Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James' chance of joining the Los Angeles Lakers when he becomes a free agent this summer are a “long shot.” Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that league sources told them that the possibility is bleak that James will join the Lakers next season. However, reports connecting James to the Lakers will persist until he finally reveals his plan for next season. Sources said James’ decision will depend heavily on how his season will end. If the Cavaliers return to the Finals, then LeBron might decide to stay in Cleveland.
However, he might decide to abandon Cleveland for the second time in his career and bring his talent elsewhere where he can win his fourth NBA title.
The Miami Heat successfully pried James away from the Cavaliers by bringing in two more superstars in Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Currently, the Lakers have promising players but none at the superstar status level. In the summer, the Lakers will have enough salary cap space to sign one superstar to a maximum contract. To bring in a second superstar, the Lakers must find a taker for Luol Deng and the remaining $37 million on his contract.
James, George to play together with Lakers?
Earlier, podcaster/columnist Bill Simmons floated the possibility that James might leave the Cavaliers and join the Lakers in 2018.
It was also reported that the Lakers might sign another superstar in Paul George, who hails from Los Angeles. George expressed interest in joining the Lakers in the offseason, but the Indiana Pacers instead traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are interested in signing George to a multi-year deal, but the All-Star forward might not be keen on staying in Oklahoma City due to their struggles this season despite having Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony.
James to the Rockets?
Shelburne and Windhorst also reported that executives called the possibility that James might team up with close friend Chris Paul with the Houston Rockets as an “overstated assumption.” The Rockets are capable of singing James to a maximum contract in 2018, but they must dump other contracts to be able to sign Paul to a contract extension.
This means that the Rockets have to part ways with either Trevor Ariza or Clint Capela in free agency. Earlier, NBA executives said the Rockets could be the next possible destination for James, where he could create a super team with James Harden and Paul.
