LeBron James Free Agency: Three Destinations That Make Sense After Superstar Chose to Leave Lakers

LeBron James will not wear a Lakers uniform next season. | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

LeBron James’s historic NBA career will continue in earnest next season—but not in a Lakers uniform.

Ahead of free agency’s official opening on Tuesday, the monumental news broke that James intended to continue playing but had informed Los Angeles he wouldn’t be doing so with them next season. While reports suggest the Lakers wanted James back, a divorce at this stage makes sense for both sides. LeBron is no longer the top organizational priority for the Lakers with Luka Dončić in the fold and building around the Slovenian superstar while keeping James around was going to prove difficult.

James can now pick his new team and his choice will reflect his priorities as he enters his 24th NBA season. Is he seeking one last shot at a title? Does he want a homecoming that turns into a retirement tour? Much will be revealed by James’s free agency destination.

We examined what teams made the most sense for LeBron back in May when it wasn’t clear what his future held. Now that we know for sure he’s going to play, and that he’s hitting the open market, it is a perfect time to revisit possible destinations. Especially in light of how much has changed around the association in the last month.

LeBron James free agency landing spots

Golden State Warriors

Could LeBron and Steph team up? | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Warriors have had their eye on James for several years after the success he found playing alongside Steph Curry in the Paris Olympics (and the joy the two clearly shared about being on the court together). Noise around Golden State’s interest in James got very loud on Monday when Draymond Green declined his player option to give the franchise more flexibility entering free agency—which they wanted to take advantage of by signing James and trading for Anthony Davis.

Regardless of those grand plans, the Dubs check a lot of boxes based on what we think LeBron will value. They are a short private jet flight away from James’s home base of Los Angeles and employ one of the few superstars who can claim to be on his tier of excellence and notoriety (as well as his buddy Draymond). The issues inherent in building a contending team around two aging stars is obvious but Golden State has the talent to be a playoff contender as it stands, much less after adding LeBron.

Finding the money for him might be tricky at this point with the Warriors’ reported reluctance to trade Jimmy Butler and the $40 million handed to Kristaps Porziņģis. But you can see the vision. This would be the most fun LeBron option if the 2024 Olympics were any indication.

Miami Heat

LeBron to Miami suddenly makes a lot more sense after the Giannis trade. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

LeBron returning to the Heat was dismissed as a possibility last month given Miami’s place as a play-in team in the East without much recourse to getting better. Now? Things have changed. Obviously. The Heat went out and landed a top-five player in Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with Bam Adebayo, creating a dominant defensive frontcourt that should absolutely contend for the conference crown. There is always a pull for veteran players to join loaded teams. LeBron isn’t ring-chasing like those types of players usually are but signing up to play for the NBA’s newest superteam in South Beach has plenty of appeal.

From a roster construction standpoint it’s not a very clean fit. James is not getting better as a shooter as he gets older and the spacing is already going to be tight with Bam and Giannis sharing the floor. What’s more, the Heat have very little money to throw around to convince James a reunion would be worthwhile. But from a talent standpoint few teams could boast the same level and a Finals trip seems very possible. If James is looking for a ready-made, star-studded roster to join, Miami should be in the running.

Cleveland Cavaliers

A homecoming for LeBron? | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Of course, there would be no greater story than LeBron coming home one last time.

It has already been reported the Cavaliers are interested in a third partnership with James. They make sense from a contending standpoint as an Eastern Conference finalist. And the franchise would move heaven and earth to ensure James was paid what he wants to be paid if he did indicate a desire to come back to Ohio. The narrative would be delicious.

The on-court fit is great, too. Cleveland would probably have to move on from one of its core players in order to land James but no matter who that is, he’d be a huge addition as a dynamic wing playmaker. Whoever remains of Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden would benefit enormously from having LeBron out there with them. The Cavs weren’t that far from an NBA Finals berth last season; getting James could give the team enough of a talent boost to get over the hump.

Even if that doesn’t happen, this would be a great story. A perfect end to the greatest career the NBA has ever seen.

---

More NBA on Sports Illustrated

Listen to SI’s NBA podcast, Open Floor, below or on Apple and Spotify. Watch the show on SI’s YouTube channel.