sit back and relax, we’ve got a plethora of LeBron rumors to come before he gets around to making a decision.
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