LeBron's Destiny: Who will LeBron suit up for next year?
Earlier this month, LeBron James and the Cavaliers got routed and humiliated for the second straight year against the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Although LeBron won a title with the Cavs in 2016, he seems disgruntled with not only the young and inexperienced team he is forced to lead but also the front office that has failed to secure good free agents for the Cavaliers. With the player option deadline coming up in 3 days and free agency starting on July 1st, NBA fans all around the globe are closely watching LeBron's decision. Much like "The Decision" in 2010 when LeBron James signed with the Heat, this year's decision will be highly publicized and touted. Not only will this decision be highly touted and watched, LeBron's next adventure will be very influential for years to come and will send ripples across the NBA and beyond. If LeBron joins another team, he will make a huge impact, leading to a higher chance for the team to win a championship. Without further adieu, below is a list of 4 teams that have a good chance of recruiting LeBron next year.
Philadelphia 76ers
Aside from the Los Angeles Lakers, the 76ers are the only other "show" team in the NBA with a plethora of drama from both the players and the front office. From Joel Embiid's constant condescending comments to the exposure of Bryan Colangelo's burner account, the City of Brotherly Love is a hotbed for drama. What would be more exciting than adding LeBron to the mix? Aside from the off court issues, the 76ers are a very attractive team for superstars, especially LeBron James. In the 2017-2018 season, the 76ers made the playoffs and clinched the third seed in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing in the Semifinals to the Celtics. The 76ers offer LeBron James a very strong and young core in All-Star big man Joel Embiid and Rookie of the Year, Ben Simmons. Around these two cornerstone of the franchise are capable bench and role players in Dario Saric, Robert Covington, and JJ Redick. LeBron James would perfectly fit into the team as starting small forward or power forward. Not only will LeBron James have a good supporting crew and two star players, but James would have a great fan base supporting base. Philadelphia fans, still hungover from the Allen Iverson era, are hungry for a championship in the 21st century. LeBron James would be a perfect match for this team. If LeBron decides to take his talents to Philly, fans won't be just merely "trusting the process", but rather be experiencing it. Last but not least, Philadelphia is in the Eastern Conference, making it not too challenging to make the playoffs and win the conference, with their main competition coming from the young and talented Celtics.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers offer an amazing city in Los Angeles. In the middle of Hollywood and the entertainment capital and cultural mecca of the world, Los Angeles is a welcoming city for stars. Additionally, with such a rich history behind its team with stars such as Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, a great player like LeBron would easily be able to etch his name into the venerable Lakers Hall of Fame and cement his legacy in the NBA forever. Although LeBron would be able to be successful with the Lakers, the team would need to purge itself greatly in order to be successful. The Lakers are home to a hotbed of raw talent in second year players such as Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Brandon Ingram. In addition, the Lakers also have their fair share of veterans in Pau Gasol and Isiah Thomas. With Julius Randle likely to leave the team this offseason, the Lakers would be able to dump his salary and have the cap space to not only bring in LeBron but have enough money to bring in another star in Paul George. With both Paul George and LeBron teaming up with the likes of Kuzma and Ingram, the Lakers would be set up for success. Although this seems like a viable option for the LeBron James, a factor that would dissuade LeBron from joining would be the inexperience of the players. The young players on the roster have never had a record about .500, let alone a playoff appearance. Additionally, LeBron would have to play in the Western Conference with juggernauts like the Thunder, Rockets, and Warriors
Houston Rockets
If LeBron James came to Houston, Daryl Morey could create a dynasty for the ages. In 2017-2018, the Rockets were a hamstring injury away from beating the Warriors. If LeBron James was added to the mix, the offensive capability that would result from that would be mind-blowing . Pairing MVP and offensive wizard, James Harden, with the Point God, Chris Paul, was a very successful experiment this season. If you add a 4 time MVP and 14 time All Star to the lineup, it would be hard to even miss buckets. Not only that, but the chemistry with the trio would click very easily. Considering that Chris Paul and LeBron James are Banana Boat buddies and best friends, chemistry would be easy to find. Furthermore, with a young and talented center in Clint Capela, the Rockets' starting lineup could wreak havoc. With the Houston fanbase hungry for a championship, especially after getting so close in the past couple of years, adding LeBron would be a step closer to that goal. The only factor that is hindering this move is the cap space. The Houston Rockets are very limited fiscally and must dump the salaries of both Ryan Anderson, an oft-injured bench player, and Eric Gordon, former Sixth Man of the Year and sharpshooter, in order to get LeBron. Additionally, the Rockets need to sign Chris Paul and retain Clint Capela, neither of whom would like a pay cut.
Cleveland Cavaliers