In addition to the Golden State Warriors, superstar LeBron James will also listen to pitches from other squads, including the San Antonio Spurs, if they can offer him a max salary. Earlier, Chris Haynes of ESPN said that James will listen to the proposal of the Warriors if he becomes a free agent after this season. According to Haynes, James will meet with the Warriors out of respect for their winning culture, despite being NBA Finals rivals for three straight seasons. James has a $35.6 million player option in 2018-19, but he is expected to decline it so he can test the market
Haynes clarified that James would also be willing to sit down with the Spurs and look into their pitch.
However, the Spurs must create some salary cap space before sitting down with LeBron in July so they can meet his maximum salary demand. The Spurs could create salary cap room if Danny Green, Rudy Gay and Joffrey Lauvergne all opt out of their respective contracts. The Spurs also need to shed the eight-figure salaries of Pau Gasol and Patty Mills. Gasol is scheduled to earn $16.8 million while Mills will pocket $11.57 million in the second year of the four-year deal that he signed with the Spurs.
James could win another ring with Spurs
Earlier, Fox Sports 1 reporter Chris Broussard said James has a big chance of winning his fourth NBA championship ring if he joins the Spurs and plays under coach Gregg Popovich.
With the Spurs, James will also get a chance to play under a legendary coach in Popovich, which he has yet to enjoy in his career with the Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. Broussard said greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant had a chance to play for a legendary coach in Phil Jackson. During his stint with the Heat, James was coached by Erik Spoelstra, while he has had several coaches during his tenure with the Cavaliers, including David Blatt and Tyronn Lue.
James could meet with four other squads
Aside from the Warriors and the Spurs, James is also expected to entertain offers from the Los Angeles Lakers, Cavaliers, Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets. Among the teams interested in James, the Heat and the Warriors have the two highest payrolls for the 2018-19 season with $144.2 million and $128.3 million, respectively.
The Warriors will have a chance to get James via a sign-and-trade deal where they would trade Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala to the Cavaliers to match salaries with James. With their financial flexibility for next season, the Lakers can easily offer the maximum deal to James.
